截止1998年，全世界的无纺布消费量已达到240万吨。在1970年时，其消费量仅为40万吨，而到2007年，其消费量有望达到400万吨。无纺布的生产商主要集中在美国（占全世界的41%），西欧占30%，日本占8%，中国的产量仅占全世界的3.5%，其消耗量却为全世界的17.5%。

By 1998, nonwovens consumption had reached 2 million 400 thousand tons all over the world. In 1970, its consumption was only 400 thousand tons, and by 2007 its consumption was expected to reach 4 million tons. Non woven fabrics manufacturers are mainly concentrated in the United States (accounting for 41% of the world), Western Europe accounted for 30%, Japan accounted for 8%, China's output accounted for only 3.5% of the world's total, but its consumption is 17.5% of the world.

人造纤维仍支配着无纺布的生产，而且在2007年以前，这种情形不会有大的改变。全世界范围内用于无纺布生产的纤维中有63%为聚丙烯，23%为聚酯，8%为粘胶，2%为丙烯酸纤维，1.5%为聚酰胺，剩余的3%为其他纤维。

Artificial fibers still dominate the production of non-woven fabrics, and this situation will not change much until 2007. Worldwide, 63% of the fibers used for non-woven fabrics are polypropylene, 23% polyester, 8% viscose, 2% acrylic, 1.5% polyamide, and the rest 3% are other fibers.

无纺布在卫生吸收材料、医药用、交通工具用、制鞋用纺织材料上的应用量有明显增长。

The application of non-woven fabrics in sanitary absorption materials, medical applications, transportation tools and textile materials for shoe making has increased significantly.