From the Sector

As global demand for high-performance materials evolves, Cinte Techtextil China is set to steer the industry’s next growth phase by driving the convergence of global expertise, specialised zones, and forward-looking tech and insights. Building on its diverse scope, the upcoming edition will especially spotlight critical sub-sectors such as Medtech & Protech, Indutech and Buildtech. The offering will be augmented by the well-received Mobiltech and Textile Chemicals and Dyes Zones, alongside the high-calibre German and European Zones. Beyond the booths, the fringe programme structured around four core pillars will chart a definitive roadmap for technical textiles and nonwovens.

China’s technical textile and nonwovens industry continues to build positive momentum in early 2026 despite a complex external environment. According to China Customs, imports remained stable while the sector’s export value reached USD 7.7 billion during the first two months of the year, a YoY increase of 17.7%[1]. The upward trajectory is firmly rooted in a widespread push for tech and quality upgrades, as well as more precise requirements across critical application areas, namely Mobiltech, Medtech, Protech, Indutech, and Buildtech. In 2026, Cinte Techtextil China will bring these sectors to the forefront with exhibitors such as Dawnsens New Material, Picanol NV, and Zhejiang Jinda Coating.

During the fair’s networking event at Techtextil in April, Ms R.Lalitha, I.A.S., Commissioner of Textiles, State Government of Tamil Nadu, India, underscored Cinte Techtextil China’s direct relevance to global demands: “The fair’s focus on Indutech, Mobiltech, and Medtech aligns perfectly with Tamil Nadu’s automotive and medical textile strengths. As we encourage our industries to foray into high-value, sustainable technical textiles, this platform is vital for mutual cooperation and understanding recent developments in China. Cinte Techtextil China’s fringe event themes are also highly on point, capturing where the future of textiles lies.”

Specialised zones showcase growing sub-sectors and international excellence
In addition to the highly sought-after Textile Chemicals and Dyes Zone in Hall W5, the Mobiltech Zone in Hall W4 is expected to remain a top priority for global buyers. Reflecting the soaring demand for automotive textiles, the zone has consistently attracted leading buyers such as Hyosung, Hyundai, Li Auto, Mazda, SAIC-GM, SAIC Volkswagen, Tesla, and Zeekr. This year, one of the zone’s key exhibitors will be Shanghai Shenda, whose offering comprises automotive carpets, headliners, trunks, parcel shelves, wheel arch liners, dash insulators, and related acoustic components.

Europe remains China’s premier source for technical textiles, capturing a 26% share of import value in 2025[2].Showcasing the continent’s expertise with their own comprehensive rosters of pioneers, the German Zone and European Zone at the Overseas Zone (W5) will attract buyers sourcing high-tech, premium solutions, connecting them directly with manufacturers who shape the future of technical textiles and nonwovens. Featured participants include:

• Groz-Beckert: the world’s leading provider of industrial machine needles, precision parts, fine tools, and systems for the textile and nonwovens industries. With a global presence and strong local expertise in China, the company supports customers across all key sectors including knitting, weaving, nonwovens, tufting, sewing, and spinning.
• Swisstulle (Qingdao): owned by Swisstulle AG, the company specialises in high-grade fabric knitting, finishing and dyeing. Using imported raw materials and advanced Karl Mayer and Brückner machinery, Swisstulle delivers bespoke tulle across a diverse range of widths, colours, densities and styles.The company offers tailored solutions mainly serving the high-end lingerie, automotive sunshade, and home textile sectors.

Also in the Overseas Zone, the Nonwoven Federation of India (NWFI), the unified body representing the country’s regional associations of spunbond nonwoven fabric manufacturers, will give fairgoers efficient access to a wide range of India’s latest solutions and opportunities for collaboration.

Multi-themed fringe programme to shape industry horizons
Complementing the future-focused business exchange, the fair’s fringe programme will revolve around four core pillars: Industry Insights, AI, Innovation, and Sustainability.

At the heart of Industry Insights is the annual flagship conference – China International Nonwovens Conference (CINC) – plus a series of other sessions and end-use guided tours delivering critical information.

The AI-focused events will bring together experts to share advanced models and demonstrate how AI is actively empowering textile manufacturing and supply chains. Meanwhile, the Innovation pillar will highlight forward-thinking solutions, including exhibitor presentations and a curated project showcase from domestic and international textile students. Catered to the rapid growth of the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, the Mobiltech display zone will present cutting-edge and sustainable advancements in automotive textiles, showcasing key products like interior materials, lightweight composites, smart-sensing fabrics, and acoustic insulation solutions.

Moving into the Sustainability frontier, the expert-led Econogy Tours will connect buyers with a select lineup of exhibitors who have passed the Econogy Check[3], providing direct insights into sustainable production practices and innovative, eco-friendly materials set to make an impact across the fairground.

The fair’s product categories cover 12 application areas, which comprehensively span a full range of potential uses in modern technical textiles and nonwovens. These categories also cover the entire industry, from upstream technology and raw materials providers to finished fabrics, chemicals and other solutions. This scope of product groups and application areas ensures that the fair is an effective business platform for the entire industry.

The fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd; the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT; and the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA).

• INDEX™26 officially concluded at Palexpo as a successful edition, spread over a gross exhibition space of 50’000m2, the event featured 625 exhibitors from 44 countries, fully playing their part through high-quality, prestigious stands, confirming its status as a central hub for nonwovens innovation. 
• The event attracted 11,452 visits providing an important meeting place for global decision-makers to witness the industry's evolution toward high-tech, durable, and sustainable solutions. 
• A defining theme of the edition was the integration of technical excellence and environmental responsibility, with a major focus on circular design and carbon footprint reduction as primary performance indicators. 
• Beyond the exhibition halls, the strong response to the specialized seminar programme and new immersive experiences highlighted how global collaboration and smart technologies are helping to shape a path for a circular manufacturing landscape. 

