Shuttleless looms: regional markets

Shipments of shuttleless looms to the textile industries in Asia rose by 2.2%, or 1,635 machines, to 77,183 machines in 2016 (Table 2 and Figure 1).

However, the rise was slower than the increase in global shipments and, as a result, the share of global shipments which went to these industries fell from 92.6% to 91.1%.

Furthermore, shipments to the textile industries in Asia in 2016 were lower, albeit only marginally, than the annual average of 77,783 machines which were shipped to the industries over the ten years to 2016.

Shipments of shuttleless looms to the textile industry in other Europe (Turkey)—the world’s second largest regional market—shot up by 59.9% to 3,095 machines in 2016. As a result, the share of global shipments which went to the industry rose from 2.4% to 3.7%.

Furthermore, shipments in 2016 were at their highest level since 2003 and were well above the annual average of 1,826 machines which were shipped to the industry over the ten years to 2016.

Shipments of shuttleless looms to the textile industries in Western Europe—the world’s third largest regional market—rose by 34.4% to 2,018 machines in 2016 following increases of 3.1% in 2015, 16.1% in 2014 and 65.4% in 2013.

As a result, shipments in 2016 were at their highest level since 2007 and were well above the annual average of 1,358 machines which were shipped to these industries over the ten years to 2016.

Furthermore, the share of global shipments which went to the industries rose from 1.8% to 2.4%.

Shipments of shuttleless looms to the textile industries in Eastern Europe shot up by 49.2% to 770 machines in 2016.

As a result, shipments were at their third highest level since 1998 and were well above the annual average of 552 machines which were shipped to the industries over the ten years to 2016.

Furthermore, the share of global shipments which went to these industries rose from 0.6% to 0.9% and the industries constituted the fourth largest regional market after ranking sixth in the previous year.

Shipments of shuttleless looms to the textile industries in North America rose by 3.1% to 693 machines in 2016, which represented their highest level since 2003. As a result, they were well above the annual average of 424 machines which were shipped to the industries over the ten years to 2016.

However, the share of global shipments which went to these industries remained static, at just 0.8%, and the industries continued to constitute the fifth largest regional market.

Shipments of shuttleless looms to the textile industries in Africa plunged by 54.8% to 479 machines in 2016 following a 21.0% decline in the previous year. As a result, they were at their lowest level since 2010 and were well below the annual average of 693 machines which were shipped to the industries over the ten years to 2016.

Furthermore, the share of global shipments which went to these industries fell from 1.3% to just 0.6% and the industries constituted the sixth largest regional market after ranking fourth in the previous year.

Shipments of shuttleless looms to the textile industries in South America rose by 40.2% to 460 machines in 2016. However, the rise came after declines of 37.9% in 2015 and 49.3% in 2014 and, as a result, shipments in 2016 were well below the annual average of 709 machines which were shipped to the industries over the ten years to 2016.

Furthermore, although the share of global shipments which went to these industries edged up between 2015 and 2016, from 0.4% to 0.5%, the industries continued to constitute the smallest regional market.

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