“For the first time ever, we have published this report before the end of May, making this valuable information available to our member companies when they need it for their business planning purposes,” explained Jacques Prigneaux, Director for Market Analysis and Economic Affairs at EDANA.

“In addition, we know uninterrupted data, like our series produced since 1972, is highly valued by our members and regarded as a reliable resource for their business.”

Nonwovens production

In 2013, nonwovens production in Greater Europe, which includes Turkey and the CIS countries of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, increased in volume by around 2% to reach 2,044,215 tonnes.

This compares with growth rates in the two previous years of 1.7% in 2012 and 6.2% in 2011. The same production in square metres grew faster and reached the level of 59,833 million last year. The production in CIS countries and Turkey continued to grow, respectively by 4.8% and 12.9%.

Informative and relevant

The report made available to the more than 240 EDANA member companies answers questions such as:

• How fast have spunmelt nonwovens sales grown, compared to staple-fibre based technologies?
• Was hydro-entanglement again the fastest growing bonding technology within drylaid nonwovens?
• What are the leading end-uses in Greater Europe in 2013?

With all significant players from Greater Europe and a large number of companies participating already from the Middle East and Africa, more than 100 major nonwoven producers are directly involved, representing over 85% of the production in both regions.

The remainder of the market is covered by qualified estimates for an equivalent number of generally much smaller producers.

Multi-dimensional expert system

“While it is always a challenge to collect, compile and deliver in final format such data within a reasonable time frame every year, we recognise the value to our member companies to deliver the data in a timely manner, and to keep the information it meaningful and sufficiently relevant to play a useful role as a benchmarking and planning tool for companies,” explained Pierre Wiertz, EDANA General Manager.

“As a result, not only brought the collection and analysis in-house several years ago, but continue to commit significant resources towards this project every year, in order to deliver this valuable service to our members.”

EDANA’s leadership in this area is based on a multi-dimensional expert system with internal consistency checks, based on verified reports of the consumption of raw materials, production of roll goods by process, and deliveries both by process and end-uses.

www.edana.org