Asia: Nonwoven Fabric Market 2025

Nonwoven Fabric Market Size in Asia

The Asian nonwoven fabric market expanded notably to $X in 2022, growing by 6.1% against the previous year. The market value increased at an average annual rate of +2.9% over the period from 2012 to 2022; however, the trend pattern indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $X. From 2021 to 2022, the growth of the market remained at a lower figure.

Nonwoven Fabric Production in Asia

In value terms, nonwoven fabric production amounted to $X in 2022 estimated in export price. The total production indicated a strong expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +5.2% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, production decreased by -7.8% against 2019 indices. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2018 with an increase of 30% against the previous year. Over the period under review, production attained the peak level at $X in 2019; however, from 2020 to 2022, production failed to regain momentum.

Nonwoven Fabric Exports

Exports in Asia

In 2022, shipments abroad of nonwoven fabrics decreased by -9% to X tons for the first time since 2016, thus ending a five-year rising trend. Over the period under review, exports, however, saw buoyant growth. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 30%. The volume of export peaked at X tons in 2021, and then fell in the following year.

In value terms, nonwoven fabric exports shrank to $X in 2022. Total exports indicated a remarkable increase from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +6.1% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, exports decreased by -12.5% against 2020 indices. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2020 when exports increased by 33% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $X. From 2021 to 2022, the growth of the exports remained at a lower figure.

Exports by Country

In 2022, China (X tons) was the main exporter of nonwoven fabrics, constituting 56% of total exports. Turkey (X tons) held a 13% share (based on physical terms) of total exports, which put it in second place, followed by Israel (4.8%). Thailand (X tons), Japan (X tons), Taiwan (Chinese) (X tons), India (X tons), South Korea (X tons), Saudi Arabia (X tons), Malaysia (X tons) and Vietnam (X tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.

Exports from China increased at an average annual rate of +9.6% from 2012 to 2022. At the same time, Vietnam (+18.5%), Turkey (+12.8%), India (+11.9%), Thailand (+8.6%), Saudi Arabia (+7.6%), Japan (+5.3%), Israel (+4.7%) and Malaysia (+1.4%) displayed positive paces of growth. Moreover, Vietnam emerged as the fastest-growing exporter exported in Asia, with a CAGR of +18.5% from 2012-2022. Taiwan (Chinese) experienced a relatively flat trend pattern. By contrast, South Korea (-1.8%) illustrated a downward trend over the same period. China (+8 p.p.) and Turkey (+4.6 p.p.) significantly strengthened its position in terms of the total exports, while Israel, Malaysia, Taiwan (Chinese) and South Korea saw its share reduced by -1.7%, -2%, -3.3% and -4.5% from 2012 to 2022, respectively. The shares of the other countries remained relatively stable throughout the analyzed period.

In value terms, China ($X) remains the largest nonwoven fabric supplier in Asia, comprising 52% of total exports. The second position in the ranking was held by Japan ($X), with a 12% share of total exports. It was followed by Turkey, with an 11% share.

In China, nonwoven fabric exports increased at an average annual rate of +9.4% over the period from 2012-2022. The remaining exporting countries recorded the following average annual rates of exports growth: Japan (+3.1% per year) and Turkey (+11.6% per year).

Export Prices by Country

The export price in Asia stood at $X per ton in 2022, which is down by -2.1% against the previous year. Overall, the export price recorded a slight contraction. The growth pace was the most rapid in 2016 an increase of 12%. As a result, the export price attained the peak level of $X per ton. From 2017 to 2022, the export prices failed to regain momentum.

There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2022, amid the top suppliers, the country with the highest price was Japan ($X per ton), while India ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by Vietnam (+0.2%), while the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the export price figures.

Nonwoven Fabric Imports

Imports in Asia

In 2022, purchases abroad of nonwoven fabrics decreased by -14.8% to X tons, falling for the second consecutive year after nine years of growth. Total imports indicated a noticeable expansion from 2012 to 2022: its volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.5% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports decreased by -15.0% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when imports increased by 14% against the previous year. As a result, imports reached the peak of X tons. From 2021 to 2022, the growth of imports remained at a somewhat lower figure.

In value terms, nonwoven fabric imports dropped to $X in 2022. Total imports indicated a perceptible expansion from 2012 to 2022: its value increased at an average annual rate of +3.9% over the last decade. The trend pattern, however, indicated some noticeable fluctuations being recorded throughout the analyzed period. Based on 2022 figures, imports decreased by -10.8% against 2020 indices. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2020 when imports increased by 20%. As a result, imports reached the peak of $X. From 2021 to 2022, the growth of imports failed to regain momentum.

Imports by Country

In 2022, Japan (X tons), distantly followed by South Korea (X tons), Vietnam (X tons), China (X tons), Indonesia (X tons) and India (X tons) represented the major importers of nonwoven fabrics, together committing 63% of total imports. Turkey (X tons), the Philippines (X tons), Thailand (X tons), Malaysia (X tons), Saudi Arabia (X tons), Taiwan (Chinese) (X tons) and Bangladesh (X tons) held a minor share of total imports.

From 2012 to 2022, the biggest increases were recorded for Bangladesh (with a CAGR of +19.8%), while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

In value terms, China ($X), Japan ($X) and Vietnam ($X) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2022, together accounting for 46% of total imports. These countries were followed by South Korea, Turkey, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan (Chinese), the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, which together accounted for a further 38%.

In terms of the main importing countries, Bangladesh, with a CAGR of +21.1%, saw the highest rates of growth with regard to the value of imports, over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Import Prices by Country

In 2022, the import price in Asia amounted to $X per ton, with an increase of 6.9% against the previous year. In general, the import price, however, continues to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The level of import peaked at $X per ton in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2022, import prices remained at a lower figure.

Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was China ($X per ton), while the Philippines ($X per ton) was amongst the lowest.

From 2012 to 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by China (+3.8%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Platform

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