China Technical Textile watch by Oliver Haiqing Hua

The Indian nonwovens market accounted for 7% of the nonwovens market in Asia last year. In 2016, India’s nonwovens market is expected to account for already 8% share in the Asian nonwovens market, according to the International Nonwoven Fabric Association Asia branch, who believes that the region is influenced by a hot development trend.

In the past three years, the India nonwovens market is said to have achieved significant growth. India’s nonwovens industry is experiencing phenomenal growth, at present, nonwovens production in India is about 125,000 tons – 140,000 tons, the organisation says adding that although there is no market research, but through the estimations, nonwovens production in India will have a greater range of increase.

Investment plan

Rita Menon, Secretary of Ministry of Textiles of India, has announced a US 45 million investment for the development of industrial textiles within the Five Year Plan programme that is running from 2013-2017. The plan aims to accelerate the development of new model nonwovens and specialty textile materials.

In order to achieve the objectives, the Ministry needs to set up four new centres of excellence, while strengthening India’s domestic R&D capability. The centres will specialise in nonwovens, composite materials, industrial textiles and sports textiles.

Each centre will be allocated US 5.45 million investment from the investment pool. Another task is to strengthen domestic consumption capacity and increase export opportunities.

New production line

As for recent investment, Global Nonwovens Limited (GNL) announced this summer the company’s plans to add one large melt spinning production line in Nasik, India.

This production line is mainly aimed at the health and medical applications. This annual output of 20,000 tons production line is expected to be put into operation at the end of April next year.

Manufacturing in India

Precot Meridian established a nonwoven production plant in Karnataka, a southern state of India, mainly engaged in the production of health care products.

This new project, equipped with a nonwovens production line, the product self-processing and finishing machine, is expected to become a comprehensive factory.

In addition, the world's largest consumer products manufacturer America Procter & Gamble has recently announced plans to manufacture products specifically designed for the Indian market to provide more affordable products for the growing population.

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About Oliver Haiqing Hua

Oliver Haiqing Hua, a textiles business analyst, has joined the Innovation in Textiles team to provide regular insider reports on developments within the Chinese textile industry. Oliver focuses on the development and changes in the Chinese textiles industry and associated industries, and gives in-depth analysis and interpretation of the relevant policies, industry trends, and business events.

Mr. Hua previously worked for the former Ministry of Equipment & Materials and the former Ministry of Internal Trade of China from 1984 to 1997. His role included reporting on the market, raw materials, production, logistics, finance, management dynamics, as well as the analysis related to all the upstream and downstream aspects in the industry supply chain.