#Associations

2024-12-06

Mixed outlook for the global textile value chain

ITMF’s 29th Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted in the second half of November 2024 reveals nuanced shifts within the global textile value chain, highlighting both challenges and resilience. While business sentiment has declined slightly over the past two months, long-term improvements have persisted since the low of November 2023.

South America leads in regional performance with strong optimism, together with Africa. Order intake has improved globally, driven by gains in South America as well. Europe and the textile machinery segment experienced the weakest order intake. Inventory levels along the textile value chain continue to decrease worldwide, though variations exist, with Africa reporting the highest inventories and garments maintaining the lowest.

Source: 8th-29th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey (29th: 17-25.11.2024) © 2024 ITMF

Despite recent challenges, the industry remains optimistic about future business prospects, propelled by confidence among South American and African respondents. The survey underscores that global demand remains the primary concern, although its intensity is gradually diminishing, with geopolitical tensions, high energy prices, and inflation gaining attention. Interestingly, the lack of workers/talents ranks third when it comes to concerns. Order cancellations have continued to decline, confirming a 14-month trend, and the average order backlog stands at 2.1 months, reflecting slight declines but indicating ongoing recovery.

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SIMTA joins ITMF as Corporate Member

In the past two decades SIMTA has established itself as producer of specialized machinery for the textile industry. In short period of time, SIMTA became an important supplier of precise rollers for top OEMs. Afterwards SIMTA started manufacturing overhead cleaners, bobbin transport systems, and other textile ancillaries. In the meantime, SIMTA is a leader in this space in collaboration with the German automation technology partner Jacobi.

Young talents honoured – 60 years Walter Reiners Foundation

At the Techtextil trade fair in Frankfurt at the end of April, Peter D. Dornier, chairman of the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation, presented awards to five successful young engineers. Promotion and sustainability awards were presented in the categories of bachelor’s/project theses and diploma/master’s theses. Academic theses are eligible for the sustainability awards if, for example, they develop solutions for resource-efficient products and technologies.

BTMA backs global growth while investing in future UK leaders

As one of a number of new initiatives launched this year, the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) is launching the UK-India Textile Machinery Coalition. The UK-India Free Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, has implications that extend across sourcing, competitiveness and long-term trade dynamics, believes BTMA CEO Jason Kent.

China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.

Last chance to apply: ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley closes tomorrow

Applications for the Start-Up Valley at ITMA 2027 close tomorrow, offering young technology companies the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of several successful participants from the 2023 edition. The initiative, organised under the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant programme, has already helped a number of textile start-ups accelerate their transition from early-stage concepts to industrial partnerships, funding rounds and commercial deployment.

Jeanologia brings “Billy” to China, the AI transforming denim design

The denim industry is turning its attention to Hangzhou this week, where a new edition of Kingpins, the leading international trade show for the sector, takes place on May 21 and 22. There, the Spanish company Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable technologies for the textile industry, is introducing its latest innovation to the Chinese market: “Billy”, the first artificial intelligence specifically developed for denim finishing design.