This report covers all nonwoven wipes, globally; data will be provided for the time period 2017-27, with both historical and projected information provided. Overall, the global nonwoven wipes market is forecast to experience slightly higher than historical growth rates through 2027.
The global nonwoven wipes market consumed 1.5 million tonnes or 27.5 billion m2 of nonwovens in 2022, valued at $20.8 billion. The global wipes market is forecast to consume 2.1 million tonnes or 41.6 billion m2 of nonwovens, valued at $29.0 billion in 2027. Forecast growth rates for 2022- 27 are 7.4% (tonnes), 8.6% (m2) and 6.8% (sales $).
Whenever the return to a 'new normal' occurs, whether it is 2023 or 2024, the global wipes market will revert to being driven by fundamental factors. While some segments will continue to slow in growth in response to global economic issues, others will flourish as consumers continue to disinfect and clean more than pre-pandemic.
This report covers all nonwoven wipes, globally; data will be provided for the time period 2017-27, with both historical and projected information provided. Overall, the global nonwoven wipes market is forecast to experience slightly higher than historical growth rates through 2027.
Our exclusive content
- While Covid-19 had a strong effect on select segments of the wipes business in 2020, this effect was both narrow and short lived. Most consumer wipes saw an increase in demand in 2020, while most industrial wipes saw a decrease; the overall effect was about a 3% faster growth rate in demand for all wipes in 2020, followed by a return to near normal rates in 2021-22
- Some segments, including disinfecting wipes and healthcare wipes, are forecast to remain above historical levels through 2027
- Conversely, food service wipes and general purpose industrial wipes are forecast to lag behind historical levels through 2027.
What will you discover?
- Wipes growth will remain almost flat from 2022 to 2027
- Wipes sales value will decrease in South America and Asia, growing in Europe, the Middle East and Africa
- Some of this growth is forecast due to the very low wipes sales value in 2022; for example, Eastern Europe is forecast to have recovered somewhat by 2027 from Russia's invasion of the Ukraine and subsequent sanctions, as well as from Turkey's current economic and political issues.
The Smithers methodology
This report is based on extensive primary and secondary research. Primary research consisted of targeted interviews with material suppliers, converters and experts drawn from key markets. This was supported by secondary research in the form of extensive literature analysis of published data, official government statistics, domestic and international trade organisation data, company websites, industry reports, trade press articles, presentations, and attendance at trade events.
Who should buy this report?
- Pulp suppliers
- Paper suppliers
- Wipe suppliers
- Machinery and equipment suppliers
- Other raw material suppliers and producers
- Wipe manufacturers
About the author
Phil Mango has spent almost 40 years in the nonwovens industry. He has had varying positions and areas of expertise within the industry, from applications management for the global leader in nonwoven binders to technology director for the world's largest airlaid producer, to founder, owner and head of operations for his own nonwovens company. He entered the consulting field in 2003 and has authored more than 35 reports for Smithers.
Table of Contents
Executive summary
Introduction & methodology
- Scope
- Objectives
- Methodology
- Definitions
Key drivers and trends for wipes
- Introduction
- Supply chain
- Profit pool
- Competitive landscape
- Key regulations and industry guidelines
- Major drivers and trends
- Single-use plastics directive/plastics waste reduction
- Covid-19 and its aftermath
- Raw materials supply and pricing
- Performance requirements and developments
- Legislative developments
- Customer requirements (e.g. convenience)
- Sustainability
Material markets
- Introduction
- Market share of nonwoven wipes by raw materials
- Petroleum-based
- Polyester fibre
- Polypropylene fibre
- Polypropylene polymer
- Cellulose-based
- Wood pulp
- Speciality fibres
- Bicomponent fibre
- Polylactic acid
- Cellulose acetate
- Latex binders
- Standard latex binder
- Speciality latex binder
Process markets
- Introduction
- Market share of nonwoven wipes by process technology
- Spunlace
- Airlaid
- Needlepunch
- Coform
- Spunlaid
- Wetlaid
- Carded
- Others
End-use markets
- Introduction
- Consumer wipes
- Baby wipes
- Personal care wipes
- Adult moist toilet tissue
- Toddler toilet care wipes
- Adult incontinence/bath wipes
- Cosmetic/facial wipes
- Feminine hygiene wipes
- Other personal care wipes
- Home care or household wipes
- Cleaning/disinfecting wipes
- Wet floor wipes
- Electrostatic wipes
- Furniture/glass wipes
- Automotive
- Mops, other
- Industrial wipes
- General purpose industrial wipes
- Specialty industrial wipes
- Food service wipes
- Health care wipes
Geographic markets
- Introduction
- Market share of nonwoven wipes for by region and country
- North America - market overview
- South America - market overview
- Brazil
- Other South American countries
- Western Europe - market overview
- Germany
- UK
- France
- Spain
- Italy
- Benelux
- Scandinavia
- Other Western European countries
- Eastern Europe - market overview
- Russia
- Turkey
- Poland
- Other Eastern European countries
- Asia - market overview
- India
- China
- Japan
- Other Asian countries
Tables
- eKey regulations/guidelines with implications for wipes
- eFive key drivers/trends for wipes, 2022
- eMarket share of global nonwoven wipes market by raw material, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eRaw materials consumed in the global nonwoven wipes market, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eCellulose-based raw materials for wipes market, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eCellulose-based raw materials for wipes market, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eWood pulp for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eWood pulp for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eRayon/Lyocell for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eRayon/Lyocell for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eCotton for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eCotton for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- ePetroleum-based raw materials for wipes market, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- ePetroleum-based raw materials for wipes market, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- ePolypropylene fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- ePolypropylene fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- ePolypropylene polymer for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- ePolypropylene polymer for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- ePolyester fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- ePolyester fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eSpecialty fibre raw materials for wipes market, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eSpecialty fibre raw materials for wipes market, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eBicomponent fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eBicomponent fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- ePLA fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- ePLA fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eCellulose acetate fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eCellulose acetate fibre for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eLatex binders for wipes market, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eLatex binders for wipes market, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eStandard binders for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eStandard binders for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eSpecialty binders for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eSpecialty binders for wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eGlobal nonwoven wipes by process, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eGlobal nonwoven wipes by process, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eSpunlace wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eSpunlace wipes market by nonwovens volume, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eAirlaid wipe market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eAirlaid wipe market by volume, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eNeedlepunch wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eNeedlepunch wipes market by volume, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eCoform wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eCoform wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eSpunlaid wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eSpunlaid wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eWetlaid wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eWetlaid wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eCarded wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eCarded wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eOther wipes market by value, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eOther wipes market by value, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eGlobal nonwoven wipes sales, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eGlobal nonwoven wipes sales, 2017-27 (million m2)
- eGlobal nonwoven wipes sales, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eGlobal consumer wipes sales, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eGlobal consumer wipes nonwoven volume, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eBaby wipes sales, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eBaby wipes nonwovens volume, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- ePersonal care wipes sales, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- ePersonal care wipes nonwovens volume, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- ePersonal care wipes sales, 2017-27 '000 tonnes)
- eHome care wipes sales, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eHome care wipes nonwovens volume, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eHome care wipes sales, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eGlobal industrial wipes sales, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eGlobal industrial wipes nonwoven volumes, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eIndustrial wipes sales, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eGlobal nonwoven wipes market by region, 2017-27 ($ million)
- eGlobal nonwoven wipes market by region, 2017-27 (million m2)
- eGlobal nonwoven wipes market by region, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eNorth American nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eNorth American nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eNorth American wipes consumption by process technology, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eSouth American nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eSouth American nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eSouth American wipes consumption by process/technology ('000 tonnes)
- eWestern European nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eWestern European nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eNonwoven wipes sales in Western Europe by country/region, 2017-27 ($ million)
- eWestern European wipes consumption by process technology, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eEastern European nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eEastern European nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eNonwoven wipes sales in Eastern Europe by country/region, 2017-27 ($ million)
- eEastern European wipes consumption by process technology, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eAsian nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eAsian nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eNonwoven wipes sales in Asia by country/region, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eAsian wipes consumption by process technology, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eROW nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ($ millions)
- eROW nonwoven wipes market by market segment, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eROW wipes consumption by process technology, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
Figures
- eWipes sales by end use market, 2022 ($ millions)
- eWipes sales by end use market, 2027 ($ millions)
- eWipes sales by region, 2022 ($ millions)
- eWipes sales by region, 2027 ($ millions)
- eNonwoven consumer wipes supply chain
- eNonwoven industrial wipes supply chain
- eRaw materials used in the production of global nonwoven wipes (by tonnes) in 2022
- eRaw materials used in the production of global nonwoven wipes (by tonnes) in 2027
- eMarket share of nonwovens wipes by process, 2022 (tonnes)
- eMarket share of nonwovens wipes by process, 2027 (tonnes)
- eTotal, consumer, and industrial wipes sales, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)
- eSales for major consumer wipes segments and industrial wipes, 2017-27 ('000 tonnes)