The new survey shows a business situation balance rising to −17 percentage points (pp) from −25pp in March. Business expectations climbed to +16pp (from +5pp), order intake to −9pp (from −25pp), backlogs to 2.5 months and capacity utilization to 74%. Order cancellations stayed contained and inventories lean low. The direction is encouraging, but the levels rest on a thin and fragile cushion.

Source: 8th-38th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey (38th: 19-28.05.2026) – last data point = May 2026

The upturn was geographically uneven. Africa led on business situation, order intake, backlog and expectations, alongside gains in Europe and North & Central America. The Asian production hubs lagged, with East Asia weakest on both current conditions and the six-month outlook. Along the value chain, segments closest to the end-consumer slightly fared best, while capital-goods and upstream segments trailed.

Cost and demand pressures persist: weak demand remains the major concern for 53% of participating textile manufacturers, followed by raw-material prices (52%) and energy prices and geopolitics (42% each). The survey links rising costs to the war in Iran, which has pushed crude oil to around USD 100 and lifted gasoline prices by roughly 50% since March, feeding inflation and squeezing margins. Whether the May reading holds will depend largely on energy prices and the resolution of ongoing conflicts.

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