Worldwide, Japan and Korea led in bicomponent output with a total of 200 million pounds annually. The production of the U.S. is currently around 60 million pounds with Hoechst Celanese holding the lead. Other U.S. players in the Bicomponent sector include Foss manufacturing, International Polymers Inc. and Fiber Visions. The present production of bicomponent fibers worldwide is only a fraction of the 25 million metric tons of manmade fiber market, but the producers are confident of significant growth in the next 10 years or so