In 2024, global shipments of new short-staple spindles and open-end rotors decreased by -40% and -39%, respectively (year-on-year). Draw-texturing spindles numbered rose by +77% and shuttle-less looms shipped increased by +32%. Large circular knitting machines shipments collapsed by -15% and flat knitting machine deliveries shipped increased by 16%. All the deliveries in the finishing business collectively rose by +6%.
These are the key outcomes of the 47th annual International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics (ITMSS) recently released by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). The report includes six categories of textile machinery, i.e., spinning, draw-texturing, weaving, large circular knitting, flat knitting, and finishing. The findings for every category are summarized below. The 2024 survey has been compiled in association with over 200 textile machinery producers that reflect a complete estimate of world production.
Spinning Machinery
The total number of short-staple spindles delivered dropped by 3.8 million units in 2024 to 5.92 million. The majority of the new imports arrived in Asia & Oceania (90%) where deliveries fell by -36% from 2023. Imports to Africa, Europe (including Türkiye), North and Central America fell by -64%, -56%, and -90%, respectively. Deliveries only rose for South American destinations (+1.7% to 82.6 thousand) and Easter Europe (+12% to 10.5 thousand). The six biggest investors of the short-staple segment included China, India, Türkiye, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Indonesia.
623 thousand open-end rotors were exported globally in 2024. This accounts for approximately 390 thousand units lower than in 2023. 89% of global exports reached Asia & Oceania where exports fell by -35% to 557 thousand. India, Türkiye, and China were the world’s 3 biggest investors in rotors but had investments decline by -32%, -57% and -56%, respectively. Deliveries fell across all top destination countries except Vietnam and Bangladesh, the world’s 4th and 6th largest in 2024, where shipment increased by +214% and +44% from 2023.
World exports of long-staple (wool) spindles grew to 600 thousand unit in 2024 (+60%). This was due to an increase in deliveries to Asia and Oceania and Eastern Europe, as 138 and 15 thousand units were sent, respectively. 40% of the total shipments were sent to Iran, 30% to China, and 13% to Vietnam.
Texturing Machinery
World deliveries of single heater draw-texturing spindles (largely utilized for polyamide fibers) went up by +95% from almost 43 thousand pieces in 2023 to 84 thousand pieces in 2024. At 98.5%, Asia & Oceania continued being the strongest market for single heater draw-texturing spindles during 2024. China, Vietnam, and India were the top 3 investors in this category with global delivery shares of 95%, 1.01%, and 0.97%, respectively.
Under double heater draw-texturing spindles (used predominantly for polyester filaments), world shipments grew by +80% to a figure of 960 thousand units. Asia dominated the share of global shipments at 98% and China remained the global investment leader at 95% of global shipments.
Weaving Machinery
World shipments of shuttle-less looms in 2024 grew by +32% to 226 thousand units. Sales in “air-jet” and “water-jet” categories increased by +10% and +56% to 58 and 143 thousand looms, respectively. “Rapier and projectile” loom deliveries fell by -7% to 25 thousand units. The primary market for shuttle-less looms was Asia & Oceania with 97% of global deliveries. 97%, 87%, and 99% of world air-jet, rapier/projectile, and water-jet looms, respectively, were delivered to the region. The largest investor in all categories of looms was China where shipment increased by 30% (air-jet), 38% (rapier and projectile) and 63% (water-jet).
Circular & Flat Knitting Machinery
The shipments of large circular knitting machines decreased by -15% to 28 thousand units in 2024. Asia & Oceania was the world’s leading investor in this category with 81% of global shipments. China was the preferred destination with 45% of total deliveries (10’786 units), down -42% vs. 2023. India and Vietnam were the second and third destinations with 3’899 and 2’559 delivered units, respectively.
The volume of shipped electronic flat knitting machines grew by +16% to 135 thousand machines in 2024. The increase came on the back of Asia & Oceania that imported 96% of global shipments. Shipments to all other areas declined. China led the global investor shipper with an 82%-share of global shipments..
Finishing Machinery
In the “fabrics continuous” area, the quantity of shipped stenters rose by +22% from 1’833 units in 2023 to 2’230 units in 2024. This figure takes into account an estimation for the overall quantity of shipped stenters by firms that didn’t take part to the ITMF survey. Participating firms posted varied outcomes for all other equipment in this category (ranging from a drop of -53% for Dyeing – Line, CPB to an addition of +390% for Dyeing – Line, Hotflue). In the “fabrics discontinuous” category, units of “jigger dyeing / beam dyeing” dispatched in 2024 fell by -44% to 371 units. Deliveries of “air jet dyeing” and “overflow dyeing” improved by +18% to 907 units and 5% to 2’221 units, respectively.
The 47th annual International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics (ITMSS) paints a dynamic yet challenging picture of the global textile machinery sector in 2024. While categories such as draw-texturing spindles, shuttle-less looms, and electronic flat knitting machines experienced remarkable growth, significant declines were observed in short-staple spindles, open-end rotors, and large circular knitting machines.Â
Despite the regional dominance and pockets of growth, the overall declines in key machinery segments underscore the shifting dynamics and economic challenges within the global textile machinery shipments. The data highlights the need for stakeholders to adapt to evolving market demands, prioritize innovation, and address declining trends in specific global textile machinery shipments categories.Â
