Published November 2019
This report presents an overview of the global supply and demand for natural fibers (cotton and wool) and man-made fibers (synthetic fibers and cellulosic fibers), broken out by major world regions. Because of regional differences in data collection methods, certain fiber data (polyolefin fibers, as well as lyocell fibers) are not included in the world totals but can be found in the respective regional sections of the report.
In 2019, China is still the largest synthetic fiber producer, followed Other Asia (including Oceania) and India. Together, these regions account for about 95% of the total global capacity, production, and consumption of synthetic fibers, to support the region’s extensive textile and garment manufacturing industries. Asia’s fiber and textile industry remains export-driven, and domestic demand for textile products in the region is growing. Eight of the top-10 synthetic fiber producers operate solely in China. In 2019, the top-10 fiber producers account for about one-fourth of the total global man-made fiber capacity.
The following pie charts show world consumption of natural and man-made fibers by type and by region:
Polyester fibers dominate synthetic fiber consumption. Cotton is the second-largest-volume textile fiber. Cotton production has increased significantly in the past five years, especially in the United States, India, Central Asia, China, and Turkey. Wool production is under pressure because of only modest increases in flock numbers. As a result, wool production continues to decline.
By 2024, with the additional capacity estimated to be brought onstream, China will still have the majority of synthetic fibers capacity, but India will surpass Other Asia/Oceania to become the second-largest synthetic fiber producer. A weakening Chinese economy and softening demand will contribute to a slower annual growth rate of natural and manmade fibers consumption in the next five years.
For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.
IHS Markit’s Chemical Economics Handbook – Fibers Overview is the comprehensive and trusted guide for anyone seeking information on this industry. This latest report details global and regional information, including
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IHS Markit’s Chemical Economics Handbook – Fibers Overview has been compiled using primary interviews with key suppliers and organizations, and leading representatives from the industry in combination with IHS Markit’s unparalleled access to upstream and downstream market intelligence and expert insights into industry dynamics, trade, and economics.
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