Industrial Fabric Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID-19 Impact, And Trends By Fibre Type (Polyamide, Polyester, Aramid, Composite, And Others), By End-User Industry (Automotive, Construction, Aerospace, Transportation, Others) And Geography - Forecasts From 2021 To 2026

The industrial fabric market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.68% to reach a market size of US$1675.488 billion in 2026 from US$120.150 billion in 2019. The market for industrial fabric is estimated to grow in the coming years. Industrial fabrics are different from textile fabrics as they have greater strength, durability, and resistance to harsh conditions. They are used in an extensive range of automotive, printing, filtering, and processing applications. The growing use of industrial fabric in construction, automotive and transportation, and aerospace is driving market growth.

Impact of COVID on the Industrial Fabric Market

The outbreak of COVID has severely impacted the industrial fabric industry. Due to lockdown conditions in various parts of the globe, the companies had to shut down their manufacturing units and their operation came to a halt. The supply chain was also affected. The supply and demand conditions were not met. This led to a reduction in industrial fabric consumption by the end-user industries.

Market Drivers. 

• An increase in the application of industrial fabric in automobile carpets will foster growth in the market. The industrial fabric is used in seating areas, headliners, side panels, lining, tires, carpets and trunks, airbags, etc. The growing demand for cars will increase the demand for industrial fabric thereby leading to growth in the industry. The industrial fabric manufactured using polyamide, polyester, aramid, composite, and other fibers possess superior strength, ultraviolet stability, outstanding durability, and strong permeability. These properties make it ideal for its application in the automobile industry.
• Polyester fiber is one of the largest shareholders in the fiber type. Polyester fiber is extremely strong, durable, and resistant to most chemicals, it can be easily washed and dried. Therefore, the demand for this type of fiber is more as compared to the other fibers.  
• Industrial fabric is also used in the making of conveyor belts. The growing demand for conveyor belts will boost the demand in the industrial fabric market. Aramid fibers are used in the making of conveyor belts, they exhibit toughness, low elongation, low impact resistance, and resistance to damage by penetration of powders or silt.
• Geotextile, a type of permeable industrial fabric, is increasingly gaining traction in the market owing to its burgeoning use in the construction sector. Thus, growing construction activity across the globe is augmenting the demand for industrial fabrics.

Market Developments:

• Habasit acquired Namil Belt Industries Co. Ltd. And Korea Belt Services in December 2019. These acquisitions will enable Habasit to strengthen its presence in the South Korean market.
• In January 2020, Toray announced the acquisition of Alva Sweden AB which is a manufacturer of cushions for airbag systems.
• In December 2019, DuPont Personal Protection announced the launch of a portfolio of fabric solutions for industrial use. The Nomex global portfolio of fabric solutions is made for Oil & Gas, Utilities, and Manufacturing Industries in the Asia Pacific market.
• Fitesa acquired Fibre Dynamics (FDI) in October 2020, FDI manufactures meltblown and carded nonwovens for disinfectant wipes, filtration, face masks, automotive, medical, hygiene, and other industrial applications. This acquisition will strengthen Fitesa’s presence in the healthcare market. 
• In February 2020, Fitesa announced the acquisition of the Freudenberg Hygiene business. This acquisition will enable Fitesa to meet the growing need in the industry and gain its market share.

Market Restraints

• A major challenge for the industrial fabric industry is the rising cost of fabric. There is a need to develop new technologies to produce low-cost industrial fabric. It is anticipated that the production of cheap industrial fabric would enable its use in a broad range of applications. Many industrial fabric products are made from costly synthetic fiber. Carbon and aramid fiber, which are widely used in industrial fabric manufacture for military and protective apparel applications, is expensive. Therefore, the cost-effective manufacture of industrial textiles is a big market player challenge.
• The stringent government regulations are a major hurdle for the industrial fabric market growth. Synthetic fiber is difficult to degrade when compared to natural fiber is biodegradable and harmless to the environment. Various countries around the globe are imposing various regulations on the manufacture of industrial fabric. There are various laws regarding fiber labeling, flammability test, and others. These will reduce the efficiency of its operations and will hinder the market growth.

North American region will witness lucrative market growth.

The North American region will hold the largest share of the market of industrial fabric. The growing use of industrial fabric in the end-user industries in the North American region will boost the demand for industrial fabric. The technological advancements in the region will promote growth in the industrial fabric market.

Asia Pacific region is estimated to be the fastest-growing region in the industrial fabric market. Rapid urbanization and industrialization in the Asia Pacific region will boost the demand for industrial fabric in the region. China is estimated to be the fastest-growing country in the industrial fabric market. An increase in investments and accelerated research and development in the country will boost the market for industrial fabric. The leading Chinese manufacturers are investing in environmentally friendly technologies to prevent government penalties.

Major Players.

The major players in the industrial fabric market are Forbo International SA, Habasit, Toray Industries, Inc., Cerex Advanced Fabrics, Inc., DuPont, W. Barnet GmbH & Co. KG, Johns Manville, and Fitesa S.A. The companies compete with each other by launching new products, entering into a partnership agreement, or through acquisition. The growing competitiveness in the market will boost the demand in the industrial fabric market.

Industrial Fabric Market Scope:

Segmentation

• By Fabric Type
  • Polyamide
  • Polyester
  • Aramid
  • Composite
  • Others
• By End-User Industry
  • Automotive
  • Construction
  • Aerospace
  • Transportation
  • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • U.S.
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • U.K
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • France
    • Netherlands
    • Spain
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Israel
    • South Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Others
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • South Korea
    • India
    • Others