NAICS 313230 Quarterly Industry Report
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 313230Sector: 31Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 313230 provides business owners, acquirers, and financial advisors with data-driven valuation insights for the nonwoven fabric manufacturing sector, drawing on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5] and SBA lending records. Additional data is drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics[9].. The report aggregates transaction multiples, financial benchmarks, and market trends specific to NAICS 313230 establishments, supporting buy-sell agreements, succession planning, SBA-financed acquisitions, and litigation support engagements.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the nonwoven fabric mills industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Nonwoven Fabric Mills (NAICS 313230) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing nonwoven fabrics and felts through processes that bond or interlock fibers by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means. Products include spunbond, meltblown, needlepunch, and hydroentangled fabrics used in medical supplies, filtration media, geotextiles, hygiene products, wipes, and automotive interiors. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[5], U.S. nonwoven fabric producers export over $2 billion annually while also importing substantial volumes, reflecting the industry's strong global trade position and domestic manufacturing capability.
Nonwoven fabric manufacturing has experienced steady growth driven by increasing applications in healthcare, filtration, and hygiene markets. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated domestic investment in meltblown production capacity for medical mask filtration media. Industry SBA Office of Advocacy[6] notes that while large multinational producers dominate commodity nonwoven production, small and mid-size mills maintain competitive positions in specialty applications including custom filtration media, geotextile products, and industrial wiping fabrics where technical specifications and shorter production runs favor nimble domestic producers.
Regulatory requirements include OSHA[7] workplace safety standards for fiber handling, chemical bonding processes, and thermal equipment operation. Environmental compliance under EPA[8] regulations addresses air emissions from thermal bonding and chemical spray operations, wastewater management, and solid waste disposal. Products used in medical applications must meet FDA device standards, while geotextile products require certification under ASTM and AASHTO performance specifications.
What's Included in This Industry
- Valuation multiples benchmarked to nonwoven fabric manufacturers
- Revenue and EBITDA trends for domestic nonwoven production operations
- SBA lending data and financing terms for NAICS 313230
- Comparable transaction data from recent nonwoven industry M&A activity
- Industry risk factors including polymer resin pricing and technology shifts
- Workforce composition and labor cost benchmarks for nonwoven operations
- Regional market analysis across domestic nonwoven production centers
- Customer channel analysis covering medical, filtration, and hygiene buyers
- Growth projections tied to healthcare and sustainability applications
- Owner compensation and discretionary earnings benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Textile Mills | 313 |
| Industry Group | Fabric Mills | 3132 |
| NAICS Industry | Nonwoven Fabric Mills | 31323 |
| National Industry | Nonwoven Fabric Mills | 313230 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 313210 | Broadwoven Fabric Mills | Broadwoven fabric mills producing alternative fabric constructions using weaving rather than bonding processes, competing in some industrial and home textile applications |
| 313240 | Knit Fabric Mills | Knit fabric mills manufacturing alternative fabric types through knitting processes that compete with nonwovens in certain disposable and lightweight applications |
| 313110 | Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills | Fiber and yarn mills supplying staple fiber inputs used in needlepunch and hydroentangled nonwoven manufacturing processes |
| 325220 | Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | Synthetic fiber manufacturers supplying the polymer resins and synthetic staple fibers used as primary raw materials in nonwoven fabric production |
| 313310 | Textile and Fabric Finishing Mills | Textile finishing mills providing downstream treatment services including printing, coating, and chemical finishing for nonwoven fabric products |
| 313320 | Fabric Coating Mills | Fabric coating mills applying lamination and coating treatments to nonwoven substrates for barrier, waterproofing, and performance enhancement applications |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | 16.3% | 35 |
| 2 | South Carolina | 11.6% | 25 |
| 3 | New York | 6.5% | 14 |
| 4 | California | 6.0% | 13 |
| 5 | Georgia | 6.0% | 13 |
| 6 | Tennessee | 5.1% | 11 |
| 7 | Texas | 4.7% | 10 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 4.2% | 9 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 4.2% | 9 |
| 10 | Indiana | 4.2% | 9 |
% Of Establishments
0%
16%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
24
Total SBA Loans
$1.3M
Total Loan Volume
$56K
Average Loan Size
8 yrs
Average Loan Term
12.16%
Average Interest Rate
72
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Nonwoven fabric mills seeking SBA financing typically qualify under the SBA size standards[10] for NAICS 313230, which set the threshold at 750 employees for small business classification. The SBA 7(a) loan program[11] provides up to $5 million for business acquisitions, production line upgrades, and working capital needs. Market CDC/504 loan program[12] offers long-term fixed-rate financing for facility construction and major nonwoven production line installations. Lenders evaluate customer contract stability, product certification status, and polymer resin sourcing agreements when underwriting nonwoven manufacturing transactions.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 8 | $896K | $112K |
| 2 | Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company | 16 | $440K | $28K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the typical valuation multiple for a nonwoven fabric mill?
