Spunmelt Polypropylene: The Leading Global Technology for Nonwoven Supply and Demand

摘要

Our estimate of the global nameplate capacity of spun-bonded/spunmelt polypropylene nonwovens by year end 2016 is more than 3.4 million tons, or about 3.5% higher than year-end 2015. Based upon announced expansions, this nameplate capacity will increase again in 2017 to more than 3.5 million tons. Selected producers continue to install new capacity to modernize their technology base, to meet changing and growing demand, to position themselves in high growth regional markets and to achieve lower cash costs once new higher output capacity is fully utilized. We expect the growth in global capacity from 2015-2020 to average about 3% per year. Year-over-year annual capacity growth may be higher due to uneven installations of capacity.