In 2012 there were no shipments of single heater draw-texturing spindles (mainly used for polyamide filaments). From 2010 to 2011 shipments fell from 13,200 to 1,824 (-86%).

In the segment of double heater draw-texturing spindles (mainly used for polyester filaments) investments dropped from an all time high of 826,500 texturing spindles in 2011 to 717,800, a decrease of -13%. 90% of all shipments went to Asia.

By far the biggest single investor of this type of draw-texturing machinery was again China where 489,600 new spindles or 68% of global shipments were installed, followed by distant second India with 44,400 or 6.2%, Thailand and Japan with 36,500 or 5.1% each, and Turkey with 17,000 or 2.4%.

Weaving Machinery

Worldwide shipments of shuttle-less looms plummeted in 2012 to 86,450 machines, a fall of -44% from last year's record of 153,750. The main reason behind this development is the decline in shipments of water-jet looms. After a skyrocketing jump of +537% to 73,250 in 2010 and to 112,930 in 2011, which was partially due to the fact that more weaving machinery manufacturers reported for the first time in 2010, global deliveries of water-jet shuttle-less looms dropped by -65% to 39,920 machines in 2012.

In the shuttle-less loom segment of rapier/projectile looms shipments increased from 19,250 in 2011 to 23,250 in 2012, an increase of +20%. Also deliveries of shuttle-less air-jet looms increased from 21,500 in 2011 to 23,300 in 2012 (+8%). As in previous years the main destination of shuttle-less looms was Asia, where 80,600 or 93% of all new shuttle-less looms were installed.

Country-wise the biggest global investor was again China with 58,900 looms (68%), of which 34,400 were water-jet looms, 16,000 air-jet looms and 8,500 rapier/projectile looms. With 10,200 looms (12%) of global shipments India was the second biggest investor, followed by Indonesia with 3,730 (4.3%), Turkey with 2,570 looms (3.0%), Bangladesh with 1,600 (1.9%) and Korea with 1,350 looms (1.6%).

Circular & Flat Knitting Machinery

Global shipments of large circular knitting machines increased by +27% from 28,900 in 2011 to 36,650 in 2012 which set a new record. Also in this segment Asia was the main regional investor in this type of machinery absorbing 33,600 units or 92% of all machines shipped in 2012.

The biggest single investor was once more China with a total of 28,280 (a global market share of 77%) followed by Turkey with 1,420 (or 3.9%), Indonesia with 1,350 (or 3.7%), India with 1,200 (or 3.3%) and Bangladesh with 735 (or 2.0%).

In the segment of electronic flat knitting machines, global shipments in 2012 dropped by -34% to 46,100 machines. The bulk of global shipments of electronic flat knitting machines was delivered to Asia (40,940 or 89%), while Europe's share (including Turkey) reached 10%

(= 4,670 machines). The biggest single investor in 2012 was again China, where 33,040 new machines (72%) were installed, followed by Bangladesh with 4,360 (9.5%), Turkey with 2,660 (5.8%), Hong Kong with 1,090 (2.4%) and Italy with 826 (1.8%).

Finishing Machinery

The 2012 edition of ITMF's International Textile Machinery Shipments Statistics included for the eighth time also data on finishing machinery (wovens and knits continuous machinery).

International Textile Manufacturers Federation