Abstract
Global demand to grow 6.5% annually through 2011
Demand for wipes, both consumer and industrial, is forecast to increase 6.5
percent per annum to nearly $8 billion in 2011. Wipes have experienced
explosive growth over the course of the past ten years or so. What began as a
convenience item for parents during infant diaper changes has turned into a
vast taskspecific product market where there is a wipe for nearly every need.
The success of wipes in both consumer and industrial markets derives from the
ease-of-use, disposability, portability, and reduced risk of
cross-contamination these products offer. While market expansion continues,
there have been signs of maturity in the global wipes industry as the rate of
new product introductions begins to slow and is centered around improvements
of existing product lines (e.g., improving nonwoven properties, including
enhanced softness, tear resistance, absorbency, thickness, heat and abrasion
resistance, static discharge, lint content, particle emission and
biodegradability) and not the invention of entirely new product categories or
applications, as was the case over the past ten years (e.g., floor cleaning
wipes in the late 1990s/early 2000s).
Developed areas to remain dominant markets for wipes
The majority of the global wipes market is controlled by the developed areas
of the US, Western Europe and Japan. Just the US and Western Europe together,
for example, accounted for nearly two-thirds of the global market in 2006.
Propelled by a significant manufacturing base, a large affluent population
base and lifestyle trends focused on time-saving products, the developed areas
of the US, the Western Europe region and Japan will continue to lead the
global wipes market.
Study coverage
It presents historical demand data for the years 1996, 2001 and 2006 and
forecasts for 2011 and 2016 by product market, 6 regions worldwide and for 16
countries. In addition, this study also considers market environment factors,
evaluates company market share data and profiles 29 global industry
competitors.
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