Japan's demand for nonwovens increases 5.2% year-over-year in 2013, to 420,934 tonnes, while exports and imports rose 5.6% and 10.1%, respectively; 2013 nonwovens production in Japan up 3.3% from 2012, to 331,494 tonnes: report
Debra Garcia
July 1, 2014
(Nonwovens Industry)
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Table 1 shows nonwovens production, exports, imports, domestic demand and import ratios in domestic demand. Japan's nonwovens demand in 2013 was 420,934 tons, a 5.2% increase compared to the previous year. The export volumes rose 5.6% to 53,344 tons. The import volume was 142,784 tons, which was significantly higher at 10.1% .The amount of imported nonwovens has increased steadily. In 2009, the import volume still increased although domestic demand largely decreased due to the global economic crisis. In 2013, import volumes greatly increased in spite of depreciation of yen in the exchange markets.
Domestic production volume and import ratio
The imported nonwovens ratio in domestic demand in 2013 was 33.9%, exceeding 32.4% in 2012. The imported nonwovens ratio keeps on rising and its influence on domestic production cannot be ignored. In 2013, the domestic production also increased because the domestic demand had increased, however production will be sluggish if the demand is stagnant.
Most of the nonwovens imported is polypropylene spunbond material for diapers. Imports of this material have increased as diaper production has increased in Japan. The import volume of polypropylene spunbonded nonwovens for diapers in 2013 was 64,860 tons, which represented a high growth rate of 18.5% compared to 54,735 tons in 2012. The gross import volume of nonwovens in 2013 was 13,150 tons more than 2012,10,125 tons were for diapers, which demands the most of the import increase was for diapers.
By Kin Ohmura
Osaka Marketing
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Production 296,540 313,886 329,992 340,142 338,479
Exports 39,194 42,324 44,719 51,830 52,054
Imports 61,415 70,498 75,072 82,459 95,216
Domestic demand 318,761 342,060 360,345 370,771 381,641
Imported ratio 19.3 20.6 20.8 22.2 24.9
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Production 287,427 317,299 312,251 320.928 331,494
Exports 42,964 49,847 48,927 50,536 53,344
Imports 108,297 122,214 129,634 142,784
Domestic demand 340,260 375,749 385,538 400,026 420,934
Imported ratio 28.2 28.8 31.7 32.4 33.9
(c) 2014 Rodman Publishing
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