Technical Textiles Market

Market Perspective

The global Technical Textiles Market was valued at USD 214.98 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 360.26 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.85% from 2023 to 2030.

Technical textiles are becoming increasingly sought-after due to their multifaceted characteristics. Compared to traditional textiles, technical textiles are more sturdy, lightweight, and strong, as well as adaptable to individual requirements. Furthermore, they exhibit superior mechanical, chemical, and thermal resistance, while also offering flexibility for increased absorption and insulation properties. These properties are expected to drive the demand for technical textiles and expand the market.

The growing demand for innovative fabrics and fibers in various industries, such as healthcare, construction, and automotive, is anticipated to be the key driver fueling market growth.

Analyst’s Review on Technical Textiles Market

Technical textiles are gaining popularity due to their multi-dimensional properties such as durability, high tensile strength, lightweight, and high resistance to wear and tear. Emerging trends in technical textiles include the development of smart fabrics, environmental sustainability, advanced durability, large-scale events and first response, and advanced retro-reflectivity. Smart fabrics can sense and react to their environment, while environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the production of technical textiles. Technical textiles are also being developed to have enhanced durability and resistance to wear and tear, and are being used in large-scale events and first-response situations. Additionally, technical textiles with advanced retro-reflectivity are being developed for use in high-visibility clothing and safety gear.

Market Definition

Technical textiles are a specialized category of textiles designed for non-decorative purposes that offer exceptional technical and functional properties. Typically composed of natural or synthetic fibers, technical textiles are engineered to possess characteristics like high insulation, superior tenacity, resistance to moisture, bacteria, temperature, and sun exposure, as well as long-lasting durability and strength. These materials can be customized to be single or multi-layered and shaped in the form of composite, coated, or impregnated materials to suit specific industrial, medical, sports, or construction applications.

The production and use of technical textiles have increased significantly due to the demand for high-performance materials, which can provide unique solutions or replace traditional materials. These textiles, for example, have been used for wound dressings as they are hydrophilic and antimicrobial, creating a sterile environment that facilitates healing. Technical textiles have also been used in the automotive industry, where they can offer resistance to abrasion, reduce noise, and improve fuel efficiency.

Technical textiles are engineered to be high-performing materials that are customized for specific functions. These innovative textiles represent a significant advancement over traditional textiles and offer a range of possibilities across multiple sectors.

Market Dynamics

Technical textiles are a class of materials produced from yarn, fibers, and filaments that utilize advanced technologies, such as thermoforming, three-dimensional weaving or knitting, and others. The global demand for technical textiles, particularly for medical apparel such as PPE kits and masks, increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in significant benefits for the manufacturers operating within the technical textiles market. The increasing demand for disposable medical clothing has created tremendous opportunities in the technical textiles market, leading to a surge in sales of these products.

For instance, technical textiles have been utilized in the manufacturing of protective medical clothing that provides durability, barrier protection, and comfort to healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of advanced technologies in the production of technical textiles has made it possible to achieve the high-performance properties required for this application, such as strength, barrier protection, and breathability, which are not achievable with traditional textiles.

Technical textiles are a specialized category of textiles designed for industrial, medical, sports, or construction applications, that offer exceptional technical and functional properties. Although technical textiles are more expensive than conventional textiles, they offer superior performance and durability that cannot be achieved with ordinary fabrics. The high cost of manufacturing can be attributed to the use of more precise manufacturing procedures and skilled manpower required in their production. Overall, these factors are restraining the technical textiles market growth.

Segmentation Analysis

The global technical textiles market is segmented based on process, application, material, and geography.

Based on the process, the market is categorized into woven, non-woven, knitted, and others. The woven segment dominated the market with a 38.59% share in 2022. The woven process is mostly used in technical textiles due to its ability to create fabrics that are more durable and have higher tensile strength. Woven fabrics can be created using different weaving techniques such as plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave, each providing unique properties. The interlocking of fibers during the weaving process gives the fabric a high level of dimensional stability, which is crucial in applications such as geotextiles, where the fabric is used to stabilize the soil.

Additionally, woven fabrics can be treated to enhance certain properties, such as adding waterproofing or fire-retardant coatings, which makes them suitable for a range of technical textile applications.

Based on application, the technical textiles market is segmented into transport, industrial products and components, medical and hygiene, packaging and containment, home textile, sports and leisure, agriculture, horticulture and fishing, and others. The transport segment dominated the market with a 28.76% share in 2022. Technical textiles are extensively used in the transport sector as they offer exceptional functional properties that are vital for safe and comfortable transport. Technical textiles are used in transport applications viz., automobile interiors, airbags, seat belts, tire reinforcement, and vehicle composites. Technical textiles can provide superior resistance to wear, tear, and temperature fluctuations, resulting in longer-lasting and more robust components. They are also lightweight, which is crucial in the transport industry, where reducing weight can improve fuel efficiency.

Based on material, the technical textiles market is segmented into synthetic polymer, natural fiber, mineral, regenerated fiber, metal, and others. The synthetic polymer segment dominated the market with a 43.06% share in 2022. Synthetic polymers are widely used in the production of technical textiles due to their superior properties such as increased strength, durability, and resistance to wear and tear. They can be engineered to achieve high-performance properties and are commonly used in the production of technical textiles such as automotive textiles, protective clothing, and medical textiles. Synthetic polymers, such as polyester and nylon, are also ideal for technical textiles as they do not shrink or stretch substantially during use, which makes them suitable for applications where dimensional stability is critical. Furthermore, synthetic polymers can be made in a range of colors and textures, and are thus utilized in various applications due to their versatility.

Geographical Analysis

By region, the global technical textiles market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA, and Latin America.

The Asia Pacific region dominated the market share of 41.54% in 2022. The region is a significant market for technical textiles, accounting for a significant share of the total consumption and production of technical textiles globally due to the region's high population and the thriving manufacturing industry in the region, which is expected to fuel the technical textiles market growth during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The global technical textiles industry study report will provide valuable insight with an emphasis on the fragmented nature of the global market. Prominent players are focusing on several key business strategies such as partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, product innovations, and joint ventures to expand their product portfolio and increase their respective market shares across different regions. Expansion & investments are the major strategic initiatives. Industry players are investing in R&D activities, building new manufacturing facilities, and supply chain optimization. The major players in the technical textiles market are:

• Asahi Kasei Advance Corporation
• Berry Global Inc.
• DuPont
• Elevate Textiles, Inc.
• Freudenberg Performance Materials Holding GmbH
• Huntsman International LLC.
• Mercurious Software India.
• TenCate Protective Fabrics
• MILLIKEN & CO., INC.
• MITSUI CHEMICALS AMERICA, INC.

Key Developments

• March 2023 (Acquisition): Archroma, a worldwide pioneer in eco-friendly specialty chemicals and solutions for various industries, such as textiles, packaging & paper, paints, completed the acquisition of Huntsman Corporation's Textile Effects business.

The global Technical Textiles Market is segmented as:

By Process

• Woven
• Non-Woven
• Knitted
• Others

By Application

• Transport
• Industrial Products and Components
• Medical and Hygiene
• Packaging and Containment
• Home Textile
• Sports and Leisure
• Agriculture, Horticulture, and Fishing
• Others

By Material

• Synthetic Polymer
• Natural Fiber
• Mineral
• Regenerated Fiber
• Metal
• Others

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • France
  • UK
  • Spain
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Russia
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Rest of Asia Pacific
• Middle East & Africa
  
  • GCC
  • North Africa
  • South Africa
  • Rest of Middle East & Africa
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of Latin America