Shipments to China, the world’s largest investor in open-end rotors, increased its investments significantly by around 92 per cent in 2016. In contrast, regions such as North America and South America recorded annual percentage declines of 72 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively. The world’s second and third largest investors in 2016 were India and Turkey.
Global shipments of single heater draw-texturing spindles (mainly used for polyamide filaments) jumped by 608 per cent from over 1’200 in 2015 to nearly 8’500 in 2016. With a share of 57 per cent Asia is the region where most of the single heater draw-texturing spindles were shipped to, followed by Western Europe with a share of 24 per cent and South America with a share of 19 per cent.
In the segment of double heater draw-texturing spindles, global shipments fell by 17 per cent on an annual basis to over 268’000 spindles. Asia’s share of worldwide shipments amounted to close to 84 per cent. Thereby, China remained the largest investor accounting for 58 per cent of global shipments.
In 2016, worldwide shipments of shuttle-less looms increased by 4 per cent to 84’700 units. Thereby, shipments of air-jet and water-jet shuttle-less looms increased by 15 per cent (to 22’900) and by 6 per cent (to 31’800), respectively. In contrast, rapier/projectile shuttle-less looms decreased by 6 per cent to around 30’000 units.
Global shipments of large circular knitting machines fell slightly by 3 per cent to a level of around 26’200 units in 2016. Also for this category, Asia is the world’s leading investor. 87 per cent of all new circular knitting machines were shipped to Asia in 2016. With 43 per cent of worldwide deliveries, China was the single largest investor. India and Bangladesh rank second and third with 4’200 and 2’200 units, respectively.
In 2016, the segment of electronic flat knitting machines soared by 99 per cent to around 139,600 machines, the highest level ever. Asia received the highest share of shipments (94 per cent). China remained by far the world’s largest investor for flat knitting machines in 2016. Thereby, Chinese investments increased from 35’500 units to 101’550, a global share of 73 per cent.
In the segment fabrics continuous shipments of some machine types increased in 2016 like dyeing-lines (CPB), sanforizing/compacting machines or stenters. In contrast, shipments of washing machines (stand-alone), bleaching-lines, mercerising-lines and relax drying/tumbling machines decreased. In the segment fabrics discontinuous shipments of air-jet dyeing and jigger/beam dyeing machines fell, whereas those of overflow dyeing machines rose. (GK)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India