U.S. Coated Fabric Demand to Reach 650 Million Square Yards
CLEVELAND - Demand for coated fabrics in the United States is forecast to increase 2.1 percent per year to 650 million square yards in 2020. Coated fabric usage is highly dependent on two factors: the production of end products and the level of competition from alternative materials, such as leather, plastic and rubber sheeting, and uncoated fabrics. These and other trends are presented in Coated Fabrics, a new study from The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based industry research firm.
Coated fabric demand is supported by the significant size of the U.S. transportation industry, which produces a large number of components from coated fabrics, including airbags, seating upholstery, covers and trim. According to analyst Pamela Safarek, “The motor vehicle market alone is expected to account for 24 percent of total additional coated fabric demand through 2020.” Gains will be supported by increases in vehicle production levels. In addition, more coated fabrics are expected to be used on a per-vehicle basis, particularly as more airbags are installed in each vehicle. However, a significant share of these airbag units is made outside the United States, hampering domestic coated fabric demand somewhat.