According to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the nation’s production of nonwoven fabrics in March 2017 decreased by 1.9% compared to the same month of last year to 28,371 tons, thus decreasing for the ninth consecutive month.
The factor for the production decrease is that spunbonded fabric makers are increasing the capacities of their overseas production bases and a part of production has been shifted to these bases.
Production increased for chemical bonded, needle-punched, spunlaced and wet-laid nonwovens. Spunbond/meltblown nonwovens production has been decreasing since June 2016.
Nonwoven fabric production during January-March 2017 declined by 4.3% year-on-year to 80,706 tons.