According to the eleventh edition of the annual North American Nonwovens Supply report, North America’s nonwovens capacity reached 5.713 million tons in 2023. This report offers a complete assessment of the North American nonwoven material supply through 2023, including the critical parameters of capacity, production and operating rates, and regional trade. It is based on in-depth research, producer surveys, and interviews with industry professionals.
With investments being made for a range of end-uses and across all processes, North American capacity is still growing. According to the research, production output is changing and has slowed down in 2023 to reflect larger machine installations that are only now coming online.
In 2023, a lot of new nonwoven manufacturing lines were put in place, mostly in the long-life industries, which indicates a shift in the right direction toward all-encompassing sustainable goals.
“In our capital-intensive industry, the IDEA offers useful data and practical industry insights to improve decision-making. Regarding rolled goods and other nonwoven materials manufactured in North America, this report is the most comprehensive and accurate representation available. Tony Fragnito, President of INDA, stated in a press release that these supply and demand balance measures are critical for strategic planning and corporate investment decisions.
As part of their membership, INDA members receive complimentary executive summaries of the quarterly INDA Market Pulse, monthly Price Trends Summary, and annual Supply Reports. Both the biennial North American Nonwovens Industry Outlook, which was released in October 2023, and the biennial Global Nonwoven Markets Report, which is scheduled for publication in October 2024, are based on the data collected for this yearly report.
“We had a pretty amazing producer response from the industry, much like in 2023. In response to pressure from competition in the global supply chain, the markets are changing. According to principal market and industry analyst Mark Snider, “This report highlights significant metrics describing the changes and the reasons behind them.”
