Basic HTML Version
The Textile Magazine
fEBRUARY 2012
|
27
half in some cases.
Nervousness in the West has led
buyers to make purchases close to
the season, and this is benefiting
suppliers in close proximity to the
world’s two major markets – the EU
and the US. Furthermore, Nike and
Adidas have recently announced
plans to increase production in
South America. However, it is not
their intention to replace China, and
Asia in general, as a source but rath-
er to complement it.
If there has been a shift closer to
home, the evidence is far from dra-
matic. In the 12 months to October
31, 2011, US apparel imports from
member-countries of the US-Central
America-Dominican Republic Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)
were up by only 2.6 per cent. Admit-
tedly, imports from China over the
same period were down by three per
cent, but this is hardly a sea-change.
And looking at investment figures,
it is difficult to foresee a massive
switch in production any time soon.
Indeed, shipments of many types of
fabric machinery to Chinese mills
surged to record levels in 2010,
and the Chinese textile industry re-
mained by far the largest investor.
In particular, the Chinese industry
accounted for 84 per cent of global
shuttleless loom shipments in 2010
and Asia as a whole for an over-
whelming 97 per cent. In the case of
circular knitting machinery, China
accounted for 77 per cent of global
shipments and Asia for 92 per cent.
And in electronic flatbed knitting
machinery China accounted for 74
per cent of global shipments and
Asia for 94 per cent.
Furthermore, despite mounting
pressures from rising costs, waning
demand, restrained capital supplies
and a shortage of funds for techno-
logical improvements, China’s tex-
tile industry is expected to grow at
the same rate as, or even faster than,
the growth in international trade
during 2012.
w
industry update