The Switzerland-based International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) recently released its annual report, “ITMF International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics, Vol. 29/2006” — its 33rd such report since the statistical series began in 1974, and the 29th titled as such.

Four of the six types of machinery tracked had increases in 2006 when compared to 2005. Short-staple spinning, long-staple spinning, single-heater draw-texturing and weaving machinery shipments for 2006 all surpassed 2005 totals. Shipments in the open-end (OE) rotors and double-heater draw-texturing categories fell below 2005 shipment levels.

China continues to dominate textile machinery consumption and led each of the six machinery categories reported. In 2006, machinery shipments to China, for example, accounted for 56.9 percent of short staple spindles, 52.3 percent of long-staple spindles, 55.4 percent of OE rotors, 65.9 percent of weaving machinery — including shuttle machines — and 69.3 percent of circular knitting machines shipped worldwide.

India received 23.7 percent of the short-staple spindles shipped in 2006 and rivaled Turkey in OE rotors — with both countries receiving shipments of more than 9 percent of the world total.

The volumes shipped to the Asia and Oceania regions continue to illustrate the tremendous capacity developing in these regions, and in some cases account for well over 90 to 100 percent of the shipments made around the world.

September/October 2007