Medicinal textiles are fiber-based products used in medical environments. These materials must be biocompatible and disinfectable without enduring chemical or structural changes. The textile materials must be toxic and provide waterproofing and air permeability. It must be resistant to both acids and bases. The medical textile must be reusable, machine-washable, and resistant to microorganisms with these two characteristics. Medical textiles may be used in orthopedic, cardiovascular, and soft tissue implant closures. In order to heal lesions on the surface of the body, medical textiles are frequently applied externally. These materials assist in defending the hospital medical personnel when treating patients.
Rising Awareness for Better Healthcare Practices Drives the Global Market
Several governments worldwide have launched campaigns to educate individuals of all ages about chronic disease awareness and treatment. This is anticipated to increase medical procedures and positively affect the medical textile market. In the past ten years, the National Institute of Health in the United States has influenced the population to adopt improved healthcare practices through health awareness campaigns. This includes campaigns by prominent U.S. health institutes for Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and renal diseases. It is anticipated that campaigns by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will raise awareness of better healthcare practices, thereby influencing the market positively.
Growing Demand for Medicinal Textile Due to COVID-19 Creates Tremendous Opportunities
Increasing demand for healthcare and hygiene products due to a sudden surge in consumer trends for hygiene maintenance to prevent COVID-19 is anticipated to create growth opportunities for the medical textile market. In hospital operating rooms, developing medical products to protect patients and personnel from infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and body fluid invasions generates demand for the healthcare and hygiene products segment. The increase in medical facilities for COVID-19 treatment has positively affected the market for medical textiles. This includes the demand for face shields, gowns, gloves, and caps, among other items. In addition, establishing new production facilities for personal protective equipment in the major economies of Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Central and South America will likely expand the medical textile market significantly.
Asia-Pacific is the most significant global medical textile market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period. The expansion of non-woven fabric production facilities in China, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Japan, and Indonesia is attributed to driving the growth of the medical textiles market in the Asia-Pacific region. Data from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and the All Nippon Nonwovens Association (ANNA) show that Asia's nonwoven production increased by about 18% from 2019 to 6,935 thousand tons in 2020. Governments in countries like India, Japan, and South Korea also provide financial and technological assistance to these companies to increase their production volume. For instance, according to METI, the Japanese government provides capital investment and raw material procurement subsidies for mask manufacturing facilities. This is anticipated to boost the market for medical textiles over the forecast period.
Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.0% over the forecast period. The expansion of existing healthcare facilities, like a surge in the number of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, is attributable to a rise in healthcare spending in several European countries, which has fueled the market for medical textiles in Europe. This is anticipated to increase demand for bedding, protective equipment, and cleaning cloths, thereby expanding the use of medical textiles. In addition, governments and businesses in the region have taken decisive measures, such as installing new and sophisticated production lines, to increase their nonwoven production capacities. According to data published by the European Disposables and Nonwovens Association, nonwoven production in Europe reached 3.07 million tons in 2020, representing a 7.2% increase from 2019. The projected revenue for 2020 was 11.19 billion dollars. The use of nonwovens in medical applications increased by approximately 118%, expanding the medical textiles market.
The key global medical textile market players are Indorama Ventures Ltd., Fitesa S.A., Fibertex Nonwovens, Trelleborg AB, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Freudenberg & Co KG, The Dow Chemical Company, Careismatic Brands Inc., Schouw & Co., and others,