| The worldwide nonwoven industry has grown | | | | * Population growth and increase in middle class |
| steadily at about 7.5% per annum in tonnage in the | | | | disposable income |
| last decade. While the nonwoven industries growth in | | | | * Low cost skilled labor |
| North America, Europe and Japan has slowed with | | | | * Ability to cater to the value chain |
| maturity, these countries are still growing at 5% per | | | | * Growing domestic retail market |
| annum. A significant portion of worldwide nonwoven | | | | Weakness: |
| expansion is due to the rising demand for these | | | | Some of the major weaknesses for Indian |
| materials as emerging economies like Asia expands. | | | | nonwovens industry are: |
| India and China are the key players contributing to | | | | * Textile industry being fragmented to less of |
| this growth. | | | | organized and more unorganized sector. |
| India has a huge opportunity to capitalize on much | | | | * Low productivity and cost competitiveness |
| larger portion of this growth. Government of India | | | | * Obsolence in technology |
| emphasized the promotion of all steps of the textile | | | | * Lack of product knowledge and expertise. |
| industry, especially by paying attention to the | | | | In an Interview with Mr. G Ravishankar, an expert |
| innumerable use of nonwovens in unnoticed | | | | Nonwoven consultant from India, he tried to portray |
| applications. Indian industry is starting to expose itself | | | | the current scenario of Nonwovens industry in India |
| to international trends by inviting foreign players to | | | | with some future forecast statistics to have a |
| partner with entrepreneurs in India. As nonwovens | | | | guideline for entrepreneurs and new entrants into this |
| and technical textiles have been considered to be the | | | | emerging field. |
| most promising and dynamic segment of the textile | | | | Q. How do you see the future of Nonwovens in India |
| industry, the demand and consumption of nonwovens | | | | for next 10 years? Give us some facts and figures |
| and technical textiles will grow enormously in the near | | | | for the same? |
| future. | | | | A: The current Indian production levels in Nonwovens |
| The questions that come an individuals mind is that | | | | are miniscule by developed world standards. I expect |
| "Is India the next booming market for nonwovens? | | | | the production level to touch 1.0 million tons in ten |
| Will India be reaching the new horizons in nonwovens | | | | years which would mean a very high growth rate. |
| and technical textiles? | | | | The nonwovens consumption is directly related to |
| Strength: | | | | economic development and per-capita income of the |
| With a large textile manufacturing base and technical | | | | population. As over 60% nonwovens usage is in |
| manpower, India has the potential to become the | | | | disposable products, the availability of surplus income |
| leading exporter of various nonwovens and technical | | | | and increase in hygiene awareness are important |
| textile products. The promotion of nonwovens in | | | | factors for growth. Current nonwoven production |
| India is promising in healthcare as traditional textiles | | | | level is only about 70,000 tons per annum which was |
| are replaced with single-use disposables, improving | | | | the same level in China, fifteen years ago. China |
| agriculture for better crop protection and in | | | | today is producing over 1 million tons of nonwovens. |
| geotextiles to meet increasing needs in infrastructure | | | | With more emphasis on renewable raw materials like |
| and the possibility of controlling floods. The major | | | | cotton and viscose for disposable nonwovens, many |
| strength for Indian Nonwoven industry is listed below: | | | | European and American manufacturers are expected |
| * India is one of the largest producers of natural and | | | | to set base in India due abundance of these two raw |
| manmade fibres | | | | materials in India. |