Shipments of new textile machinery increased in most segments in 2023, according to the ITMF’s 46th International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics just released by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF).

The report covers six segments of textile machinery for spinning, draw-texturing, weaving, large circular knitting, flat knitting and finishing. It has been compiled in cooperation with more than 200 textile machinery manufacturers representing a comprehensive measure of world production.

Spinning

The total number of shipped short-staple spindles increased by 155,000 in 2023 to a level of 9.78 million.

The six largest investors were, in order, China, India, Turkey, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and Egypt. The 475,000 spindles shipped to Africa represented an increase of +120% and the 81,000 which went to South America a jump of +140% on 2022.

One million open-end rotors were shipped worldwide in 2023, 200,000 less than in 2022, and China, India and Turkey remain the biggest investors.

Global shipments of long-staple (wool) spindles increased to 98,000 and while 25,000 went to Europe, China remained the biggest investor.

Texturing

Global shipments of single heater draw-texturing spindles, mainly used for polyamide filaments, fell by 33% from nearly 65,000 thousand units in 2022 to 43,000 in 2023. China received 90% of all deliveries.

Similarly, China purchased 91% of the 550,000 double heater draw-texturing spindles that were shipped in 2023, mainly used for polyester filaments.

Weaving

Global deliveries of weaving machines increased significantly in 2023, up 52% overall on 2022, at 171,000 units.

Air-jet loom sales were up 34% at 53,000 and the 92,000 water-jet looms delivered represented an increase of 96% on 2022. Sales of rapier and projectile looms were, however, flat at 27,000.

Asia accounted for 96% of all deliveries, with China the main investor in air-jets and water-jets, and India the biggest investor in rapier and projectile looms, taking 10,000 machines – albeit a fall of 8% on those ordered in 2022.

Knitting machinery

Global shipments of large circular knitting machines grew by 17% to 33,000 units in 2023. China took 18,476 units, representing 63% of the total and an overall increase of 86% on 2022. In addition, 4,195 machines were sold to India and 1,367 to Turkey.

The sale of electronic flat knitting machines increased by 61% to 177,000 machines in 2023, with 92% going to Asia and 82% to China.

Finishing machinery

The 1,780 stenters sold in 2023 includes estimates for companies not participating in the ITMF’s survey and represents an increase of 3%

Participating companies reported mixed results for all other machines in this category, with a 42% fall in the sales of relaxation dryers, for example, and a 103% increase in deliveries of bleaching lines compared to 2022.

www.itmf.org