INDEX™ 26, the World’s Leading Nonwovens Exhibition, officially closed its doors today at Palexpo. In a context marked by uncertainty and continued pressure, the 2026 edition of INDEX™ concluded successfully. With a diverse range of 625 exhibiting companies from 44 countries, an important number of visitors, and an expanded international reach, the event confirmed its role as a central hub for innovation and a representative showcase of the nonwovens ecosystem. 

Driven by the strong presence of exhibitors, the 2026 edition confirmed the continued relevance of the event. With 11,452 visits, the four-day event brought together a strong mix of global decision-makers and technical experts, who came to explore the sector’s evolution from mass-produced disposable items to high-tech, durable and sustainable solutions. The professional events were well attended, establishing the exhibition as an indispensable meeting place for sharing experience and passion for the industry. Magali Fakhry Dufresne, Director of INDEX™, noted: “Despite the current geopolitical context, affecting travel conditions and budgets, the industry demonstrated a strong commitment to attend. Participants were keen to meet in person, reconnect with their peers and advance discussions. INDEXTM is a great opportunity for the young generation to discover many innovations all gathered under one roof. Once again, INDEX™ confirmed its role as a key event for the global nonwovens community every three years.” She adds: “I also would like to thank the industry, and particularly the exhibitors, for their engagement and continued commitment. Exhibitors played a decisive role in the success of the edition, with high-quality, prestigious stands that reflected the strength and ambition of the sector.” 

The defining theme of the 2026 edition was the integration of environmental responsibility and technical excellence. Industry representatives demonstrated that sustainability and performance now form a unified mission that permeates the entire value chain. A key focus was the increasing significance of reducing the carbon footprint as the industry's primary performance indicator. Exhibitors presented the latest production technologies designed to increase throughput and produce finer fibres. Circular design was a major focus of these developments, with many new materials replacing complex multi-layer structures with recyclable designs made from a single material. Furthermore, the event showcased high-performance protective textiles that meet new safety standards without the use of PFAS. 

“The INDEX™26 seminar programme and products presentations showcased developments demonstrating how companies are achieving a competitive edge by going beyond regulatory compliance. It showed that it is vitally important for companies to adapt and be agile to successfully master new market challenges such as the Iranian and other crises”, added Pieter Meijer, Chairman of the INDEX™ Advisory Board. 

Networking and immersive experiences 
The exhibition offered a consistent experience-oriented approach, as evidenced by the numerous areas dedicated to innovation and technical demonstrations. The event also strengthened its networking dimension, introducing a unique 'Women's Networking Breakfast' to build mentoring networks for the future of the community. The new immersive experience, 'Nonwovens: In Every Layer of Life', was well received, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the integral role these materials play in modern society. Over four days, Geneva provided the setting for an exhibition that remains a place of discovery for current and future technologies. 

Looking to the future 
Murat Dogru, General Manager of EDANA concludes: “INDEX™26 had demonstrated how innovation in the industry is now being driven by global collaboration. The synergy between automated machinery, smart chemistry, and extreme weight reduction has pointed to a promising direction for a more efficient, circular manufacturing landscape. We are already looking forward to INDEXTM29 (15-18 May 2029), to discuss the latest developments.”

• B2B textiles are textile-based products used in commercial or industrial settings, rather than by consumers  
• While B2B textiles are considered better positioned for circularity than the B2C textile sector, solutions remain early-stage and have not yet scaled in line with the volume of waste generated 
• New research examines key barriers to circularity across five priority sub-sectors and the opportunities to unlock greater circularity  

Circular solutions for B2B textiles have yet to scale in line with the volume of waste generated, according to new research by Reconomy, the international circular economy specialist. 

B2B textiles include textile-based products used for commercial or industrial purposes such as soft furnishings, automotive interiors, agricultural textiles and construction materials rather than clothing worn by consumers. While these sectors are widely considered to be better positioned for circularity than the B2C sector due to established logistics and the fact that B2B textiles are typically more homogenous in material composition, solutions remain underdeveloped and have not yet scaled, leaving large volumes of material flowing into downcycling or disposal.   

The research examines waste flows and market dynamics across five priority B2B textile categories, including: soft furnishings; upholstery and furniture textiles; automotive textiles; agricultural textiles; and geotextiles and construction textiles. 

Across all five, the findings point to a common challenge, namely that while circularity is technically possible, it is impeded in practice by weak sorting, limited aggregation, poor data visibility and underdeveloped end-markets – meaning materials that could be reused or recycled are instead lost from the system. 

Within UK B2B soft furnishings, for example, the research found that products are dominated by bed, bath and table linen used by the hospitality and healthcare sectors which generate large waste flows. Despite the strong underlying recycling potential of these materials, reuse is structurally constrained by hygiene requirements and low unit value, resulting in most volumes sent to energy-from-waste facilities or landfill.  

The research identifies that the primary opportunity for the industry lies upstream, in improving sorting and aggregation at industrial laundries, which act as the key control point for circular and end-of-life material routing. 

The report comes amid rising waste volumes, with more than 6,000 tonnes of hospitality textiles lost each year in the UK and four million linen items lost annually by the NHS, including bed sheets, pillowcases and surgical gowns. 
 
Commenting, Aimee Campanella, Development Director for Textiles EPR at Reconomy, said: “While much discussion around textiles circularity has centred on apparel, non-apparel textiles represent a significant adjacent area that has been largely overlooked. Given our expertise in textiles for clothing and footwear, we commissioned this new research to provide the industry with greater clarity on the structural barriers holding circularity back, and what needs to change to accelerate circular models that reduce waste, cut carbon emissions and lower costs for businesses.”