ZURICH, Switzerland — May 2013 — Output of global yarn production plummeted in Q4/2012 in
comparison to the previous one due to lower output in Asia, North and South America, while
production in Europe increased. Also year-on-year global yarn production dropped as a consequence
of lower production in Asia and North America and despite higher output in Europe and South
America. Global yarn stocks rose in Q4/2012 in comparison to the previous quarter mainly due to
higher stocks in Asia and Europe while inventories in South America fell. On an annual basis global
yarn inventories were down due to lower stocks in all regions. Yarn orders in Q4/2012 were down
both in Europe and Brazil in comparison to Q3/2012. Also on an annual basis yarn orders dropped
both in Europe Brazil.
World fabric production increased in Q4/2012 inspite of lower output in South America due to
increased production levels in Asia and Europe. Also year-on-year global fabric production was up
with contributions from all regions. Global fabric stocks fell slightly in in comparison to the
previous quarter as a consequence of lower inventories in South and North America and despite
slightly higher ones in Europe and Asia. Year-on-year fabric stocks decreased due to a reduction of
stocks in all regions with the exception of Asia. Fabric orders decreased both in Europe and Brazil
in Q4/2012 and also year-on-year.
The estimates for global yarn and fabric production in the 1st quarter 2013 compared to the
4th quarter of 2012 are positive in Asia and South America and stable in Europe (estimates for
China were not available). The outlook for global yarn and fabric production in Q2/2013 is also
positive. Regional-wise Asia is expecting higher yarn and fabric production levels, while the
outlook in Europe is slightly negative for yarn and fabric production. In South America the outlook
for both yarn and fabric production is stable.
In comparison with the previous quarter, world yarn output dropped in Q4/2012 by -20.2% as a
result of lower production in Asia (-21.7%). This decline was a consequence of lower output in
China alone (-26.4%), whereas output in Japan, (+7.9%), Taiwan, China (+3.1%), Pakistan (+2.1%) and
India (+0.8%) rose. Yarn production fell in North America (-7.0%) as well as in South America but
increased in Europe (+7.2%). Year-on-year global yarn production decreased by -15.2% with output
down in Asia (-16.6%) and North America (-7.6%) and despite higher production in South America
(+10.6%) and Europe (+3.0%).
Compared with the previous quarter global fabric production rose by +7.4% in Q4/2012 as a
consequence of higher output in Asia (+9.4%) and Europe (+7.7%), while South America recorded a
reduction of -15.0%. In comparison to Q4/2011 world fabric production was up by +1.1% with all
regions contributing to this increase (Europe: +3.6%, South America: +1.3% and Asia: +0.7%).
Global yarn inventories rose by +1.2% in Q4/2012 compared to the previous quarter with both
South America (+5.6%) and Asia (+0.8%) recording higher yarn inventories, while stocks fell in
Europe by -0.6%. On an annual basis global yarn stocks dropped by -9.1%, a consequence of lower
stocks in Asia (-15.4%), Europe (-7.1%) and South America (-3.0%).
Global fabric stocks were down by -1.8% due to lower inventories in South America (-6.3%),
and North America (-1.3%), while inventories in both Europe and North America were practically
unchanged (+0.2% and +0.1%, respectively). Year-on-year, global fabric inventories decreased by
-2.2%. This was due to lower fabric stocks in North America (-11.3%), Europe (-7.2%) and South
America (-5.3%) and despite higher fabric stocks in Asia (+0.7%).
Yarn orders in both Europe and Brazil were down in Q4/2012 compared to the previous one by
-6.5% and -14.1%, respectively. Also year-on-year yarn orders declined both in Brazil and Europe by
-14.1% and -6.7%, respectively.
In Brazil and Europe fabric orders decreased in Q4/2012 by -26.4% and -1.2%, respectively. On
an annual basis fabric orders fell with Brazil recording a reduction of -13.4% and Europe a drop of
-6.5%.
Posted on May 2, 2013
Source: ITMF
