Spunlace nonwovens export of China in 2023 hits a record high of 364kt

According to customs data, the export of spunlace nonwovens in 2023 hit new highs of 364.05kt, a year-on-year increase of 21%. The average price was $2,363/mt, a year-on-year decrease of 11%.

The exports of spunlace nonwovens were dispersed. China's spunlace non-woven fabrics were exported to 166 countries (regions) in 2023. The top five destinations were relatively stable, namely South Korea, the United States, Japan, Vietnam and Brazi, with a total export of 201.583kt, a year-on-year growth of 10%. The share of those five regions accounted for 55% of the total exports, reducing by 5 percentage points.

The main origins were Zhejiang, Shandong, Guangdong, and Jiangsu, Beijing and Fujian, which were mostly the major producing areas with the volume of more than 10kt. Among them, Zhejiang had the largest export volume of over 200kt in 2023, taking up 58% of the total. Among major origins, only Shandong saw a reduction in the export volume, while other regions generally saw a growth of 4%-64%.

In 2023, the export volume of spunlace non-woven fabric reached a historical high, with a growth rate of 21%, far exceeding expectations. With the combination of domestic demand growth and strong external demand, the production of spunlace nonwovens in 2023 also showed a significant increase, reaching 1.48 million tons. The sharp increase in export volume in 2023 was primarily due to the destocking over the past three years of the epidemic and a noticeable wave of replenishment demand outside China, particularly evident in the increased export volume to the United States. Additionally, the attraction of low prices also contributed to the growth. It is expected that the low price situation for spunlace nonwovens will continue in 2024, but the demand for replenishment is expected to weaken.