Global shipments of textile machinery displayed sharp contrasts across segments in 2024, according to the 47th annual International Textile Machinery Shipment Statistics (ITMSS) released by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF). The report, compiled with input from over 200 manufacturers worldwide, covers six major categories spinning, draw-texturing, weaving, circular knitting, flat knitting, and finishing.

The spinning segment witnessed a major contraction. Shipments of new short-staple spindles dropped by 40 per cent, falling by 3.8 million units to 5.92 million. Open-end rotors saw a similar 39 per cent decline, totaling 623,000 units globally. The Asia & Oceania region continued to dominate, receiving 90 per cent of short-staple spindles and 89 per cent of rotors, although deliveries fell sharply. China, India, and Turkiye remained the top investors despite steep drops. Exceptions were noted in Vietnam and Bangladesh, where rotor shipments surged by 214 per cent and 44 per cent, respectively.

Long-staple (wool) spindle shipments bucked the trend, increasing by 62 per cent to 600,000 units. This growth was primarily driven by shipments to Iran, China, and Vietnam, accounting for 40 per cent, 30 per cent, and 13 per cent of global deliveries, respectively.

Texturing machinery showed the strongest recovery. Single-heater draw-texturing spindle shipments, mostly used for polyamide, jumped 95 per cent to 84,000 units, while double-heater spindles, used mainly for polyester, surged 80 per cent to 960,000 units. Asia & Oceania received nearly all deliveries, with China dominating the market.

In the weaving segment, global shuttle-less loom shipments rose by 32 per cent to 226,000 units. Water-jet looms led the increase with a 56 per cent growth, while air-jet looms rose 10 per cent. Rapier and projectile loom shipments declined by 7 per cent. Asia & Oceania absorbed 97 per cent of global loom deliveries, with China remaining the leading destination.

The circular knitting category faced a 15 per cent decline, with shipments totaling 28,000 units. China, though still the largest importer, recorded a sharp 42 per cent drop. India and Vietnam followed in second and third positions. Meanwhile, flat knitting machine shipments increased 16 per cent to 135,000 units, driven by continued demand from Asia, particularly China, which received 82 per cent of shipments.

Finishing machinery recorded a marginal 6 per cent rise overall. In the continuous fabrics segment, stenter shipments grew by 22 per cent. Other finishing machines reported mixed results, with dyeing lines showing both steep drops and triple-digit increases depending on the technology. In the discontinuous segment, jigger and beam dyeing machines declined by 44 per cent, while air jet and overflow dyeing equipment rose by 18 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively.

These contrasting trends reflect evolving regional dynamics, shifting investment patterns, and continued market volatility across global textile production.