Nonwoven fabric manufacturers typically trade at 5x to 8x EBITDA, with producers of medical-grade and filtration media products commanding the upper range due to higher barriers to entry and certification requirements. Commodity wipe and geotextile producers generally trade at 4x to 6x EBITDA. Per U.S. Census Bureau[5] data, the industry's growth trajectory and diverse end-market applications support premium valuations relative to traditional textile mills.
What SBA loan options are available for acquiring a nonwoven fabric mill?
The SBA 7(a) loan program[11] provides up to $5 million for acquisitions and equipment upgrades, while the CDC/504 program[12] finances major production line installations and facility construction. Nonwoven production equipment represents substantial capital investment, and lenders assess technology currency and production capacity use rates when evaluating loan applications.
What are the main revenue drivers for nonwoven fabric manufacturers?
Revenue depends on end-market diversification across medical, filtration, hygiene, and industrial applications, product specification complexity, and the ability to maintain long-term supply agreements with major consumer goods and medical device companies. Producers with FDA-registered facilities serving healthcare customers generate premium margins compared to commodity nonwoven operators.
What regulatory requirements affect NAICS 313230 businesses?
Mills must comply with OSHA[7] standards for fiber handling and thermal bonding equipment safety. Products used in medical applications require compliance with FDA[13] device registration and quality management system requirements. Per EPA[8] regulations, air emission permits for thermal bonding operations and wastewater treatment for chemical bonding processes are required at most production facilities.
What equipment is needed for nonwoven fabric manufacturing?
Core equipment varies by production process: spunbond and meltblown lines require polymer extrusion equipment, web formation systems, and thermal bonding calenders costing $5 million to $50 million per line. Needlepunch operations require carding machines, crosslappers, and needlelooms at lower capital costs of $1 million to $5 million. Per SBA[14] lending data, production line capital intensity makes equipment condition and technology vintage critical factors in nonwoven mill valuations.
How did pandemic demand affect the nonwoven industry?
The COVID-19 pandemic drove unprecedented demand for meltblown nonwoven media used in N95 and surgical mask filtration layers, triggering over $1 billion in domestic production capacity investments. Post-pandemic, this capacity has been redeployed toward industrial filtration, air purification, and specialty medical applications. Per Bureau of Labor Statistics[15] data, nonwoven manufacturing employment expanded during and after the pandemic period.
What growth opportunities exist for nonwoven manufacturers?
Growth areas include advanced filtration media for air and water purification, sustainable nonwovens from recycled and biodegradable fibers, battery separator materials for electric vehicles, and medical barrier fabrics. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] tracks expanding domestic nonwoven output driven by these higher-value technical applications and reshoring of critical supply chains.
What workforce challenges do nonwoven fabric mills face?
Key challenges include recruiting process engineers and operators for highly automated production lines, maintaining maintenance technicians for specialized polymer processing equipment, and training quality control staff for medical-grade production environments. Per Bureau of Labor Statistics[15] data, nonwoven manufacturing wages are competitive within the broader textile sector due to the higher technical skill requirements of polymer-based production.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]SBA Office of Advocacy advocacy.sba.gov
- [7]OSHA osha.gov
- [8]EPA epa.gov
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [12]CDC/504 loan program sba.gov
- [13]FDA fda.gov
- [14]SBA sba.gov
- [15]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared by Fair Market Value (“Fair Market Value”) for informational purposes only. It is provided on an “as-is” and “as available” basis. Fair Market Value makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, completeness, or accuracy of the data or information contained herein. This publication is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Users should consult with qualified professionals before making any financial or business decisions based on the information presented.
To the extent permitted by law, Fair Market Value disclaims all liability for loss or damage, direct and indirect, suffered or incurred by any person resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, the data in this publication.
Copyright © 2026 Fair Market Value. All rights reserved. All data, information, articles, graphs, and content contained in this publication are copyrighted works and Fair Market Value hereby reserves all rights. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded to a third party, or distributed without the prior written permission of Fair Market Value.