China has been the largest textile and apparel(T&A) exporter in the world since 1994. The Chinese T&A market(excluding fibres) shrank by 1.1% in 2009 to reach a value of USD 270 billion.In 2014, the Chinese textile and apparel market is forecasted to have a valueof USD 473 billion.

Despiteits strength in manufacturing, China imported USD 29.5 billion T&A productsin 2010. Main import categories include cotton (36%), manmade filaments (13%),manmade staple (short) fibres (10.2%), wool, animal hair, horsehair yarn andfabric (9.8%). China dominates the global low to medium end market.

About China

       Capital: Beijing (Peking)

       LargestCity: Shanghai

       OfficialLanguage:Standard Chinese

       RegionalLanguages:Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, Zhuang, and various others

       EthnicGroups: 91.51%Han; 55 recognized minorities

       Government: Nominally Marxist Leninistsingle-party state

       Independence: 1 October 1949

       Area: Total 9,640,821 km2

       Water (%): 2.8

       Population: 1,339,724,852 (2010 census)

       Density: 139.6/km2

       GDP (PPP): Total $11.299 trillion and percapita $8,382 (2011 estimate)

       Literacyrate: 92 (M-96& F-89) as on 2008

Currency: Renminbi (yuan) () (CNY)

China Technical Textiles

        According to the Italian Trade Commission there are about 2,500 technical textiles companies in China.

        The ratio of domestic to foreign companies is 4:1.

        Companies are concentrated in five provinces which are Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian and Guangdong.

        Technical textile industry is budding at a much faster rate relative to the whole textile industry tree, accounting to more than 20% of total industry.

        Chemical fibres are the major raw materials for the technical textiles and, they contribute to 90% of the total raw materials currently used.

        Total exports in 2010 were US$ 8.8 billion, an increase of 38% over 2009; total imports were US$ 2.8 billion in 2010, 23% increase from 2009.

        Total exports in 1H 2011 were US$ 5.7 billion, an increase of 31% over 1H 2010; total imports were US$ 1.5 billion in 1H 2011, 11% increase from 1H 2010.

        China mainly imports technical textiles from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the United States.

China Fibre processing

Source: China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association

Comparison China Nonwovens Industry with other Asian Countries

Source - Asia Nonwoven Fabric Association

Chinas major growing Technical Textile Sector

1.      Textiles for Medical and Healthcare Sector (The annual average growth rate is estimated to be 12% in the future, the output to reach 1,240,000t by 2015.)

2.      Textiles for Filtration and Separation (The annual average growth rate is estimated to be 13% in the next five years, the output to reach 1,030,000t by 2015.)

3.      Textiles for Civil Engineering (The annual average growth rate is estimated to be 12.5% in the next five years, the output to reach 730,000t by 2015.)

4.      Textiles for Transport (The annual average growth rate is estimated to be 12% in the next five years, the output to reach 74,000t by 2015.)

5.      Textiles for Protection (The annual average growth rate is estimated to be 9% in the next five years, the output to reach 350,000t by 2015.)

6.      Textiles for Structural Modification (The annual average growth rate is estimated to be 11% in the next five years, the output to reach 1.03 million tons by 2015.)

Factors accountable for Growth

        Replacement of traditional materials with advanced textile materials for higher performance.

        Advancements in the manufacturing process for producing advanced fibers.

        Industrial up gradation and reformation of the industrial model plays an important role

        Constant market expansion and growth in the demand of technical textiles plays the major role in escalation of this industry.

Reference:

1.      Italian Trade Commission

2.      China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association

3.      Asia Nonwoven Fabric Association

Techtextil India Symposium 2012 , Technical Textiles Markets, M. Jnecke