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Strong up-swing in shipments of new textile machinery

26 May '11

5 min read

Following a strong investment boom that reached its peak in 2007 shipments of new textile machinery were in strong decline afterwards aggravated by the global financial and economic crisis of 2008/2009. But in 2010 global shipments of new textile machinery recorded a very strong up-swing.

In comparison with 2009 global shipments of new spinning machinery jumped by +75% (short-staple spindles), +163% (long-staple spindles) and +212% (open-end rotors), of texturing spindles by +132%, of weaving machinery (shuttle-less looms) by +146%, of large circular knitting machines by +36% and of electronic flat knitting machines by +187%. In almost all segments even new record levels were reached.

These are the main results of the 33rd annual International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics (ITMSS) just released by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). The report covers six types of textile machinery, namely spinning, texturing, weaving, large circular knitting, flat knitting and finishing machinery. The 2010 survey has been compiled in cooperation with some 115 textile machinery manufacturers, representing a comprehensive measure of world production.

Spinning Machinery

Following a considerable drops in shipments of short-staple spindles in 2008 (-33%) and 2009 (-17%) shipments rose in 2010 by +75% to 12.5 million spindles. This came close to last record year of 2007 when 12.8 million had been shipped. By far the largest part of this new machinery was destined for Asia (11.9 million or 96%). China absorbed 7.9 million or 63% of global shipments, followed by India (2.4 million or 19%), Indonesia (500,000 or 4%), Bangladesh 400,000 or 3.2%) and Turkey (300,000 or 2.4%).

Global shipments of long-staple (wool-) spindles increased in 2010 by +163% to 84,000. Shipments to Asia jumped by +99% to 33,400, to Europe (incl. Turkey) by +263% to 38,400 and to South America by +139% to 11,000. Unlike in 2009 there were shipments to North America in 2010 (1,150). Like in 2009 Africa did not receive any long-staple (wool-) spindles in 2010.

Investments in open-end rotors jumped in 2010 by +212% to 450,000 after they plummeted in 2008 by -66% to 195,650 and in 2009 by -26% to merely 144,500. With 374,000 rotors or 83% Asia was once more the main recipient of open-end rotors in 2010. China's global share reached 72% (323,000) followed by Brazil as a distant second with 5.5% (24,800), India with 5.5% (24,600), USA with 4.7% (21,100) and Turkey with 2.3% (10,400).

Texturing Machinery

Shipments of single heater draw-texturing spindles (for polyamide filaments) soared in 2010 from merely 2,880 to 63,240, an increase of +2,095%. China was the largest investor in this type of machinery with a global share of 71% (44,700 spindles) followed by Brazil (21% or 13,500), Belarus (3,000 or 4.7%) and Taiwan (1,728 or 2.7%).

The amount of shipped double heater draw-texturing spindles (for polyester filament) sky-rocketed from 248,000 to 518,000, an increase of +109%. This amount surpassed by large margin the old record highs of 2004 (406,000) and 2005 (315,000). By far the biggest and all-dominating investor was again China with 365,000 new spindles or 71% of global investment followed by India with 54,000 or 10%, Vietnam with 20,600 or 4%, Thailand with 13,200 or 2.5%, Japan with 12,200 or 2.4%, Turkey with 7,000 or 1.4% and Brazil with 6,200 or 1.2%.

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