The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has released the findings of its 31st Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS), conducted in March 2025, revealing a nuanced portrait of the industry’s global landscape. While recent months had hinted at gradual recovery, the March results signal a slight deterioration in overall business conditions.

The survey, which spans the entire textile value chain and key geographic regions, highlighted regional divergence in performance. East Asia and North & Central America showed modest improvements but still operated at relatively low levels. Garment producers, however, remained the most consistent performers, with order levels holding up better than other segments.

Despite these mixed signals, the industry maintained a degree of cautious optimism, particularly with regard to the fourth quarter of 2025. The most upbeat outlook came from Africa and the Americas, while East Asia stood out for its more pessimistic forecast. Producers of garments, fibres, and finished fabrics were the most hopeful, in contrast to their counterparts in technical and home textiles, where expectations were muted.

Order intake, which had been on a steady upward path since late 2023, saw a loss in momentum. Declines were reported in East Asia and Europe, though South-East Asia remained stable. Europe continued to lead in order backlogs, averaging 2.2 months globally, thanks to its strong textile manufacturing base.

Capacity utilisation remained steady at 73%, driven largely by Asian manufacturers. Inventory trends showed divergence across sectors, with yarn producers building up stock, while garment manufacturers kept inventories low amid continued market uncertainty.

Ongoing challenges include persistent weak demand, flagged by 62% of respondents, and increasing geopolitical tensions, cited by 41%. Although pressure from energy and raw material costs has eased slightly, concerns about interest rates and new sustainability-related regulations are mounting.

The GTIS results reflect a complex and evolving industry environment, where resilience is tempered by a mix of cautious outlooks and structural headwinds.

www.itmf.org