Markets for Textile-Based Artificial Turf

19 pages, published in Issue 73, 2nd quarter 2008   Report price: Euro 395.00; US$ 520.00

The market for artificial turf amounted to about 600,000 tons in 2007 and had a value of Euro1.25 bn (US$1.71 bn). Europe was the largest region with 43% of sales in value terms while North America accounted for a further 28%. Global demand for artificial turf has been growing by 20% a year since 2000. Rapid growth has stemmed partly from technical improvements to artificial turf, which have led to greater acceptance of the product. The most common uses of artificial turf include sports pitches?especially for football and hockey?as well as decorative grass in gardens and other landscaping projects.

FieldTurf Tarkett, one of 15 members of the European Synthetic Turf Organisation (ESTO), is a leading sports surfacing business with sales in 2007 of Euro222.7 mn (US$304.9 mn). The bulk of its revenues come from sales of artificial turf for ball sports?such as American football, baseball, football (soccer) and rugby. However, the company also generates revenues from sales of other types of sporting surfaces, including those for golf courses, gymnasiums, indoor and outdoor running tracks, children?s playgrounds, tennis courts and weight rooms. TenCate Grass is the world?s leading producer of artificial turf fibres and components, including infill and backing. Low & Bonar produces a wide range of technical textile products, including artificial grass yarns and backing.

Football authorities?as well as the sport?s players and fans?have fought long and hard for artificial turf to be accepted, and it appears that a corner has finally been turned. However, the Union Européenne de Football Association (UEFA) insists that artificial turf should only be considered an option where climatic conditions make it necessary. Thus further work is needed before it can gain ultimate approval.

Meanwhile, the importance of synthetic turf is accelerating in landscaping and decorative uses, and the attention of the industry is being attracted by the booming construction industry in the Middle East. But with artificial turf still confined mainly to industrialised countries, the industry is aware that developing countries, especially China and India, offer huge untapped potential in terms of future revenues.

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• Global technical textiles business update, 2nd quarter 2008, (2nd quarter 2008)
• Textile Lobbyists in Brussels, (January-February 2008)

Four times a year, Technical Textile Markets provides an overview of the global man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile industries. It provides market data and analysis of new and established markets for technical textiles, and is essential reading for senior executives in (or supplying) the man-made fibre, nonwoven and technical textile sectors ? as well as for those who are not involved in the industry on a day-to-day basis, but who need an authoritative source which helps them to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues facing the companies which are actively involved in this fast-growing sector.
Reports in Technical Textile Markets include:
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	profiles of the world's top 40 producers of nonwovens ? updated each year with details of developments from each of the leading producers, including acquisitions, investments and divestments, and analyses of trends which the "rising stars" are using to their advantage.
	statistical reports ? including consumption data, by fibre and end-use applications. Regular updates are published for fibre consumption in Japan, the rest of Asia, the USA, and Western Europe.
	market sector information ? analyses of important commercial end-user applications, and profiles of both established and emerging markets which take into account such innovations and developments as nanotechnology and intelligent textiles.
	regular updates on innovations in fibres, technical textiles, apparel and machinery ? including developments in the following categories: fibres and yarns; technical textile fabrics for industrial applications; machinery; technical textiles for apparel; composites; other technical textile products; and technical textile treatments and finishes.
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So whether you are involved in man-made fibres, nonwovens or technical textiles ? in manufacturing, converting, import/export, or end use ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance ? a subscription to Technical Textile Markets will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
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