New Textile Machinery Shipments Down In 2012

ZURICH, Switzerland — After a sharp reduction in global shipments of new textile machinery in 2008
and 2009 as a result of the global financial and economic crisis in 2008/2009, deliveries of new
textile machinery jumped in 2010 and 2011, in most cases to new record highs. In 2012 shipments of
new textile machinery fell in most segments in comparison to 2011. Looking at the past few years
shipments remained relatively high. In comparison to 2011 global shipments of new short-staple
spindles and open-end rotors decreased by -27% and -21%, respectively, whereas shipments of
long-staple spindles increased by +29%. Shipments of new draw-texturing spindles declined by -13%,
of new shuttle-less looms by -44%, and of new electronic flat-knitting machines by -34%. On the
other hand worldwide shipments of new large circular knitting machines increased in 2012 by +27%.

These are the main results of the 35th annual International Textile Machinery Shipment
Statistics (ITMSS) just released by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). The
report covers six segments of textile machinery, namely spinning, draw-texturing, weaving, large
circular knitting, flat knitting and finishing machinery. The 2012 survey has been compiled in
cooperation with some 122 textile machinery manufacturers, representing a comprehensive measure of
world production.

Spinning Machinery

After shipments of new short-staple spindles plummeted in 2008 (-33%) and 2009 (-17%) they
soared in 2010 (+75%) to pre-crisis levels and increased in 2011 by a further +15% reaching 14.33
million, an all-time high. In 2012 shipments of short-staple spindles fell by -27% to 10.51 million
spindles. In 2012 94% of all shipped short-staple spindles were destined for Asia (9.91 million),
with China alone absorbing 6.39 million or 65% of global shipments, followed by India as distant
second (1.97 million spindles or 19%), Indonesia (594,000 or 5.7%), Turkey (441,000 or 4.2%) and
Bangladesh (231,000 or 2.2%).

Global shipments of long-staple (wool) spindles soared in 2012 by +29% to 146,400. Europe was
the main recipient (77,000 or 53%), followed by Asia (65,600 or 45%), the Americas (3,300 or 2.3%)
and Africa (430 or 0,3%). The single biggest investor in long-staple (wool) spindles was Turkey
(60,300), followed by Thailand (29,100), China (27,300), Italy (9,400) and Iran (6,800).

Investments in open-end rotors fell in 2012 by -21% to 451,200. Asia was once again by far
the biggest investor in this spinning technology installing in total 408,260 new rotors or 90% of
global shipments. By country, China was again by far the biggest single investor in rotors
absorbing 363,950 or 81% of global shipments. India was again distant second with a total of 19,400
new open-end rotors (4.3%), followed by Turkey with 17,500 rotors (3.9%), Brazil with 11,100 rotors
(2.5%), Uzbekistan with 8,900 rotors (2.0%) and Malaysia with 6,800 rotors (1.5%).

Texturing Machinery

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).



Posted on June 19, 2013

Source: ITMF

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