EDANA which is the roof organization of European nonwoven sector, explained 2014 statistic numbers that gives an extensive image of European nonwoven sector. Data provide a strong look for the power and the flexibility of nonwoven sector in Europe. According to the data collected and compiled by EDANA, nonwoven production amount in Europe reached to 2,165.000 tons with 4.7% increase in 2014. After the low- level grow period in 2012 and 2013, annual growing average became 5.3% for the first time after 2009. It was obviously seen different trends among many European countries and many nonwoven production methods.
Hygiene Market has grown
The Manager of Market Analyze and Financial Affairs of EDANA, Jacques Prigneaux said “Spunmelt nonwovens recorded the highest growing rate since 20114 with 3.3%. In addition to this, technologies such as drylaid, wetlaid and airlaid which have been growing 3% since two years obtained a record with 5.9% at fibre based production. High ton growth has been observed at drylaid production processes with hydroentanglement with 9.3% increase and needle punched with 9.1% increase. In the sense of nonwoven final user products, hygiene market formed the biggest volume segment. Hygiene segment which caught a 1.8% limited growth in 2013, caught a growth with 6.1% increase in 2014. For this increase, develop in incontinence market became important. In 2014, nonwoven growth fields were ranged as the following: personal care handkerchiefs with 12,1%, flooring with 12,3%, construction engineering with 11,9% and automotive with 13,1%. Besides, electronics and food & beverage fields in which nonwoven materials are used obtained attention- grabbing growths. Significant decline numbers in 2014 were only observed in wearing and fusing fields”.
