The end of the tunnel ? It will arrive by the end of 2021 and especially in 2022, according to the global textile manufacturers. But until then, they are still struggling. The International Federation of Textile Manufacturers (ITMF) initiated a cycle of regular surveys on the impact of the pandemic among its members a year ago. The latest survey published (for the period January 25 to March 10) reveals that the turnover of textile companies has fallen by 9 percent overall.
The ITMF, in addition to its affiliated local trade organizations, brings together around 200 global textile manufacturers with a focus on yarns and fabrics. Many are multinationals, from Europe (Lenzing, Austria) to the United States via China and Bangladesh. This quantified indicator, which unsurprisingly designates 2020 as the worst year in the history of world textiles, therefore reflects an important part of the current reality of the sector.
The downturn in business is, however, less significant than anticipated at the height of the first pandemic wave: surveyed in April 2020, participants predicted a decline of 33 percent on average. The business trend also seems to be improving little by little, in view of the first six surveys carried out since the start of the crisis. The entire textile value chain has been severely impacted by the pandemic, including the textile machinery and equipment sector. Virtually all segments under study were affected, to varying degrees. Only two escaped the slump: nonwovens (stable) and fibers (+ 10 percent). Two product categories that have probably surfed on the strong demand for disposable masks in 2020.
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