The next decade

Coated fabrics will be one of the fastest growing areas

A coated fabric is a fabric or nonwoven fabric with a special coating that is applied to the surface of the material or permeates into the body of the material. Coatings are usually polymer or elastomer with special properties such as water resistance, mildew resistance or sun resistance.

In 2021, the global coated fabric market will be valued at $19.9767 billion. This growth is expected to continue in the coming years due to an increasing global population and the desire for stronger, lighter and longer lasting fabric materials. The coated fabric market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% until 2031.

The market for coated fabrics is all over the world

Over the past few years, China's coated fabric market has attracted several major global manufacturers. China's large-scale industrial growth and rapid urbanization have further expanded the market for coated fabrics in China. In addition, growing car sales in China will lead to more applications of coated fabrics in transportation. Coated fabrics are also heavily used in functional clothing such as protective clothing, factors that will continue to support China's economic growth.

The coated fabrics market in China has attracted several global manufacturers since the past few years. One of the key  factors supporting expansion is massive industrial growth and rapid urbanization registered in the country.

The presence of some major players will continue to support US growth. Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have implemented strict regulations aimed at curbing the risk of accidents in the workplace and ensuring a safer environment, which will further spur demand for protective clothing, That will in turn drive sales of coated fabrics in the United States.

Rising demand from the automotive and construction sectors will remain the main drivers of growth in India. According to the Brand Equity Foundation of India (IBEF), India is likely to become the world's third largest car market in the next few years due to the rising income of the middle income group. Growing car sales will create space for applications in the transportation segment of India's coated fabric market. The IBEF also revealed that India's domestic vehicle production grew by 2.36 per cent between 2016 and 2020. With car sales surging further in India, the country will remain the main market for coated fabrics in South Asia.

Growing demand from oil and gas activities in Germany has increased the application of protective clothing in the region and is expected to significantly increase the demand for coated fabrics. In addition, the presence of major German automobile manufacturers is mainly driving the growth of the coated fabric market. High economic growth rates and significant investments in the oil and gas, automotive, infrastructure, chemicals, steel and military sectors are also driving the coated fabric market in the region. In addition, the increasing demand for comfort and convenience of automotive interiors is also contributing to the demand for the coated fabric market in Germany.

The main application areas of coated fabrics

Protective clothing is designed to protect the person wearing it from a variety of environmental hazards during any given operation. The protective clothing sector is expected to be the fastest growing application area for coated fabrics between 2021 and 2031, both in terms of value and volume. Each industry has a number of specific associated dangers. For example, in firefighting operations, firefighters need thermal clothing to protect against flames and heat. Similarly, the need for protective clothing in all industries is driving sales of coated fabrics.

The unique properties of polymer-coated fabrics such as high resistance to oil, dirt, water,  and UV lights is the main reason for the rising demand for the polymer- coated fabrics indifferent sectors of  industries, including in home furnishing and automobile upholstery.

According to the report, the transportation sector is expected to take a leading share of the coated fabric market. The auto industry has been growing at a high rate since recovering from the financial crisis. In the automotive industry, safety is a key consideration for car manufacturers. Coated fabrics are suitable for a wide range of automotive end uses such as seat upholstery, airbags, seat belts, truck tarps and coverings, boat seats, boat tops, rafts and kayaks. The automotive industry is already growing rapidly and is expected to drive the coated fabric market during the forecast period.

Materials that are expected to dominate the market

Among the material types used in coated fabrics, the polymer (vinyl, PU, PE) coated fabric segment is expected to lead the global coated fabrics market during the forecast period. Polymer coated fabrics have unique properties such as oil, stain, water and UV resistance, which is the main reason for the growing demand for polymer coated fabrics in various industries, including home and car upholstery. Some other applications of polymer-coated fabrics are temporary tents, awnings, canopies, seat cushions and protective clothing.