After a strong increase in the fourth quarter of 2006 - especially due to higher stock levels in India and Pakistan - global yarn stocks fell in the first quarter by -1.3%. Higher inventories in South America (+15.0%) were more than offset by lower ones in Asia (-3.1%) with Europe's remaining stable (-0.1%).
Compared to the first quarter of 2006 global yarn inventories jumped by +12.9% with South America and Asia reporting increases of +13.7% and +18.7%, respectively, while Europe experienced a curtailment of -3.7%.
World fabric inventories in the first quarter of 2007 fell in all regions both compared to the previous quarter and on an annual basis (-14.6% and -23.5%, respectively).
In comparison to the previous quarter, especially Europe (-22.6%, mainly as a result of the continued downward correction in Spain) and Asia (-13.1%) recorded lower stock levels, while North and South America's reductions were somewhat smaller (-4.8% and -8.8%, respectively).
Year on year global fabric stocks fell by -23.5% with Europe recording a drop of -42.2% (again mainly due to the continued downward correction in Spain), Asia of -13.6%, North America of -10.2% and South America of -5.3%.
Yarn orders both in Brazil and Europe decreased by -6.5% and -0.7%, respectively compared to the fourth quarter of 2006. On an annual basis orders fell by -0.8% in Europe and -20.0% in Brazil.
Compared to the previous quarter fabric orders in Europe hardly changed (+0.1%), whereas Brazil experienced a reduction of -3.2%. Year on year orders were down by -0.4% in Europe and -16.1% in Brazil.
International Textile Manufacturers Federation
marketing@alchempro.com
