According to a recent report released by CMI, the global polishing cloth market is projected to reach USD 597.8 million by 2025, and is expected to grow to approximately USD 792 million by 2032, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 4.1% during the forecast period.
Although the growth rate is moderate rather than explosive, the market shows a steady upward trend driven by the ongoing transformation of manufacturing industries, precision processing, and global consumption upgrades.
In recent years, the “polishing cloth” — a seemingly traditional auxiliary material — has been gaining renewed attention from industries such as manufacturing, electronics, and automotive. Several key factors explain this resurgence:
1.Rising Requirements for Precision Manufacturing and Surface Treatment
As industries such as automotive, electronics, aerospace, and metal processing demand higher surface smoothness, scratch control, and quality consistency, high-performance polishing cloths have become indispensable.
2.Material Innovation and Product Upgrading
The market is shifting from traditional cotton and wool polishing cloths toward microfiber and advanced synthetic fibers. These materials offer superior durability, cleaning efficiency, and environmental performance, creating opportunities for differentiation and innovation among manufacturers.
3.Manufacturing Shift and Emerging Market Growth
The Asia-Pacific region, particularly China and India, continues to rise as a global manufacturing hub. Rapid industrialization, construction, electronics production, and automobile manufacturing in this region are driving demand for polishing cloths.
For producers and exporters of polishing cloths, this trend represents a market opportunity worth seizing.
For instance, industry service platforms such as Abrasivestocks have noted increasing inquiries from precision manufacturers and tool suppliers in Southeast Asia and Australia. This reflects a growing regional demand for high-quality surface treatment products, including polishing materials — signaling that polishing cloth producers capable of meeting export standards could benefit significantly from this emerging market shift.
Though often seen as a “supporting material,” the polishing cloth market has its own clear segmentation logic that helps companies identify entry points:
Product Type: Woven and non-woven cloths.
Material Type: Cotton, microfiber, synthetic fibers, wool, and others — each differing in cost, application, and lifespan.
End-use Industries: Automotive, aerospace, electronics, metalworking, healthcare, construction, and niche applications.
Among these, automotive and electronics segments are projected to remain major growth drivers. Interestingly, cotton-based materials are highlighted in the report as a category with potential for faster growth under certain conditions.
The Asia-Pacific region is expected to account for about 25% of the global market share by 2025, showing the highest growth rate. North America will maintain roughly 35%, while Europe follows at around 30%.
In the long term, emerging markets such as India and Southeast Asia offer higher growth potential — but they also face challenges including cost pressures, raw material availability, and supply chain instability.
For Chinese manufacturers, this dual reality suggests two messages:
Localized production and export channels offer new opportunities.
Competition and cost pressures are also intensifying, demanding more strategic planning.
Opportunities:
Broad space for material innovation and product differentiation.
Upgrading of downstream manufacturing, especially in high-end and precision processing sectors.
Industrial migration toward Asia and Southeast Asia creates new production and export scenarios.
Challenges:
Price volatility of raw materials such as cotton, microfiber, and synthetic fibers directly affects costs and profits.
Severe product homogeneity in the market leads to intense price competition among small players.
Although growth is steady, the “moderate CAGR (4.1%)” indicates that investments should be planned carefully.
1.Enhance Material R&D Capabilities
Invest in microfiber and eco-friendly synthetic fibers to increase product value and differentiation.
2.Expand into High-Growth Downstream Sectors
Focus on EV components, optical parts for consumer electronics, and medical devices, all of which require high surface quality.
3.Strengthen Regional Layout Strategies
Consider establishing production bases or export channels in Southeast Asia or India to lower costs and stay close to customers.
4.Emphasize Branding and Customization
As clients demand better polishing performance, offering tailored, solution-oriented products will be the key to competitiveness.
5.Manage Raw Material and Supply Chain Risks
Build a stable fiber and base cloth supply system, or explore recyclable and alternative materials.
Platforms like Abrasivestocks are also assisting manufacturers in connecting with overseas distributors and exhibitions in Australia, enabling polishing cloth producers to better understand market expectations and adapt to international standards. This kind of bridge between supply and global demand has become increasingly vital for companies looking to scale sustainably.
The global polishing cloth market may not exhibit explosive growth, but its steady expansion and material innovation make it an appealing segment within the broader surface treatment industry. For manufacturers that can integrate R&D, regional strategy, and cross-border market access, the next few years may mark a critical period of transformation and opportunity.