The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has released the results of its 48th annual International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics (ITMSS). This comprehensive ITMF Shipment Report encompasses six primary segments of the industry: spinning, draw-texturing, weaving, large circular knitting, flat knitting, and finishing. The 2025 data, compiled in collaboration with over 200 global manufacturers, serves as a definitive measure of world production and investment trends within the sector.
Sector Performance in Spinning Machinery
The global market for spinning equipment showed varied results across different technology types. Short-staple spindle shipments rose by 195,000 units in 2025, reaching a total of 6.11 million units. This growth was heavily concentrated in Asia and Oceania, which received 95% of all deliveries, marking an 8.5% increase for the region. Conversely, shipments to Africa, Europe, and South America saw declines of 46%, 33%, and 19%, respectively. Notably, North and Central America experienced a 264% surge in deliveries, totaling 77,000 units. The primary investors in this segment included China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan.
In the open-end rotor segment, global deliveries reached 645,000 units, an increase of 50,000 units over the previous year. Asia and Oceania accounted for 94% of these shipments. China, India, and Vietnam emerged as the top three investors, showing growth rates of 4%, 12%, and 17%, respectively. However, shipments to Türkiye and Bangladesh fell sharply by 78% and 55%. These shifts highlight evolving Spinning Machinery Trends as manufacturers adjust their capacities.
Trends in Long-Staple and Texturing Equipment
Shipments of long-staple (wool) spindles dropped to 90,000 units, a 31% decrease attributed to lower demand in Asia and Oceania. China remains the leader in this category with 46% of total deliveries, followed by India at 19% and Iran at 16%.
The texturing segment also experienced a downturn. Single heater draw-texturing spindle shipments fell by 21% to 65,000 units. Asia and Oceania maintained a dominant 97.6% market share, with China alone accounting for 92% of global deliveries. Double heater draw-texturing spindles, primarily used for polyester filaments, decreased by 22% to 743,000 units. China continued its leadership in this area, representing 93% of the global investment.
Global Developments in Weaving and Knitting
The weaving sector saw a 27.5% reduction in shuttle-less loom shipments, totaling 164,000 units. Air-jet looms fell by 6%, rapier and projectile looms by 18%, and water-jet looms by 38%. Asia and Oceania remains the primary destination for Global Textile Machinery in this category, receiving 95% of worldwide deliveries. While China saw a decrease in air-jet and water-jet loom investments, India recorded a 21% increase in deliveries of rapier and projectile looms.
Knitting Machine Shipments and Market Dynamics
Data regarding Knitting Machine Shipments indicates a decline in most categories. Large circular knitting machine deliveries fell 13% to 24,500 units. While China saw a 9% increase in shipments, representing 53% of the global market, overall global figures were weighed down by broader regional trends. India and Vietnam followed as the second and third largest destinations.
Electronic flat knitting machines saw a 21% decrease in shipments to 106,000 units. Despite a 24% drop in orders within Asia and Oceania, the region still secured 93% of global shipments. China maintained its position as the largest investor, holding a 66% share of the total volume.
Finishing Machinery Statistics
The finishing segment presented a mixed landscape. In the “fabrics continuous” category, stenter shipments grew by 3% to 2,300 units. However, other machinery in this segment, such as singeing lines, saw a 75% decrease, while mercerizing lines rose by 24%. In the “fabrics discontinuous” sector, “overflow dyeing” shipments fell by 30% to 2,900 units. Air-jet dyeing and jigger/beam dyeing units also saw contractions of 0.6% and 28%, respectively. These figures from the Textile Machinery Statistics provide a clear view of the current global manufacturing trajectory as reported by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation.
