The third edition of the “Worldwide Outlook for the Nonwovens Industry 2007–2012” will be released this fall by INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, in cooperation with its European counterpart EDANA. The report covers worldwide industry statistics, including size of regional markets and projections for growth in all major nonwovens markets and technologies, and also reviews web forming and bonding technologies, including current capacities and global projections.

Some highlights from the report:

• INDA and EDANA forecast that worldwide nonwovens will continue to grow at a rate of about 7.9 percent per year during the rive-year period of 2007–2012, and reach 8.41 million tons by 2012.
• Square meter volume is forecast to grow at a faster pace—about a percentage point per year higher than tonnage. Newer nonwoven technologies are capable of producing nonwovens at lower weights while meeting specific requirements.
• Spunlaid volume is increasing at a faster pace and actually surpassed carded volume within the last year. Spunlaid nonwovens growth is driven in large part by the technology’s expansion in China and now into India.

For information, visit www.inda.org.