The global textile industry is facing increasingly challenging dynamics following the latest report published by the International Textile Manufacturer Federation (ITMF). Through its International Textile Industry Statistics (ITIS) publication on productive capacity and raw materials consumption in the short-staple organized spinning mill sector across virtually all textile-producing countries worldwide, it was revealed that global capacity experienced a slight decline throughout 2024.

Based on continuous revisions carried out by ITMF to reflect the industry's changing structure, the estimated global number of installed short-staple spindles shrunk to 219 million units, while installed open-end rotors reached 9.6 million units, both experiencing slight decreases compared to 2023.

Despite this shrinkage in traditional capacity, the adoption of modern technology shows promising growth. The number of installed air-jet spindles continued to rise, with market dominance still firmly held by China. This global dynamic indicates a slow substitution toward technologies with increased performance. Meanwhile, in the weaving sector, the number of installed shuttle-less looms remained stable in 2024 at 1.67 million units—a 0.3 percent increase—with an overwhelming 83 percent of all looms installed in Asia and Oceania.

From a supply and material processing perspective, total raw material consumption in the short-staple organized sector also recorded a slight decrease to 42 million tons overall. This downward trend occurred despite a slight rise in the consumption of cellulosic and synthetic fibers. Through this comprehensive data, ITMF emphasizes that the global textile industry is undergoing a crucial structural transition phase, where market players across various countries are forced to balance production capacity efficiency with the adoption of high-performance technologies to face an increasingly competitive global market.