STAPLE FIBERS MARKET ANALYSIS

Market News

Key takeaways of the market

• In March 2019, Beaulieu Fibres International (BFI) launched an UltraBond staple fiber for automotive & flooring needle punch applications. This fiber has been designed to eliminate need of chemical binders required to bind nonwoven.
• Wood pulp is used as feedstock for the production of staple fibers. Leading manufacturers are focusing to increasing their feedstock capacity in order to meet the rising demand for staple fibers. For instance, in July 2019, Lenzing completed expansion of its wood pulp plant based in Lenzing (Austria). The plant capacity was increased from 3,00,000 to 3,20,000 tons per year. The expansion will help the company achieve its aim of increasing self-supply of wood pulp to 75%.
• In January 2018, Indorama Ventures Public Limited Company and Huvis Corporation announced a 50:50 joint venture to produce low melting fiber (LMF) with an annual capacity of 60 kilo tons. The joint venture has been established to strengthen LMF business in North America.
• In August 2017, Ascend Performance Materials expanded staple fiber production plant in Greenwood, South Carolina. The expansion project added 24 million pounds of staple fiber into company’s overall staple fiber production capacity.
• In April 2017, Sateri expanded its production capacity of viscose staple fiber by one million ton per year in Jiujiang, China. With addition of this plant, the total capacity of the company exceeded two million ton per year in Jiujiang.