Global fabric production kept its upward momentum in the fourth quarter reaching the second highest value in three years despite the fact that North and South America experienced a significant reduction.
On the other hand global yarn production recorded for the second time in a row a fall due to lower output levels in North and South America.
Worldwide inventories of both yarn and fabrics jumped with both reaching the highest levels of the past three years. Global fabric stocks increased only as a result of higher Asian stocks (Pakistan) whereas Europe, North and South America recorded lower inventories.
Yarn stocks increased both in Asia and Europe but fell in South America. Yarn order rose in Europe but decreased signifi¬cantly in South America while fabric orders were lower both in Europe and South America.
The fourth quarter of 2006 saw a reduction in global yarn output of 1.4% which was mainly the result of lower production in North America (-12.3%) and South America (-7.9%) with Asia and Europe re-cording increases of 0.3% and 4.0%, respectively.
On a yearly basis global yarn output was 3.4% higher. Lower output levels in North and South America (-17.3% and -0.9%, respectively) were more than compensated by increases in Asia (+8.2%) and Europe (+1.3%).
World fabric production rose by 3.6% in the fourth quarter in comparison with the previous one. Asia and Europe experienced higher outputs (+10.8% and +6.7%, respectively) while North and South America were faced with curtailments of -15.9% and -16.6%, respectively.