The International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) has released the findings of its 30th Global Textile Industry Survey, conducted in January 2025. While the overall business balance remains negative at -15 percentage points (pp), the industry has seen a steady upward trend since November 2024. South America is leading the recovery with a positive business balance of +21pp, and garment manufacturers have also turned positive at +3pp.

Future expectations are improving, with 43% of survey respondents anticipating better business conditions within the next six months. This has raised the global outlook to a positive balance of +29pp, with particularly strong sentiment in South America and among spinners, which report balances of +46pp and +45pp, respectively.

Order intake has continued its recovery, showing a balance of -6pp in January 2025 after 14 months of gradual improvement. South Asia and South America have posted strong gains, with home textiles being the only product segment showing a positive balance. The order backlog has also grown, reaching 2.5 months globally and peaking at 2.9 months in North & Central America, reflecting increased demand across key regions.

Despite these positive trends, challenges persist. The global capacity utilisation rate has slipped to 72%, remaining above previous lows but still a cause for concern. Weak demand and geopolitical risks continue to weigh on the industry, while high energy and raw material prices add pressure to manufacturers. However, order cancellations have remained low and stable, and inventory levels have not seen significant fluctuations, suggesting a degree of resilience in the market.

The textile industry remains in a phase of cautious recovery, with businesses adapting to evolving market conditions and uncertainties. As companies navigate these challenges, the continued momentum in orders and regional growth provides a promising outlook for the sector.

For more information, visit www.itmf.org or contact [email protected].