TEXTILES.ORG
Global yarn production has increased by 17 percent between the final quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019, according to the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), a recent article in knittingindustry.com said.
Higher output levels were observed in Asia (+18 percent), Brazil (+18 percent), the U.S. (+3.2 percent) and Europe (+1.6 percent). The overall Asian result is due to a 27 percent increase in Chinese yarn production, which outperformed the contraction registered in Japan (-1.7 percent), India (-3.1 percent) and South Korea (-9.2 percent), the report said.
A decreasing trend was also seen in South Africa (-5.3 percent) and Egypt (-7.9 percent). Forecasts for the second quarter of 2019 are optimistic in Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Turkey.
Global fabric production increased between the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019 by 3.8 percent. This reflects an output raise of 19 percent in Brazil and an overall 3.6 percent improvement in Asian countries.
Europe saw its production shrink by 0.85 percent, with the biggest drop registered in Spain (-10.1 percent). Also notable is the Egyptian fabric production decrease of 42 percent.
The world output level now stands at 88 percent of fourth quarter 2018 level. Output levels are expected to further decrease in the second quarter of 2019 in Asia, Africa and Brazil, stay constant in the U.S. and increase in Europe. Production should stagnate in the third quarter 2019 in all regions but Asia, which should register an improvement, the article reported.
Stock and orders
The global fabric stock level has stagnated between fourth quarter 2018 and first quarter 2019. This resulted from increases in Egypt (16 percent) and Brazil (3.3 percent) and decreases of 1 to 2 percent observed in Asia, Europe and the U.S. In first quarter 2019, global fabric stocks were 1 percent above first quarter 2018, according to the report.
Global fabric orders have dropped by 19 percent in the first quarter of 2019, led by a decrease of 32 percent in Egypt and 25 percent in Brazil. Global fabric orders were 8 percent above their 2018 level.
Global yarn stocks increased by 6.3 percent worldwide, as a result of a 27 percent improvement in Egypt, 7.7 percent rise in Brazil and 3.8 percent increase in Asia. Altogether, yarn stocks reached 97 percent of 2018 levels for the same quarter.
Global yarn orders increased by 12 percent, led by Brazil (+18 percent), Egypt (+11 percent) and Asia (+9 percent).