Yarn production decreased nine per cent in the first quarter of 2018 across the world. Increases of three per cent in the US and 12 per cent in Brazil cancelled out production reductions of 13 per cent in Africa, 11 per cent in Asia and 1.5 per cent in Europe.

Global yarn orders decreased five per cent on an average in all countries, except in Japan where they increased two per cent. Most countries from Africa, Asia and North America are optimistic about the evolution in the second quarter, while Europe and Brazil expect a decline in production.

Global fabric production in the same comparative periods decreased 10 per cent, with a 12 per cent drop in Asia, a five per cent decline in Africa and a two per cent falloff in Europe. Brazil’s fabric production increased one per cent in the period. World fabric output reached 96 per cent of its first quarter 2017 level.

Global fabric orders fell six per cent in the first quarter from the fourth quarter. Europe’s two per cent gain was balanced out by reductions of ten per cent in Brazil and 18 per cent in Africa, which brought the global index to 88 per cent of its prior-year level.