High-level data from the 2024 EDANA Statistics Report on Nonwovens Production and Deliveries have been summarised annually by EDANA, the premier global association and advocate for nonwovens and associated industries.
In 2024, nonwovens production in Greater Europe climbed by 2.6 per cent to 2,976, 400 tonnes in volume and by 2.9 per cent in surface area, resulting in the production of 85.1 billion square meters of nonwovens, according to the most recent data. However, when comparing production among Greater European nations and evaluating the different nonwoven production processes and market groups, different trends were noted at the national level.
EDANA’s Market Analysis and Economic Affairs Director, Jacques Prigneaux, elaborated on the trend, stating that Greater Europe’s nonwoven production has returned to its pre-pandemic weight following two consecutive drops of over 5 per cent in 2022 and 2023. At the same time, surface area production increased more quickly, leading to an average grammage of 34.9 gsm instead of the 37.2 gsm observed in 2019.
The most notable growth rates this year were shown in wetlaid nonwovens, which had a sharp drop in 2023. On the other hand, airlaid was the only web-forming method to show a decrease in 2024, but it was also the only method to show an increase the year before. Spunmelt production continues to dominate in terms of surface area. Due to the encouraging advancements in the manufacturing and distribution of air-through and hydro-entangled materials, Drylaid showed only modest growth.
The hygiene industry remains the largest end-use for nonwovens, making up 27 per cent of deliveries, totalling 797,300 tonnes, and growing by 1.7 per cent in 2024. The industries with the biggest growth in nonwovens last year were cotton pads (+4.9 per cent), food and beverage applications (+13 per cent), building and roofing materials (+14.2 per cent) and personal care wipes (+4.8 per cent).
