General trends

2016 was a mixed year for the international fabric machinery market, according to data supplied by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)¹.

There were increases in shipments of electronic flatbed knitting machinery and shuttleless weaving machinery. Furthermore, in both cases, shipments were above their respective annual averages over the ten years to 2016.

However, shipments of single jersey circular knitting machinery fell to their lowest level since 2003 and shipments of double jersey circular knitting machinery also declined, although they were still at their third highest level on record.

In the weaving sector, shipments of shuttleless looms rose by 4% in 2016 following a 14% increase in 2015. But the latter came after declines of 14% in 2014, 4% in 2013 and 44% in 2012 and, as a result, shipments in 2016 were below the levels seen during 2010-12. However, they were above the levels seen in earlier years.

In the circular knitting sector, shipments of single jersey machinery fell by 1% in 2016 following a 3% decline in 2015 and a plunge of 57% in 2014. As a result, shipments were at their lowest level since 2003.

In the flat knitting sector, shipments of electronic flatbed knitting machinery shot up by 99% in 2016 following jumps of 52% in 2015 and 31% in 2014. As a result, shipments reached a record high in 2016.

Among individual countries, shipments to the textile industry in China—by far the largest market for weaving and knitting machinery—rose in 2016 in the case of shuttleless looms and electronic flatbed knitting machinery.

However, they fell in the case of single jersey circular knitting machinery and double jersey circular knitting machinery.

These developments were in line with global trends, reflecting the fact that a large share of global shipments goes to the Chinese textile industry.

Interestingly, in the case of single jersey circular knitting machinery and double jersey circular knitting machinery, the falls in shipments to the textile industry in China in absolute terms were larger than the declines in global shipments. In the case of electronic flatbed knitting machinery, however, the rise in shipments to the textile industry in China in absolute terms was less than the increase in global shipments.

These developments reflect the fact that combined shipments of each of these three types of machinery to all other national industries increased during the year.

In the case of shuttleless looms, the rise in shipments to the textile industry in China in absolute terms was larger than the increase in global shipments, reflecting a decline in combined shipments to all other national industries. However, the decline was due primarily to a drop in shipments to the industry in India alone and there was strong growth in shipments to the industries in several other countries.

The trends are in line with predictions that textile and clothing production will shift from China to countries throughout South Asia, South-East Asia and Africa, and to countries in closer proximity to the major clothing import markets.

Significantly, shipments to the textile industries in Germany, Italy and Pakistan rose in the case of all four types of machinery—namely shuttleless looms, single jersey circular knitting machinery, double jersey circular knitting machinery and electronic flatbed knitting machinery.

Elsewhere, there were increases in shipments to the textile industry in Brazil in the case of shuttleless looms, double jersey circular knitting machinery and electronic flatbed knitting machinery, and increases in shipments to the textile industries in Mexico,Russia and Turkey in the case of shuttleless looms, single jersey circular knitting machinery and electronic flatbed knitting machinery. Also, there were increases in shipments to the textile industries in Djibouti, Sri Lanka and the UK in the case of shuttleless looms, single jersey circular knitting machinery and double jersey circular knitting machinery, and increases in shipments to the textile industries in Bangladesh, Iran, Portugal and Thailand in the case of single jersey circular knitting machinery, double jersey circular knitting machinery and electronic flatbed knitting machinery.

By contrast, there were declines in shipments to the textile industry in the USA in the case of all four types of machinery—namely shuttleless looms, single jersey circular knitting machinery, double jersey circular knitting machinery and electronic flatbed knitting machinery.

Also, there were falls in shipments to the textile industry in Egypt in the case of shuttleless looms, single jersey circular knitting machinery and electronic flatbed knitting machinery, and falls in shipments to the textile industries in Myanmar, South Korea and Uzbekistan in the case of single jersey circular knitting machinery, double jersey circular knitting machinery and electronic flatbed knitting machinery.

In 2017 trends in shipments of fabric production machinery are likely to remain mixed, reflecting uncertainty in the global economy.

In terms of individual countries and regions, it remains to be seen whether shipments of machinery to the textile industry in China will continue at their current level or fall in line with declines in Chinese textile and clothing exports, and whether growth in shipments of machinery to the textile industries in other countries will offset any declines in shipments to the industry in China.

Shipments to the textile industries in Central Asian, South Asian and South-East Asian countries will rise as textile and clothing production is shifted from China to other countries in Asia.

Elsewhere, shipments to the textile industries in Africa are expected to increase as they will be buoyed by an expansion of the clothing industries in a number of countries in the region.

However, investment in the region is expected to remain relatively small in world terms.

In Europe and the Americas, meanwhile, some pockets of growth in investment are expected as brands and retailers based in the EU and the USA look to bring at least some of their production closer to home.

However, it is unlikely that there will be any substantial increases in shipments to the textile industries in these regions overall.