#Associations

2025-02-06

Cautious recovery amid persistent challenges

The ITMF’s 30th Global Textile Industry Survey conducted in January 2025 reveals a cautiously optimistic outlook amid ongoing challenges in the textile value chain. While the overall global business balance remains negative at -15 percentage points (pp), the trend has been on an upswing since November 2024, especially in South America, which shows a positive balance of +21pp. Notably, garment manufacturers have also turned positive, registering a balance of +3pp.

Looking ahead, optimism is growing with 43% of survey participants expecting improved conditions in the next six months, lifting the global outlook to a positive balance of +29 percentage points. Regions like South America and producer groups such as spinners, which report a balance of +46pp and +45pp, respectively, are leading this sentiment.

Source: 8th-30th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey (30th: 20-29.01.2025) © 2025 ITMF

Order intake continues its steady recovery with January 2025 figures showing a balance of –6pp after 14 months of progress. South Asia and South America post strong positive performances, but home textile is the only segment with a positive balance. Meanwhile, the global order backlog has risen to 2.5 months, with North & Central America at 2.9 months, indicating increased demand despite persistent concerns.

Challenges persist as global capacity utilization rate slips to 72%, even though it remains above previous lows. The survey also highlights ongoing worries over weak demand and geopolitical risks, with high energy and raw material prices adding to industry pressures. However, order cancellations have stayed low and stable, and overall inventory levels have remained relatively unchanged.

For more information, please see http://www.itmf.org

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.

ITMF and IAF conclude successful Joint Convention 2025 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) and the International Apparel Federation (IAF) have successfully concluded their second joint convention, held this year in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. In close collaboration with the host Indonesian Textile Association (API), the event gathered over 400 delegates from around the world from across the entire textile and apparel value chain.

EDANA warns of consequences of misclassification of PET spunbond imports

EDANA would like to remind its members and industry stakeholders of the legal requirement to comply with the EU rules on customs classification when importing nonwovens from third countries outside the EU. In this regard, it was recently discovered that there appears to be a high level of customs misclassification occurring in our industry. This could have dangerous and costly consequences for importers.

Engineering depth and diversity for composites

Airbond is the latest member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) to receive recognition for contributions to the composites industry. The engineering firm based in Pontypool, South Wales, has just received the Make UK Energy and Sustainability Award for its Lattice 3D Printing project.

DIENES at Techtextil 2026: Flexible pilot lines for bio-based fiber development

The growing relevance of bio-based materials in technical textiles is accompanied by increasing demands for reproducibility, high-quality data, and scalable process routes. Especially when working with cellulose and its derivatives, chitosan, lignin-based approaches, or bio-based PAN as a carbon-fiber precursor, R&D teams face variable feedstock quality, tighter process windows, and the need for reliable comparability across trials. This calls for flexible, data-driven experimental setups that can be reconfigured efficiently when recipes, solvents, and raw-material batches change.

Gunold showcases embroidery product range and services at Texprocess

At Texprocess 2026, GUNOLD will present numerous hands-on examples related to embroidery in Hall 8, Booth E20. The focus is on creative embroidery designs as well as the extensive product range of threads, nonwovens, and accessories for embroidery and embellishment. “Trade visitors can once again look forward to many new and creative embroidery designs. Of course, we will also showcase the matching products required to bring these ideas to life,” announces Marketing Manager Stephan Gunold.

A Powerful Opening: Global thought leaders launch the International Cotton Conference Bremen

The International Cotton Conference Bremen will open on 25 March 2026 in the Parliament building of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen with a keynote session of exceptional calibre. Distinguished international experts will set the stage for the conference by offering incisive perspectives on the most pressing challenges and the defining trends shaping the future of the global cotton trade. Their insights will span a broad spectrum — from geopolitically driven disruptions affecting global supply chains to the opportunities emerging from innovation-led agriculture capable of supporting a growing world population. Together, these opening keynotes will frame the dialogue of the conference, highlighting both the complexity of today’s market environment and the pathways toward a resilient and forward-looking cotton sector.