U.S. Outdoor Fabric Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Material (Polyester, Olefin, Acrylic, Cotton, PTFE, PVC, Marine Vinyl), And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030

Report Overview

The U.S. outdoor fabric market size was estimated at USD 1,711.6 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5% from 2023 to 2030. The growth can be attributed to the rising demand for smart textiles, fire-resistant, and polymer-coated fabrics. Smart textiles are poised to experience high growth over the forecast period on account of numerous potential applications in medical, transportation, energy, security communication, and electronics. The demand for the material is witnessing a surge in various industries such as building and construction, healthcare, and protective clothing, owing to their superior properties. Outdoor fabric is considered ideal for applications that require high resistance and durability. The material is said to be chemical protectant, fade resistant, mold resistant, UV resistant, waterproof, stain resistant, and weather resistant. The material is highly durable compared to many indoor fabrics, which is further propelling the demand for outdoor fabric in the U.S. market.

The properties of the material mentioned above make it an ideal fabric for various industries such as healthcare, marine, defense, awnings, protective wear, smart textile, and automotive. Several protective clothing for bomb disposal crews, naval forces, submarines, nuclear, chemical operations, firefighters, and biological operations, are also made from outdoor fabrics.

Outdoor fabrics are further majorly used in cushions, umbrellas, and canopies, among others. Furthermore, the demand for outdoor fabric in the marine industry is expected to propel for manufacturing of biminis, boats, sail bags & covers, boat covers, weather clothes, windshield covers, and enclosures owing to its waterproof property.

The fabric is also used in the automotive industry for manufacturing fabric convertible topping, upholstery, and carpeting. The growing automotive industry in the U.S. on account of technological advancements and rising investments is further expected to drive the demand for outdoor fabrics. The economy enjoys a superior production environment characterized by an open investment policy, a large consumer market, superior infrastructure, and the availability of a highly skilled workforce.

The implementation of stringent government regulations regarding the safety of employees at the workplace in the U.S. is anticipated to encourage the demand for fire-resistant fabrics for protective clothing. Additionally, fire blockers in seat & upholstery and insulation panels are estimated to augment the demand for fire-resistant fabrics, propelling the growth of the U.S. outdoor fabric market.

Additionally, the country witnesses a high demand for outdoor fabrics due to the presence of large-scale manufacturers of military & defense materials. Outdoor fabric is highly employed in the manufacturing of various military & defense materials such as tents, gun covers, tank covers, and fighter plane engine covers. The properties such as damage resistance and durability to withstand the rigors of extreme use make it an ideal fabric for manufacturing military & defense materials. Therefore, the rising defense industry in the country coupled with the increasing use of the fabric in military & defense materials is expected to boost the market growth.

The U.S. outdoor fabric industry is anticipated to be hindered by fluctuating raw material costs. Several raw materials of outdoor fabrics such as polyester and acrylic are petroleum-based products that are primarily derived from crude oil. Thereby, the fluctuations in the prices of crude oil affect the outdoor fabric raw material costs. This in turn, further disrupts the supply chain. Additionally, the use of some harmful chemicals in fabric manufacturing, may negatively affect the industry’s growth.

Material Insights

The outdoor fabrics are manufactured using a variety of materials such as polyester, olefin, acrylic, cotton, PTFE, PVC, and marine vinyl. Acrylic and olefin fabric is used in the sector such as outdoor furniture including home furnishing and solar screen fabric. The demand for these two materials is expected to grow at a significant rate owing to properties such as mold, mildew, and water resistance. The olefin segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% over the period. Moreover, the acrylic outdoor fabric dominated the outdoor fabric market in 2022 based on revenue and is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 4.2% over the forecasted period.

Polyester material dominated the U.S. outdoor fabric market in 2022 in terms of volume. The segment accounted for a volume of 14.8 kilotons in 2022 and is expected to grow due to the rising use of the material in the fire protection and defense industry. Polyester is manufactured in such a way that it delivers various superior properties such as reduction in heat transfer, glare, and harmful UV rays. The material is also fade and flame resistant, which makes it ideal for many products in the fire protection and defense industry. Furthermore, it finds application in manufacturing insulation panels, seats, defense equipment, firefighter clothing, and clothing for bomb disposal crews.

The PVC material segment was valued at a revenue of USD 68.4 million in 2022 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.4% in terms of revenue over the forecast period. The PVC fabrics make the product waterproof and provide additional durability and strength. The growth of the segment can be attributed to several properties such as resistance to oil, mildew, UV rays, dirt, and chemicals. Furthermore, PVC fabric is highly preferred in outdoor products where long-term durability is required such as in the building & construction industry.

Marine vinyl accounted for the volume share of 25.9% in 2022 and is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period. The demand for marine vinyl is expected to grow in outdoor applications as it is majorly manufactured to withstand the harsh outdoor environment. Marine vinyl is considered to be waterproof, durable, and moisture resistance. The demand for marine vinyl is anticipated to propel especially in the marine application for manufacturing awnings and upholstery on boats on account of its ability to withstand water damage.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The key players in U.S. outdoor fabric market include BASF SE; W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; Freudenberg Performance Materials; Kolon Industries, Inc.; Glen Raven, Inc.; Milliken & Company; Eastex Products, Inc.; and Maine-Lee Technology Group LLC. The industry is characterized to be highly competitive due to the presence of many established manufacturers.

The market strategies manufacturers adopt include expansion, joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, and new investments in R&D activities. The industry players are involved in development and innovation activities to produce fabric with the ability to tackle extreme wear & tear. Furthermore, the manufacturers are also focusing on developing environment-friendly outdoor fabrics to protect human as well as environmental health. Some prominent players in the U.S. outdoor fabric market include:

• BASF SE

• W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

• Freudenberg Performance Materials

• Kolon Industries, Inc.

• Glen Raven, Inc.

• Milliken & Company

• Eastex Products, Inc

• Maine-Lee Technology Group LLC.

U.S. Outdoor Fabric Market Report Scope

U.S. Outdoor Fabric Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts volume and revenue growth at the country level and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the U.S. outdoor fabric marketreport based on material:

• Material Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

  • Polyester

  • Olefin

  • Acrylic

  • Cotton

  • PTFE

  • PVC

  • Marine Vinyl

  • Others