GVR Report cover Spunbond Nonwoven Market Size, Share & Trends Report

Spunbond Nonwoven Market (2020 - 2027) Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Polypropylene, Polyester, Polyethylene), By Product (Disposable, Durable), By Application, And Segment Forecasts

Market Size, 2019

$13.9B

Market Estimate, 2026

$14.7B

Market Forecast, 2027

$22.8B

CAGR, 2020–2027

6.4%

Spunbond Nonwoven Market Summary

The global spunbond nonwoven market size was estimated at USD 13.88 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 22.84 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2020 to 2027. Increasing birth rate and rising awareness about the benefits of the use of baby diapers expected to drive market growth.

Key Market Trends & Insights

  • The North America market held the largest revenue share of around 20% in 2019.
  • Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest CAGR of 7.5% over the forecast period.
  • By material, the polypropylene segment contributed the largest market share and accounted for 58% in terms of revenue in 2019.
  • By product, the disposable segment accounted for the largest market share of over 65% in terms of revenue.
  • By application, the personal care and hygiene segment held the largest revenue share of over 55% in 2019.

Market Size & Forecast

  • 2019 Market Size: USD 13.88 Billion
  • 2027 Projected Market Size: USD 22.84 Billion
  • CAGR (2020-2027): 6.4%
  • North America: Largest market in 2019
  • Asia Pacific: Fastest growing market

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Increase in use of spunbond nonwovens for geotextiles is expected to have a positive impact on the demand. Growing number of transportation infrastructure planners, builders, and engineers, are adopting geotextiles as durable material for highways, roads, railways, and foundations. Geotextiles are gaining demand in new applications such as mining, oil drilling sites, shale gas, providing further opportunities.

The market in China is expected to exhibit high growth on account of the rapid development of application industries. The market exhibits high production volumes of pharmaceutical and textile products thereby accounting for high product consumption. The presence of a robust textile industry in the region is expected to emerge as one of the prominent growth drivers for the market.

China spunbond nonwoven market sizeSource: Grand View Research, IR Documents, Primary Interviews, Paid Databases

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Several regulations have been enforced for the production of and use of spunbond nonwoven in various application industries. Use of spunbond nonwovens for food packaging application is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, FDA and European counsel have also approved the use of spunbond nonwovens in medical and healthcare applications.

Spunbond is the second largest process used for the processing of sustainable nonwovens, due to cost-effectiveness and high performance. Spunbond process yields higher output at comparatively lower costs. Due to lack sustainability in wet-laid process, many companies are replacing wet-laid process with spunbond process.

However, frequent fluctuations in raw material prices may hamper the growth of the spunbond nonwoven market. Polymers are an important raw material for the production of spunbond nonwovens. Polypropylene is the most widely used polymer, accounting for more than 50% of the total raw material share. Prices of polymers generally follow oil prices. Hence, any movement can result into volatility of oil prices, which in turn affects polymer prices.

Market Dynamics

The increasing use of spunbond nonwoven fabrics in hygiene and healthcare products is a major factor driving market growth. These materials are widely used in baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, adult incontinence products, surgical gowns, face masks, and medical drapes due to their lightweight nature, breathability, softness, and cost-effectiveness. Growing awareness regarding personal hygiene, rising healthcare expenditure, and increasing demand for disposable medical products are significantly boosting the consumption of spunbond nonwovens worldwide.

Additionally, rapid urbanization, rising birth rates in developing economies, and the expansion of healthcare infrastructure are supporting long-term market demand. Manufacturers are also focusing on developing recyclable and bio-based nonwoven materials to align with sustainability trends and changing consumer preferences, further creating growth opportunities for the spunbond nonwoven market.

The spunbond nonwoven market faces challenges due to fluctuations in polypropylene and other petrochemical-based raw material prices, which directly impact manufacturing costs and profit margins. Variations in crude oil prices, supply chain disruptions, and rising transportation expenses often create uncertainty in procurement and production planning for manufacturers. Additionally, rising environmental concerns about plastic disposable products and stricter regulations on waste management, recycling, and sustainability are compelling manufacturers to invest in eco-friendly alternatives and advanced recycling technologies, thereby increasing operational and compliance costs.

Material Insights

Polypropylene contributed the largest market share in 2019 and accounted for 58% in terms of revenue in 2019. The demand for polypropylene spunbond nonwovens is driven by its increasing use in baby diapers, sanitary napkins, and adult incontinence products owing to the burgeoning birth rate, increasing aging population, and increased awareness about menstrual hygiene in developing countries.

Though polyester offers many advantages over polypropylene, it is more expensive. Though tensile strength, modulus, heat stability of polyester fabrics is greater than that of polypropylene fabrics, polyester scrap cannot be easily recycled in spunbond manufacturing. Polyester is the most used polymer for bi-component spunbond nonwovens due to its increasing strength and soft texture it provides to spunbond nonwoven fabrics.

