Products on show across the fair’s multiple zones and pavilions included a comprehensive array of various cotton yarns, cellulose fibres, recycled synthetics, and much more. With many on the lookout for sustainable innovations, 20,297 buyers from 106 countries and regions represented a strong growth in both overall participation and internationality (2021: 13,037 visitors, 28 countries and regions).

By gathering numerous key players from around the world, the yarn and fibre platform is an important contributor to global industry trends, with its fringe programme often mirroring the innovation to be found on the show floor. One of the most important topics to emerge in recent years is eco-friendliness across the textile supply chain.

Before the fair’s conclusion, Ms Wilmet Shea, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, said: “Sustainability is not going anywhere – at Yarn Expo Autumn 2023, we saw this subject approached from many directions on stage, with a number of key industry experts sharing their insights on how we can work together to take our industry into the future. There has been such a buzz around the fairground at this edition, and buyers have paid particular attention to the variety of green products being showcased by many of our international and domestic exhibitors.”

A combination of economy and ecology, the recently-launched ‘Econogy’ concept is expected to make a lasting sustainable impact on Messe Frankfurt’s Texpertise Network. For Yarn Expo Autumn, this will only increase focus on an area which is already key for a multitude of fairgoers.

Exhibitors’ experiences

“This exhibition in China is booming, and the visitor flow is good. Our company policy is that products should be safe, comfortable, and sustainable. We are showcasing yarns for flame retardant, protective layers, including viscose products and our newly developed specialised bio-based fibres. Other booths are also displaying sustainable and recycled options; therefore, customers can select the products that most fit their desired application and market requirements.”

Mr Tatsuo Usui, Manager, Performance Fiber & Materials Department, MN Inter-Fashion Ltd, Japan

“As the world’s largest yarn producer, China’s product development is very strong. Yarn Expo brings together the industry's leading yarn manufacturers, which are the business partners we are looking for. By connecting with them at this platform, we hope to find more solutions for our brand. We have had a steady stream of quality visitors and received plenty of valuable feedback first-hand. The market is rebounding and demand for functional and eco-friendly products will remain high.”

Ms Snowden Shi, General Manager, The Movement China Ltd, the Netherlands

“We facilitated exports of over USD 15 billion of Indian cotton textiles last year to more than 150 countries around the world. China has been our biggest market over the past few years. Yarn Expo was an opportunity to regain the market share lost during the pandemic by building old relationships and forming new ones, which is why we came here with 46 companies. There is no other platform that can match up to this fair’s sheer magnitude, and they’re among the world’s best. Visitors are especially looking for recycled yarns, and also sustainable fabrics.”

Mr Murali Balkrishna, Joint Director, The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), India

“It was our first time participating at Yarn Expo, and we saw its global impact. We hope to get more overseas orders by leveraging the fair's established capability for resource integration and industry cohesion. In addition to meeting customers from Eastern China, our main market, we also met many new customers from Japan and Vietnam, who have higher purchasing intentions. Our latest eco-friendly functional yarns and dyed cotton yarns were highly regarded. Understanding current needs from different regions was very rewarding.”

Mr Xiangou Liu, Head of Foreign Trade Dept., Huicai Textile Technology Co., Ltd, China