Until recently, Japanese nonwoven fabric manufacturers developed products almost exclusively for domestic consumption. A wide variety of manufacturers gives the industry its synergy. These manufacturers are beginning to market their nonwoven products directly. Sanitary products remain the largest application for nonwoven fabrics. Baby diaper production is declining with the birth rate, whereas demand for adult products is rising. Dust cloths and other household products are growing quickly. Battery separators are the most important product in the industrial fabric sector. Demand worldwide remains stable at approximately 2 million square meters, but development of a feasible electric car could push demand up sharply. The automotive industry consumes 30 percent of the nonwovens industry's output and as much as 60 percent of the output of some manufacturers. Demand for needle punched fabrics accounts for 60 percent of the 1.6 million square meters of nonwoven fabrics produced annually. Nonwoven fabrics are also used in the building industry. filters, and medical equipment.