US Manufacturing Wipes

Manufacturing Wipes


Demand for manufacturing wipes is expected to advance 2.5% per year to $646 million in 2026, driven primarily by unit growth as prices moderate from inflation- and supply chain-related highs in 2021 and 2022. Unit growth will be supported by:

• consistent increases in manufacturing activity precipitated by industries returning to pre-pandemic levels of operation
  
• continued adoption of wipes – as manufacturers recognize their cost and performance benefits – within many industries
  

Dry Wipes Continue to Dominate the Market

Dry wipes have historically been more widely used in manufacturing settings due to their versatility and ability to be used in conjunction with solvents applied on site. This trend will continue despite improvements in wet wipe technology. Dry wipes are particularly favored in special purpose manufacturing applications, such as surface preparation and printing uses.

General Purpose Wipes Maintain Favorable Market Share

General purpose wipes accounted for 63% of manufacturing wipes sales in 2021, despite the continued popularity of specialty wipes. General purpose wipes are valuable as they can be used in a variety of industrial settings to cost effectively remove soils from manufactured products as well as from machinery, tools, and other equipment. Market growth going forward will be boosted by an acceleration in unit sales growth as US manufacturing activity continues to rebound. Additionally, general purpose wipes usage will benefit from the continued implementation of the EPA’s Wiper Rule, which eases regulations surrounding their disposal.

Study Description

This Freedonia industry study analyzes the $570 million US manufacturing wipes industry. It presents historical demand data (2011, 2016 and 2021) and forecasts (2026 and 2031) by application (general purpose, special purpose, surface application, cleanroom, printing, other), and type (wet, dry). The study also evaluates company market share and competitive analysis on industry competitors including 3M Company, Kimberly-Clark, and Nice-Pak.