Development forecast
1、 The non-woven textile industry has made great progress in recent years--
As of 1998, the global consumption of non-woven fabrics had reached 2.4 million tons. In 1970, its consumption was only 400000 tons, but by 2007, its consumption is expected to reach 4 million tons. The producers of non-woven fabrics are mainly concentrated in the United States (accounting for 41% of the world's total), Western Europe accounts for 30%, Japan accounts for 8%, and China's production only accounts for 3.5% of the world's total, but its consumption is 17.5% of the world's total. It is expected that by 2007, China's production will reach 7% of the world's production, and its consumption will increase to 21% of the world's total.
At present, synthetic fibers still dominate the production of non-woven fabrics, and this situation will not change significantly before 2007. 63% of the fibers used for non-woven fabric production worldwide are polypropylene, 23% are polyester, 8% are adhesive, 2% are acrylic fibers, 1.5% are polyamide, and the remaining 3% are other fibers.
In recent years, the application of non-woven fabrics in hygiene absorbent materials, pharmaceuticals, transportation vehicles, and textile materials for shoes has significantly increased.
2、 Production and consumption of non-woven fabrics
The global consumption of non-woven fabrics was 800000 tons in 1983, but increased to 110 tons in 1985, 1.4 million tons in 1988, and 2.4 million tons in 1998. It is expected that by 2005, its consumption will reach 3.7 million tons.
The consumption of synthetic fibers used for various textiles was 16.9 million tons in 1983, increased to 20.4 million tons in 1988, reached 30.4 million tons in 1998, and is expected to reach 37 million tons by 2005, and 38.3 million tons in 2007.
The consumption growth rate of artificial fibers in non-woven fabric production is expected to reach 10% by 2005 and 10.4% by 2007. Part of the reason for the rapid growth of non-woven fabric industry consumption is the increase in auxiliary industries in China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
3、 Factors affecting the growth rate of non-woven fabrics--
All factors that affect the growth of artificial fibers can have varying degrees of impact on textiles made from artificial fibers, with non-woven textiles having the greatest impact. The population growth factor has a smaller impact on non-woven fabrics compared to other textiles used for clothing. But if we consider the important application of non-woven fabric in baby diapers, population growth is also an important influencing factor.
The replacement of natural fibers has a significant impact on textiles, but has little effect on non-woven fabrics, as the production of non-woven fabrics mainly relies on artificial fibers.
The development of artificial fibers in business and the professional application of non-woven fabrics: Due to the establishment of international economic treaties, the trade of microfibers, composite fibers, biodegradable fibers, and new polyester fibers has increased. This has a significant impact on non-woven fabrics, but has little effect on clothing and knitted textiles. Substitution of textiles and other articles: This includes non-woven fabrics, knitting textiles, plastic films, polyurea foam, wood pulp, leather, etc. This is determined by the cost and performance requirements that the product needs to have. Introducing new, more economical and efficient production processes: the application of various products made from polymers, competitive new non-woven fabrics, and the introduction of special fibers and non-woven textile additives.
The three major fibers used in non-woven fabric production are polypropylene fibers (62% of the total), polyester fibers (24% of the total), and viscose fibers (8% of the total). Between 1970 and 1985, adhesive fibers were most commonly used in the production of non-woven fabrics. But in the past five years, the application of polypropylene fibers and polyester fibers has begun to dominate in the fields of sanitary absorbent materials and pharmaceutical textiles. In the early non-woven fabric production market, the amount of nylon used was large. Since 1998, the amount of acrylic fiber has been increasing, especially in the field of artificial leather manufacturing.
