As per the International Textile Machinery Federation (ITMF), shipments in most of the textile machinery segments experienced declines in 2014. Deliveries of new short staple spindles in 2014 fell by 15 per cent as against 2014 while long staple spindles and open-end rotors increased by 70 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively.

The number of draw-texturing spindles grew by close to 12 per cent year on year in 2014 and shipments of shuttle-less looms dropped by 14 per cent over 2013.

Shipments of large circular knitting machines in 2014 also declined 22 per cent over its previous year. In contrast, shipments of flat knitting machines surged by 31 per cent.

Shipments of new short staple spindles fell by 15 per cent year-on-year in 2014 and more than reversed the increase of 10 per cent in 2013.

Most of the new short staple spindles were shipped to Asia, where shipments fell by nearly 17 per cent over 2013. Four of the five largest investors for short staple spindles are from Asia.

The world’s largest investor of short staple spindles, China, experienced a decline of nearly 29 per cent, but shipments to Turkey, the fourth largest investor, increased by five per cent in 2014.