Yarn Production Stabilizes: Stocks Rise, Orders Drop

Yarn Production Stabilizes;Stocks Rise, Orders Drop

The latest quarterly State of Trade Report from the International Textile Manufacturers
Federation (ITMF), Switzerland, reveals a stabilization of global yarn production during the first
quarter of 2003, with gains in some regions offsetting lower output in others. North American
output rose 9 percent, while South American production was 13.3 percent lower. A European gain of
1.8 percent offset a 0.7-percent Asian decline.Annualized global yarn output rose 1 percent,
reflecting an Asian increased output of 4.6 percent — largely due to increases in Pakistani yarn
production. The Asian increase offset reductions of 13 percent in Brazil, 2.5 percent in Europe and
1.1 percent in the United States.Yarn inventories increased 6.6 percent over the first quarter of
2003 and 2.8 percent on an annual basis. Increases were most significant in Brazil, with 19.1
percent, and Asia, with 11 percent. European stocks were 6.7 percent lower, and U.S. inventories
decreased by 2.4 percent.Yarn orders decreased significantly for the quarter. Brazilian orders
dropped 11.7 percent, and European orders were down by 4.2 percent.

Fall 2003

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