Page 74 - TEXtalks November/December 2021
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             Textile business situation





                             and expectation:                                                                                      regions except East Asia, and business expectations   increased by +3.3% in Q2 2021, after slightly






               The ITMF Corona-Survey                                                                                              are optimistic in all regions.                    contracting in Q1 2021. Similarly, the business activity
                                                                                                                                                                                     in the clothing sector expanded by +7% in Q2 2021,
                                                                                                                                   As for the different segments, the gap between the
                                                                                                                                                                                     after increasing by +1% in the previous quarter. In
                                                                                                                                                                                     the 2nd quarter of 2021, the EU-27 trade balance for
                                                                                                                                   upstream segments – fiber producers, spinners, and
                                                                                                                                   textile machinery producers, on the one hand, and
                                                                                                                                                                                     T&C improved, resulting primarily from an increase in
                                                                                                                                   the downstream segments, including
                                                                                                                                   weavers/knitters, finishers/printers, and garment   export sales across third markets and a drop in textile
                                                                                                                                                                                     imports. T&C Extra-EU exports boomed by +49%
                                                                                                                                   producers, on the other hand, is narrowing. As far as   compared with the same quarter of the previous year.
            International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF)   order backlog, and 5) capacity utilization rate. In a          order intake is concerned, the very favorable situation   T&C Extra-EU imports went down by -26% compared
            is an international forum for the world's textile   previous survey during 2020, ITMF reported that the                (+40 pp) is the source for the abovementioned ideal   with the same quarter of the previous year, following
            industries, dedicated to keeping the worldwide    textiles orders dropped 41% globally; and the global                 business situation. Order intake expectations increased   a decrease in imports from some central supplier
            membership constantly informed through surveys,   turnover in 2020 was down by 33% compared to                         again from an already high level to +41 pp.       countries. EU imports from China and the UK
            studies, and publications, participating in the   2019.                                                                                                                  collapsed due to Brexit and weaker demand in
            evolution of the industry's value chain and through                                                                    Order backlog has remained almost unchanged       Europe.
            the organization of annual conferences as well as   On average, the business situation has improved                    since May and is around 2.5 months. By nature, the
            publishing considered opinions on future trends and   significantly since the 10th survey in September                 textile machinery segment has, on average, a much   However, this fragile recovery is hampered by higher
            international developments. Through ITMF, the textile   across all regions and segments. The balance                   longer backlog (6 vs. 1.5 months for spinners). The   shipping costs and increases in raw materials and
            industries cooperate internationally with organizations   between good and poor business companies                     capacity utilization rate has increased slowly but   energy prices. The cost of energy, in particular gas,
            representing other sectors allied to their industry.   jumped from +10 percentage points (pp) to +28 pp                continuously since May 2021, indicating that the   has increased more than three times since the
                                                              (see graph below). When it comes to business                         supply chain disruption is still a significant - but   beginning of this year. Since the announcement of
            ITMF has conducted its 11th ITMF Corona-Survey to   expectations in six months (May 2022), the balance is              hopefully diminishing - concern.                  the EU's "Fit for 55" package, we have seen CO2
            analyze the global textile business situation and   +33 pp. This means that significantly more                                                                           prices rising above €60. This inevitably impacts the
            expectations. More than 330 companies worldwide in   companies expect business to be more favorable                    The European Apparel and Textile Confederation    industry's competitiveness, especially in a global
            all segments along the textile value chain. For the   than less favorable by May 2022. Nevertheless,                   (EURATEX) presented its survey on the 11th October   context. The future recovery is also threatened by
            fourth time since May, companies were asked the   expectations were slightly higher in the previous                    2021, which showed a similar trend to ITMF. In    factors limiting production, such as shortage of labor
            same set of questions about their 1) business     surveys. Looking at the different regions reveals that               quarter-on-quarter terms, the EU turnover showed   force and equipment, which put additional pressure
            situation, 2) business expectation, 3) order intake, 4)   the business situation improved on average in most           improvements across the sector. The textile turnover   on T&C industries.

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