Emerging economies in Africa are providing new opportunities for manufacturers of non-woven fabrics and related industries, as they strive to seek the next growth engine. With the increase in income levels and the growing popularity of education related to health and hygiene, the usage rate of disposable hygiene products is expected to further increase.
Basic situation of African non-woven fabric market
According to the research report “The Future of Global Nonwovens to 2024″ released by market research firm Smithers, the African nonwoven market accounted for approximately 4.4% of the global market share in 2019. Due to slower growth rates in all regions compared to Asia, Africa is expected to slightly decline to around 4.2% by 2024. The production in this region was 441200 tons in 2014, 491700 tons in 2019, and is expected to reach 647300 tons in 2024, with annual growth rates of 2.2% (2014-2019) and 5.7% (2019-2024), respectively.
Spunbond fabric suppliers south africa
Especially, South Africa has become a hot spot for non-woven fabric manufacturers and hygiene product companies. Given the growth of the hygiene products market in the region, PF Nonwovens recently invested in a 10000 ton Reicofil production line in Cape Town, South Africa, which began fully commercial operation in the third quarter of last year.
The executives of PFNonwovens stated that this investment not only enables them to provide products to existing global customers, but also to provide high-quality non-woven fabrics to smaller local disposable hygiene product manufacturers, thereby expanding their customer base.
South Africa’s major non-woven fabric manufacturer Spunchem has also capitalized on the growth of the hygiene products market by increasing its factory capacity to 32000 tons per year in response to the expected growth of the South African hygiene products market. The company announced its entry into the hygiene product market in 2016, making it one of the earliest local spunbond nonwoven fabric suppliers in the region to serve the hygiene product market. Previously, the company mainly focused on the industrial market.
According to the company’s executives, the decision to establish a hygiene products business unit was based on the following reasons: all high-quality SS and SMS materials used for hygiene products in South Africa come from imported channels. In order to develop this business, Spunchem has closely collaborated with a leading diaper manufacturer, which includes extensive testing of materials manufactured by Spunchem. Spunchem has also improved its coating/laminating and printing capabilities to manufacture base materials, cast films, and breathable films with two and four colors.
Adhesive manufacturer H B. Fuller is also investing in South Africa. The company announced in June the opening of a new business office in Johannesburg and established a logistics network across the country, including three warehouses, to support their ambitious development plans in the region.
Establishing a localized business in South Africa enables us to provide customers with excellent localized products not only in the hygiene products market, but also in the paper processing, flexible packaging, and labeling markets, thereby helping them gain more competitive advantages through adhesive applications, “said Ronald Prinsloo, the South African business manager of the company.
Prinsloo believes that due to low per capita usage and high birth rates, there are still significant growth opportunities in the African hygiene product market. In some countries, only a small number of people use disposable sanitary products in their daily lives. This is due to various reasons such as education, culture, and affordability, “he added.
Factors such as poverty and culture may affect the growth of the hygiene product market, but Prinsloo points out that the increase in opportunities and the rise in women’s wages are driving the demand for women’s care products in the region. In Africa, H.B. Fuller also has manufacturing factories in Egypt and Kenya.
Multinational corporations Procter&Gamble and Kimberly Clark have long been developing their hygiene products business on the African continent, including South Africa, but in recent years, other foreign companies have also begun to join in.
Hayat Kimya, a consumer goods manufacturer in Türkiye, launched Molfix, a high-end diaper brand, five years ago in Nigeria and South Africa, the most populous markets in Africa, and has since become a leader in the region. Last year, Molfix expanded its product range by adding pants style products.
Other non-woven fabric suppliers in Africa
Meanwhile, in East Africa, Hayat Kimya recently entered the Kenyan market with two Molfix diaper products. At the press conference, Hayat Kimya’s global CEO Avni Kigili expressed his hope to become the market leader in the region within two years. Kenya is a developing country with a growing young population and development potential as a strategic hub in Central and Eastern Africa. We hope to become a part of this rapidly modernizing and developing country through the high quality and innovation of the Molfix brand, “she said.
Ontex is also working hard to tap into the growth potential of East Africa. Three years ago, this European hygiene product manufacturer opened a new production plant in Hawassa, Ethiopia.
In Ethiopia, Ontex’s Cantex brand specializes in producing baby diapers that meet the needs of African families. The company stated that this factory is an important step in Ontex’s development strategy and increases the availability of its products in developing countries. Ontex became the first international hygiene product manufacturer to open a factory in the country. Ethiopia is the second largest market in Africa, radiating throughout the entire East African region.
At Ontex, we firmly believe in the importance of localization strategy, “Ontex CEO Charles Bouaziz explained at the opening.” This enables us to efficiently and flexibly respond to the needs of consumers and customers. Our new factory in Ethiopia is a great example. It will help us better serve the African market.
Oba Odunaiya, Director of Operations and Procurement at WemyIndustries, one of Nigeria’s oldest hygiene product manufacturers, stated that the absorbent hygiene product market in Africa is gradually growing, with many local and foreign manufacturers entering the market. People are increasingly aware of the importance of personal hygiene, and as a result, governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals have taken various measures, leading to a growing demand for sanitary pads and diapers that are cost-effective and beneficial to human health, “he said.
Wemy currently produces baby diapers, baby wipes, adult incontinence products, care pads, disinfectant wipes, and maternity pads. Wemy’s adult diapers are its latest released product.
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Post time: Jul-28-2024