UK's Nonwoven Fabric Market to Reach 160K Tons and $939M by 2035 - News and Statistics - IndexBox

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IndexBox has just published a new report: United Kingdom - Nonwoven Fabric - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights.

The UK nonwoven fabric market is set to see a positive trend in consumption, with a forecasted CAGR of +0.7% in volume and +0.8% in value from 2024 to 2035. This growth is driven by the rising demand for nonwoven fabrics in various industries, indicating a promising future for the market in the coming years.

Driven by rising demand for nonwoven fabric in the UK, the market is expected to start an upward consumption trend over the next decade. The performance of the market is forecast to increase slightly, with an anticipated CAGR of +0.7% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market volume to 160K tons by the end of 2035.

In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +0.8% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market value to $939M (in nominal wholesale prices) by the end of 2035.

After two years of decline, consumption of nonwoven fabrics increased by 3.4% to 149K tons in 2024. Over the period under review, consumption, however, saw a noticeable decrease. Over the period under review, consumption attained the peak volume at 209K tons in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2024, consumption failed to regain momentum.

The size of the nonwoven fabric market in the UK shrank to $860M in 2024, approximately mirroring the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers' margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption, however, continues to indicate a mild decline. Over the period under review, the market reached the peak level at $1.1B in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2024, consumption remained at a lower figure.

Nonwoven fabric production in the UK amounted to 50K tons in 2024, stabilizing at 2023 figures. In general, production, however, showed a abrupt curtailment. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when the production volume increased by 18%. Over the period under review, production hit record highs at 89K tons in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2024, production stood at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, nonwoven fabric production stood at $522M in 2024 estimated in export price. Overall, production, however, showed a pronounced setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 with an increase of 16% against the previous year. Nonwoven fabric production peaked at $724M in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2024, production remained at a lower figure.

In 2024, purchases abroad of nonwoven fabrics was finally on the rise to reach 116K tons for the first time since 2021, thus ending a two-year declining trend. Over the period under review, imports, however, recorded a noticeable reduction. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2017 when imports increased by 15% against the previous year. Over the period under review, imports attained the maximum at 151K tons in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2024, imports remained at a lower figure.

In value terms, nonwoven fabric imports fell to $542M in 2024. Overall, imports showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2021 with an increase of 21%. As a result, imports attained the peak of $629M. From 2022 to 2024, the growth of imports remained at a lower figure.

Turkey (20K tons), Germany (16K tons) and China (15K tons) were the main suppliers of nonwoven fabric imports to the UK, together accounting for 43% of total imports.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the main suppliers, was attained by Turkey (with a CAGR of +13.6%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, Germany ($88M), Turkey ($59M) and China ($54M) appeared to be the largest nonwoven fabric suppliers to the UK, together accounting for 37% of total imports.

Turkey, with a CAGR of +14.5%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, in terms of the main suppliers over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

The average nonwoven fabric import price stood at $4,680 per ton in 2024, with a decrease of -7.4% against the previous year. Over the last eleven years, it increased at an average annual rate of +2.2%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2014 an increase of 22% against the previous year. The import price peaked at $5,096 per ton in 2022; however, from 2023 to 2024, import prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major supplying countries. In 2024, amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was the United States ($14,531 per ton), while the price for Turkey ($2,916 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the United States (+7.4%), while the prices for the other major suppliers experienced more modest paces of growth.

In 2024, shipments abroad of nonwoven fabrics decreased by -8.9% to 16K tons, falling for the fifth consecutive year after two years of growth. In general, exports saw a noticeable decline. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2015 with an increase of 8.7%. The exports peaked at 26K tons in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2024, the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, nonwoven fabric exports fell to $204M in 2024. Overall, exports, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2019 with an increase of 13%. The exports peaked at $243M in 2021; however, from 2022 to 2024, the exports failed to regain momentum.

Germany (2.3K tons), Ireland (1.7K tons) and the United States (1.5K tons) were the main destinations of nonwoven fabric exports from the UK, together comprising 34% of total exports. France, Poland, China, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Italy, Hungary, Denmark and Spain lagged somewhat behind, together comprising a further 37%.

From 2013 to 2024, the biggest increases were recorded for Hungary (with a CAGR of +25.2%), while shipments for the other leaders experienced mixed trend patterns.

In value terms, the United States ($31M), Germany ($21M) and China ($15M) constituted the largest markets for nonwoven fabric exported from the UK worldwide, together accounting for 33% of total exports. Ireland, Malaysia, France, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark and Hungary lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 32%.

Hungary, with a CAGR of +19.7%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, in terms of the main countries of destination over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

The average nonwoven fabric export price stood at $12,382 per ton in 2024, therefore, remained relatively stable against the previous year. Over the period under review, export price indicated a perceptible expansion from 2013 to 2024: its price increased at an average annual rate of +4.0% over the last eleven years. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2024 figures, nonwoven fabric export price increased by +63.6% against 2016 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2014 when the average export price increased by 22% against the previous year. Over the period under review, the average export prices attained the maximum at $12,461 per ton in 2023, and then declined slightly in the following year.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was the United States ($20,642 per ton), while the average price for exports to Hungary ($5,833 per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to China (+7.5%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the nonwoven fabric market in the UK. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

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Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports

The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

The Largest Import Supplying Countries

The Largest Destinations for Exports

The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles