Personal Protective Textile Market

Market Overview

The global personal protective textile market size was valued at USD 5,659.12 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 9,399.82 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

The increasing value of workplace safety and security and new manufacturing and construction projects in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East stimulate market growth. Technical textiles are all textile-based goods employed primarily for their performance or functional qualities rather than their aesthetic or decorative qualities. Protective textiles fall under this category. Today, many textiles categorized as technical or industrial textiles are protective apparel. Clothing that protects from harmful environmental effects that could cause harm or even death is called protective clothing. There are different types of protective textiles (Protech). Industrial protective textiles, agricultural protective textiles, military protective textiles, civilian protective textiles, medical protective textiles, sports protective textiles, and space protective textiles are all examples of protective textiles, depending on their intended application.

Thermo (cold) protection, flame protection, chemical protection, mechanical impact protection, radiation protection, physical protection, electrical protection, and wearer visibility are end-use functions that further categorize personal protective textiles. There are many different types of personal protective garments available that are made to meet specific end-use requirements. Clothing can be more protective using existing textile manufacturing techniques or any relevant new technologies. With a few exceptions, such as safety belts, airbags, safety ropes, and parachutes, most personal protection equipment will be turned into clothing. The primary processes often involve material manufacturing or selection, producing fabrics and other related goods, finishing, and clothing engineering, even though the processing technologies for various protective garments are diverse.

Market Dynamics

Global Personal Protective Textile Market Drivers

Increasing Value of Workplace Safety and Security

The global personal protective textile market is expected to expand due to the increasing focus on workplace safety. Many countries have enacted rules and regulations regarding the health and safety of the workforce. The market for personal protective textiles is expected to grow due to government regulations requiring businesses to ensure the safety of their employees. Personal protective textiles for use in various industrial or commercial settings are specified in these rules. In addition to strict laws and high costs associated with workplace dangers, rising awareness among industry participants of the necessity of worker safety and security at workplaces is expected to fuel market expansion.

There is a serious problem spreading among this workforce due to a widespread lack of awareness of health and safety risks in the workplace. OSHA has collaborated with numerous health and safety organizations through the Workplace Innovator Award program to promote health and safety awareness. Workplace accidents have decreased significantly due to agency and company-led efforts to raise safety standards.

New Manufacturing and Construction Projects in Asia-Pacific and Middle East

Blue-collar employment is expected to rise in the Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern economies due to a slew of upcoming manufacturing and construction projects. Demand for personal protective textiles is expected to grow throughout the forecast period as the number of blue-collar workers in these regions rises. As the economies of China, India, and Southeast Asia continue to expand, so too does the demand for upgraded modes of public transportation and other forms of basic infrastructure. There has been a rise in air travel throughout the Asia Pacific region due to rising incomes and the expansion of the civil aviation industry. An upswing in the American economy is also expected to spur growth in the worldwide construction industry over the next year. As the Chinese government continues transitioning to a more service-based economy, China's growth has slowed, but it will still surpass those of other major countries through at least 2018.

Additionally, expanding construction expenditures in the Asia-Pacific area fuel the construction industry's expansion there. The economic foundations in Asia are still strong, if somewhat muted, compared to the recent past, notwithstanding the global economic upheaval. Through the decade’s end, GDP growth is expected to hover around 7% annually, with Asia leading the pack regarding construction output growth. It is predicted that China will experience an increase in automation and digitalization because of the country's emphasis on manufacturing expansion and wage inflation. Personal protective textiles are expected to profit from the growth of regional building industries.

Global Personal Protective Textile Market Restraint

Complex Manufacturing Methods

Changes in consumer preferences and the rapid development of new technologies have necessitated new approaches to production that yield higher-quality final goods. High-performance, engineered, multipurpose protective apparel has also increased in popularity. However, production is expensive and difficult for factory workers to understand. Technical fabrics with improved protective characteristics were developed in response to a shift in customer preference for safety apparel in the workplace. Later, when R&D investment rose along with the creation of specialized products for various industries, attention shifted to raw materials, and cutting-edge engineering plastics and polymer materials replaced it to create a better safety net for employees.

Manufacturing methods are becoming more sophisticated for personal protection textiles due to rising consumer preferences and a broader range of end-use industries. The increasing difficulty of the procedure has been exacerbated by the fact that consumers increasingly value style in addition to high levels of comfort and breathability. As a result, manufacturing has become more time-consuming and complex, necessitating close cooperation among aesthetics, technology, functionality, and innovation.

Global Personal Protective Textile Market Opportunities

Rising Demand Due to Better Hygiene and Safety

Major market players are investing more in personal protective textiles since research, and development are improving the hygiene and safety of these products, making them acceptable for usage in many sectors. This is causing hospitals, oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, healthcare/medical, firefighting and law enforcement, mining, military, warehouse and logistics, and other industries to adopt these solutions.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global personal protective textile market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

Europe Dominates the Global Market

Europe is the most significant Personal Protective Textile Market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 15.24% over the forecast period. Many of the world's largest economies, including Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Russia, are present in Europe. The region's economic progress is attributed to several causes, including supportive policies, robust wage growth, and ongoing job creation. However, it is anticipated that the recent COVID-19 epidemic in several nations in the region will have a serious and unfavorable effect on its economic growth. The Euro area economy is expected to contract by 8.7% in 2020 and expand by 6.1% in 2021, according to the European Economic Forecast Summer 2020 published by the European Commission. Europe had the highest consumption levels, with approximately 33.29% of the market's revenue from personal protective textiles in 2019. Approximately the next years, moderate growth is anticipated in this region.

Over the forecast period, it is anticipated that there will be a rise in occupational injuries and a rising demand for high-utility, highly effective wear and tear-resistant protective equipment across most core industries, including metal manufacturing, oil and gas, automotive, and refining. Innovations in production and packaging are anticipated to be driven by rising consumer demand for meat and dairy products. Cleaning, using, and handling equipment and surfactants are frequent tasks in these sectors. Demand for personal protective textiles, including hand protection, protective apparel, and respiratory protection, is anticipated to increase due to various dangers connected with manufacturing and packing, such as bacterial infection.

North America is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 13.94% over the forecast period. Oil and gas, healthcare, chemicals, and manufacturing are expected to increase product demand in North America to improve workforce capacity. OSHA regulations require firms in the region to use personal protective gear to protect their workers. OSHA, ANSI, and CSA Group regulations on occupational health and safety govern the area market. These strict regulations require regional firms to use personal protective fabrics for employee safety. Non-compliance with these regulations carries severe penalties, which should stimulate regional product demand. Over the projection period, strict mining safety laws and increased employee safety awareness in most industries will drive regional product demand. OSHA, NIOSH, and the EPA have issued guidelines for monitoring asbestos exposure, increasing demand for personal protective textiles in the region.

Asia-Pacific has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions in the global market. Asia Pacific is known for its thriving pharmaceutical, healthcare, mining, and construction sectors. These sectors frequently utilize protective gloves, masks, gowns, coveralls, and other items to prevent workplace fatalities. This will propel the market for personal protective textiles in the upcoming years. The need for greater public infrastructure, such as roads, harbors, airports, and rail transit systems, has increased due to economic growth in Southeast Asian, Chinese, and Indian nations. Air travel has increased in Asia Pacific due to rising income levels and a developing civil aviation sector. In addition, several airport development projects have been carried out in the area to meet the rising demand, including constructing new airfields and upgrading existing airports.

Asia Pacific is known for its thriving pharmaceutical, healthcare, mining, and construction sectors. These sectors frequently utilize protective gloves, masks, gowns, coveralls, and other items to prevent workplace fatalities. This will propel the market for personal protective textiles in the upcoming years.

In LAMEA, the reduction in commodity prices is the main trend impacting the expansion of the global economy. Brazil, Australia, and the Middle East are just a few important exporting nations and areas now feeling the effects of the plummeting coal and oil prices. These economies have been slowing down because of decreased investment and resource employment caused by limited commodities exports. Additionally, the economic unrest in the largest economy in the area, Brazil, is anticipated to hurt the demand for personal protective textiles in significant end-use sectors, which will impede market expansion throughout the projection period. Due to growing concerns around occupational accident and disease cases and strict regulations, the need for personal protective textiles is anticipated to increase across several industries, including agriculture, construction, fire services, and healthcare. Growing oil and gas and construction investment will boost regional industrial growth.

Additionally, it is predicted that increasing investments in textile machines, fabricated metal goods, and aviation component manufacture will further propel the manufacturing sector. Large-scale investments in Saudi Arabia's main oilfields, like Ghawar and Shaybah, are anticipated to significantly impact the oil and gas sector. Its aims for economic diversification include medical tourism, with Abu Dhabi and Dubai leading the GCC countries in luring visitors. The need for personal protective textiles in the healthcare sector has expanded due to existing hospitals' plans to enhance their patient capacity, market shares, and physician practices. Healthcare services are becoming more necessary because of shifting epidemiological and demographic patterns, which are expected to increase demand for personal protective textiles in the future.

Segmental Analysis

The global personal protective textile market is bifurcated into application and end-use.

Based on the application, the global personal protective textile market is bifurcated into heat and flame resistance, mechanical protection, chemical protection, electrical protection, ballistic protection, healthcare garments, and others. 

The ballistic segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.3% over the forecast period. Military personnel, police officers, and other security personnel are placing an increasing amount of demand on ballistic protective materials. Police officers, military members, and other security personnel must have ballistic protection. The ballistic protective materials shield the body from projectiles of various types, sizes, and impact speeds. The ballistic protective fabrics are made from lighter-weight, transport-friendly textile materials. High-performance ballistic-protection fabrics disperse the fragmented energy by stretching and breaking the strands. Ballistic protection materials' ability to absorb energy and the caliber and rate at which that energy is transferred determine their safety. The demand for personal protective textiles will grow as governments increase their military and economic security budgets.

Based on end-use, the global personal protective textile market is divided into Firefighting, Manufacturing, Chemical and Oil and Gas, Medical and Pharma, Law Enforcement, and Others.

The law enforcement segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.5% over the forecast period. The market for personal protective material is anticipated to increase as major nations' defense budgets rise. Due to the growing concern about protecting individuals in the military and police force, personal protective textiles are widely chosen in security and protection applications. The substance contributes to benefits, including stabbing and bullet resistance. Growing defense spending among the major nations worldwide is anticipated to increase demand for protective clothing, subsequently increasing personal protective textiles consumption.

Protective gear is specially created, processed, and produced to shield workers from risks from hazardous working circumstances and extreme weather. Defense personnel face a variety of challenges from various sources, including terrorist organizations and rogue states that have access to highly lethal weapons as well as biological and chemical warfare equipment. Military troops traveling by water, land, or air must contend with several intricate dangers intended to kill or maim them. As a result, they must always wear body armor and chemical and biological (CandB) protective equipment.

Recent Developments

• December 2022- At Intersec 2023, MSA Safety Incorporated—a world leader in firefighter safety technology and equipment—debuted a new range of firefighter protective apparel for the Middle Eastern fire market. The MSA® Bristol X4 offers improved comfort, ergonomics, and protection by combining the most advanced fabric and fiber technologies with a contemporary streamlined appearance.
• April 2023- Due to Andrews Labor Government funding, CFA volunteers around Victoria will receive new, locally made uniforms that offer better heat protection. Jaclyn Symes, the minister for emergency services, went on a tour of Stewart and Heaton to see where the new wildfire personal protection gear (PPC) for Victorian firefighters is made.