Polyethylene-based spunbond nonwovens are estimated to account for 524.1 kilotons in 2019, as it exhibits outstanding physical characteristics that are considered safe and useful for number of applications. Polyethylene is becoming increasingly important raw material for spunbond nonwovens due to its low melting point for processing and softer feel in nonwoven products.

Other raw materials used in the production of spunbond nonwoven are polyamides, including nylon-6 and nylon-6,6, and polyurethane. Nylon-6 and nylon-6,6 spunbond nonwovens are highly energy-intensive and expensive than polypropylene and polyester. Polyurethane and types of rayons are also used successfully to process spunbond nonwovens.

Product Insights

Disposable spunbond nonwovens accounted for the largest market share of over 65% in terms of revenue and are expected to reach USD 16.3 billion by 2027, on account of its use in diverse applications, ranging from personal hygiene products such as diapers, sanitary napkins, medical products such as surgical gowns and masks, drapes, bandages, wipes, towels, bibs, and consumer products.

Disposable spunbond nowoven can be used in large number of applications. These are especially produced for one-time use, but in some exceptional cases such as dust clothes or reusable wipes, it may be used laundered and reused a few times before it is disposed. A disposable absorbent is made up of absorbent material and degradable polymer comprising of aliphatic polyester.

Durable spunbond nonwovens are expected to witness a revenue-based CAGR of 5.7% from 2020 to 2027, which can be attributed to its enhanced properties like lighter weight, more breathable, and superior tear as compared to traditional material. These are used in wide range of applications, including household products and home furnishings, geotextiles, roofing products, insulation and packaging materials.

Durable spunbond nonwovens are long-lasting engineered fabrics. These are most commonly referred to as long-life spunbond nonwovens. Durable spunbond nonwovens may or may not be launderable. Durable spunbond nonwovens also include semi-disposable nonwovens, which are frequently used in filtration applications, household products and home furnishings, such as

Application Insights

Personal care and hygiene held the largest revenue share of over 55% in 2019 and is expected to witness the fastest CAGR, owing to the due burgeoning demand for baby diapers, feminine care products, and adult incontinence products. The demand is increasing owing to the high birth rate, increasing awareness about menstrual hygiene, and increasing aging population.

Spunbond nonwovens are extensively used in medical and healthcare applications to provide decent protection against biological agents. They have replaced many traditional materials in medical and healthcare sector. They are widely used in medical and healthcare applications on the account of excellent properties they offer such as breathability, resistance to fluid penetration, sterilizability, and impermeability to bacteria.

Global spunbond nonwoven market share

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Demand for spunbond nonwovens for geotextiles is expected to expand at a significant CAGR of 7.0% in terms of revenue over the projected period, owing to the superior properties and cost savings. Increasing number of infrastructure projects in emerging economies have boosted the use of geotextiles, which is consequently driving the market growth.

Other applications include industries including filtration, automotive, printing and packaging, textiles, and others. Spunbond nonwovens are used in various filtration applications such as pool and spa filtration, beverage filtration, air filtration, and others. The product demand for filtration application is growing as spunbond nonwovens continue to replace traditional technology due to increasing consumer interest in clean drinking water and clean air.

Regional Insights

The market in North America held the largest revenue share of around 20% in 2019, and is expected to expand at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to rise in product demand for diapers and feminine care products. Rise in use of adult continence products due to increasing geriatric population has a positive impact on industry growth.

The product demand in Europe is dominated by hygiene applications and the trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. Increasing aging population and rising occurrence of chronic diseases in the region has resulted in the demand for medical and adult incontinence products in the region; which in turn is likely to have a positive impact on the market growth.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest CAGR of 7.5% over the forecast period, owing to high birth rate in China and India, as well as high geriatric population in Japan. In addition, the region is expected to witness high product demand production of automotive interior materials.

The demand for spunbond nonwovens in Central and South America is likely to witness significant growth over the projected period owing to the rising demand from medical, hygiene, and automotive industry. High consumer awareness regarding health, hygiene, and safety is expected to have a positive impact on the market growth over the forecast period.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The market has been witnessing an increasing trend of organic and inorganic growth through expansion and mergers and acquisitions. The companies are trying to increase their sales through acquisition, investment, and innovation. The companies are expanding their capacities to facilitate the respective markets. The market is competitive due to the presence of major companies involved in the product manufacture. The market is characterized by the presence of a significant consumer base across the globe with the companies operating their business through dedicated distribution networks. Some of the prominent players in the spunbond nonwovens market are:

  • Freudenberg Group

  • DuPont

  • Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oyj

  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation

  • Berry Global Group, Inc.

