Though India has emerged the leading player in the field of spinning, it is very much lagging behind in other fields including weaving. In spite of several efforts taken to improve the India’s market share in the weaving sector till today there is not much of improvement. By and large, India is more dependent on imported weaving machineries mainly due to the high investment required for the domestic production.
However, in the recent past, China has emerged the most favourable destination to set up weaving machinery plant due to the country’s fastest growing textile business activities. There are about six to seven reputed weaving machinery manufacturers in the world and most of them have set up their units in China. According to various sources, 60 per cent of the Italian weaving production facilities have been moved to China in the last year. A large number of benefits are available to the Chinese manufacturers for exporting their looms to India. Due to import of second hand machinery under the TUFS, technological gaps and lack of R&D initiatives and design and engineering facilities, the indigenous weaving machinery manufacturers were not able to upgrade their technology.
In view of the fact that the thrust demand is for shuttleless looms and also on account of the availability of second hand looms, the demand for ‘C’ type shuttle weaving machine is limited to specific applications such as industrial fabrics due to increased use of shuttleless weaving machines for woven fabrics.
Though the conditions of the textile industry have improved in the last quarter, the fluctuation in cotton prices, shortage of power, etc., were not favourable for the growth of the industry. The demand of textile machinery depends on the prospects of textile industry. The demand for weaving machinery continued to be adverse during the year. The market for shuttle weaving machines was further affected by the preference of shuttleless weaving machines owing to its technoeconomic viability.
The demand for parts of machine tools including tool holders and parts for circular knitting machines continued to be adverse during the year due to the global recession. An early revival of the export demand for tool holders in the current year is awaited.
It is high time that the Government of India should come forward with attractive schemes including tax benefits to attract more and more investment in the field of weaving sector in order to compete with China, the Asian rival and the world’s super power.