Market Dynamics
Introduction
Bicomponent fiber is a two-component fiber that is extruded from two polymers of the same spinneret that is, both polymers are constituted within the same filament. Bicomponent fibers are also known as “conjugate fibers”, particularly in Asian countries. The two polymers of a bicomponent fiber have different melting points and are accordingly structured for a specific application.
The properties of bicomponent fibers depend on several factors, such as the nature and properties of both materials, their arrangement in the fiber, the relative proportion of both materials, and the thickness of the fiber. The main objective behind producing bicomponent fiber is to exploit capabilities that do not exist in either polymer alone.
COVID-19 Impact Analysis
Despite the widespread impact of the pandemic, the bicomponent fiber is among the few man-made fibers that recorded a low impact of the pandemic in their demand. The market for bicomponent fiber saw a decline of -6.8% in 2020. The sharp plunge in the home furnishing, automotive, and textile industries was partially offset by the exceptional growth in the hygiene and medical applications in the same year.
Market Drivers
The major factors driving the growth of the bicomponent fiber market are:
- The organic growth of various end-use industries such as hygiene, automotive, textiles, and home furnishing.
- Furthermore, exceptional advantages of bicomponent fibers, such as a wide range of bonding temperatures, unique cross-sections, enhanced bulkiness, as well as liquid acquisition properties.
- Compared to other competing materials (mono-component fiber), are driving an increase in their penetration across industry verticals. The market experienced exceptional growth over the past decade, creating huge interest among participants.
Recent Market JVs and Mergers & Acquisition: A good number of M&A and joint venture activities over the past decade prove that inorganic growth is indubitably the key strategy adopted by major players in order to stay ahead of the competition.
In 2020, Thailand-based Indorama Ventures and Japan-based Toyobo formed a joint venture to produce and sell bicomponent fibers for the automotive market. The joint venture allowed both companies to combine their expertise in bicomponent fiber production and gain access to new markets and customers.
In 2018, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL) and Huvis Corporation formed a joint venture, Indorama Huvis. The JV combines the manufacturing and technological expertise of both companies to produce and supply high-quality fiber products, including polyester, nylon, and spandex, to customers in various industries, such as automotive, apparel, and hygiene.
Huvis and Kolon Industries announced a merger of their polyester businesses, including bicomponent fiber production. The merged entity, which will be called Hyosung Huvis, aims to become a leading global player in the polyester industry.
Segment Analysis
Segmentations
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List of Sub-Segments
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Segments with High Growth Opportunity
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Material Type Analysis
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PE/PP, PE/PET, Co-PET/PET, and Others
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Co-PET/PET dominates the market in terms of both value and volume shipments.
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Structure Type Analysis
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Sheath/Core, Side-by-Side, Islands-in-the-Sea, and Others
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Sheath-core structure leads to the market.
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End-Use Industry Type Analysis
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Hygiene, Textiles, Automotive, Home Furnish, and Others
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Hygiene governs the market and is expected to remain avant-garde in the foreseeable future as well.
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Web Formation Technology Type Analysis
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Drylaid, Spunlaid, Airlaid, and Wetlaid
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Drylaid is expected to be the dominant segment during the forecast period.
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Consolidation Process Type Analysis
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Spunlaid, Needle-punched, and Thermal Bonded
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Thermally bonded is expected to be the dominant as well as the fastest-growing consolidation process during the forecast period.
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Fiber Length Type Analysis
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Short-Cut Fibers and Staple Fibers
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Short-cut fibers are expected to maintain their lead during the forecast period.
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Regional Analysis
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North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World
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Asia-Pacific will manage its huge lead in the global market by 2026. Also, the region is likely to heal up with the fastest pace in the post-pandemic market scenario.
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By Material Type
The market is based on material types PE/PP, PE/PET, Co-PET/PET, and others. Co-PET/PET dominates the market in terms of both value and volume shipments. Co-PET/PET is used in a wide range of applications in the nonwoven industry with a melt temperature below 110°C.
Desirable strength, lightweight, better dyeability, wrinkle resistance, a cost-effective nature, and excellent wash wear properties are other key whys and wherefores of the product category. PE/PP bicomponent fiber has superior properties, such as enhanced softness, bulkiness, and liquid absorption properties, which have led to its significant demand in the USA and Western European countries.
By Structure Type
The market is segmented into sheath-core, side-by-side, islands-in-the-sea, and others. Sheath-core structure leads to the market. This structure type fiber is generally processed as bonding fiber for nonwovens.
Typically, these are used in two forms, concentric and eccentric types, based on the emphasis on product strength and bulkiness, respectively. Side-by-side fiber also offers a sizeable market opportunity and is generally used as self-crimping fiber.
By End-Use Industry Type
The market is segmented into hygiene, textiles, automotive, home furnishing, and others. Hygiene governs the market and is expected to remain avant-garde in the foreseeable future as well.
Improving the living standard of people, rising awareness towards good health, and an inclination towards the use of hygiene products, such as baby diapers, wipes, and feminine hygiene products, are burgeoning the demand for bicomponent fibers in the segment. Key requirements for hygiene products, such as softness, better fluid absorption, low irritation to the skin, high strength, and high bulkiness, are efficiently fulfilled by bicomponent fiber.

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By Web Formation Technology Type
The market is segmented into drylaid, spunlaid, airlaid, and wetlaid. Drylaid is expected to be the dominant segment during the forecast period. When bicomponent fibers are used in drylaid web formation, they can be used to create fabrics with unique properties.
By adjusting the ratio of the two materials in the bicomponent fiber, it is possible to control the melting temperature and other properties of the resulting fabric. This makes it possible to create fabrics with different levels of strength, stiffness, and heat resistance, as well as other properties that are useful in a variety of applications.
By Consolidation Process Type
The market is segmented into spunlaid, needle-punched, and thermally bonded. Thermally bonded is expected to be the dominant as well as the fastest-growing consolidation process during the forecast period.
This process creates a nonwoven fabric with unique properties such as enhanced strength, durability, and elasticity. The choice of bicomponent fibers and the specific thermal bonding process used can be tailored to create fabrics with a wide range of properties for different applications, such as in the manufacturing of medical textiles, protective clothing, and industrial fabrics.
By Fiber Length Type
The market is segmented into short-cut fibers and staple fibers. Short-cut fibers are expected to maintain their lead during the forecast period. They are used in a wide range of applications, such as in the production of nonwoven fabrics, insulation materials, and filtration media.
Short-cut fibers are often used as reinforcements in composite materials, such as plastics, to improve their mechanical properties.
Regional Insights
Asia-Pacific is likely to remain the most dominant as well as the fastest-growing region in the long-term scenario, owing to a host of factors such as a large population base, increasing disposable income of consumers, and increasing awareness of hygiene products such as diapers and feminine hygiene products. Emerging nations, such as China and India, are experiencing a rapid increase in the use of bicomponent fiber.
North America and Europe have a high penetration of bicomponent fiber and offer sizeable market opportunities.
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