  • FITESA

  • Johns Manville Corporation

  • Toray Industries

  • Indorama Ventures

  • Pegas Nonwovens S.A.

  • Akitieselskabet Schouw & Co.

  • Asahi Kasai Corporation

  • Mitsui Chemicals

Competitive Benchmarking

Operating Strategies

Competitive Edge

Weakness

Mature Players: Freudenberg Group; DuPont; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Berry Global Group, Inc.; Toray Industries

  • Expansion of hygiene, medical, and industrial nonwoven product portfolios
  • Investments in sustainable and bio-based nonwoven technologies
  • Strategic partnerships with healthcare, personal care, and packaging manufacturers
  • Strong global manufacturing footprint and advanced material technologies
  • Established customer relationships across hygiene and healthcare sectors
  • Strong R&D capabilities and diversified product offerings
  • Exposure to fluctuations in polypropylene and petrochemical raw material prices
  • High capital investment requirements for advanced production lines
  • Increasing regulatory pressure related to plastic waste and sustainability

Emerging Players: Nine Dragons Worldwide (China) Investment Group Co., Ltd; Sappi Ltd; Cascades Inc.; Greif

  • Focus on regional expansion and customized nonwoven applications
  • Investments in lightweight, recyclable, and specialty nonwoven products
  • Capacity expansion to meet growing hygiene and medical demand
  • Strong specialization in niche and regional markets
  • Flexible manufacturing capabilities and cost-efficient operations
  • Increasing focus on sustainable and high-performance materials
  • Limited global presence compared to multinational companies
  • Dependence on regional demand and supply chain stability
  • Competitive pressure from large integrated nonwoven manufacturers

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Spunbond Nonwoven Market Report Scope

Report Attribute

Details

Market size value in 2020

USD 14.68 Billion

Revenue forecast in 2027

USD 22.84 Billion

Growth Rate

CAGR of 6.4% from 2020 to 2027

Base year for estimation

2019

Historical data

2016 - 2018

Forecast period

2020 - 2027

Quantitative units

Volume in kilotons, Revenue in USD million and CAGR from 2020 to 2027

Report coverage

Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends

Segments covered

Material; product; application; region

Regional scope

North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Central & South America; Middle East & Africa

Country scope

U.S.; Canada; Mexico; Germany; U.K.; France; Italy; Spain; China; India; Japan; Brazil

Key companies profiled

Freudenberg Group; DuPont; Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oyj; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Berry Global Group, Inc.; FITESA; Johns Manville Corporation; Toray Industries; Indorama Ventures; Pegas Nonwovens S.A.; Akitieselskabet Schouw & Co.; Asahi Kasai Corporation; Mitsui Chemicals

Customization scope

Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope

Pricing and purchase options

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Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts volume and revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2027. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global spunbond nonwovens market report on the basis of material, product, application, and region:

  • Material Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

    • Polypropylene

    • Polyester

    • Polyethylene

    • Others

  • Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

    • Disposable

    • Durable

  • Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

    • Personal Care & Hygiene

    • Medical & Healthcare

    • Geotextiles

    • Others

  • Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

    • North America

      • The U.S.

      • Canada

      • Mexico

    • Europe

      • Germany

      • The U.K.

      • France

      • Italy

      • Spain

    • Asia Pacific

      • China

      • India

      • Japan

    • Central & South America

      • Brazil

    • Middle East & Africa

Delivered Customizations

This report has been delivered with the following In-depth customizations

Client Request

Customization Delivered

Value Adds

Regional Segmentation

Detailed regional and country-level analysis covering demand trends, production capacity, consumption patterns, and regulatory landscape across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.

Helps companies identify high-growth regional markets, understand regional supply-demand dynamics, and develop targeted expansion and distribution strategies.

Competitive Benchmarking

Comprehensive benchmarking of leading spunbond nonwoven manufacturers based on product portfolio, raw material integration, technological capabilities, and geographic presence.

Supports companies in evaluating competitive positioning, identifying operational strengths and weaknesses, and formulating effective market differentiation strategies.

Technology Assessment

Analysis of advancements in spunbond production technologies, biodegradable and recyclable nonwoven materials, multilayer nonwoven structures, automation trends, and innovations in hygiene and medical-grade applications.

Helps companies track technological developments, improve product performance and manufacturing efficiency, and capitalize on emerging sustainable nonwoven opportunities.

About the Author(s)

Smart Textiles Research Team

Advanced Materials · Smart Textiles

This report was authored by the smart textiles research team at Grand View Research - comprising two research analysts, one senior research analyst, and one industry expert - with specialized expertise in the smart textiles segment of the advanced materials industry. All findings are based on proprietary advanced materials databases, executive interviews, and regulatory analysis, subject to internal peer review prior to publication.

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