Textile Industry Weathers the Downturn

Like much of the rest of the world cotton industry, Switzerland has not been immune to the troubles of the 2008 economic recession. With a rich tradition in the textile industry, the country would ideally be reaping the rewards of cotton’s lower prices over the past couple of years.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case. In 1997/98, Switzerland imported over 33,000 Metric Tons (MT) of cotton for manufacturing. Just 10 years later, that number had fallen to only 4,000 MT, despite the falling price of the natural fiber. The reasoning for the dip in imported cotton is the same as the reasoning worldwide: a downward trend in demand.

Advertisement

But for Switzerland’s textile industry, which has the advantage of being flexible in the raw materials it consumes and the types of products it produces, the current economic storms should not prove catastrophic. The world’s cotton will continue to find a home in a country where its presence led to industrialization and economic strength.

Machinery Innovation

Switzerland’s industry relies on a host of other materials for fabric production – ranging from satin and muslin to wool and synthetics – but the country will continue to be a boost to the world’s cotton industry through the production of its technical textile machinery. As much as 99% of Switzerland’s textile machinery is exported, with over half of that amount winding up in Asian markets.

Top Articles
Make a Pre-Planting Checklist

India is the single largest importer of Switzerland’s textile machinery. The country has struggled to build and sustain its own textile industry over the last few years, and has relied heavily on Swiss engineering to achieve that feat. China is the second largest importer of the machinery. Traditionally, other large importers of Swiss technology have been the world’s leading textile manufacturing countries, including Turkey, Germany, Italy and Pakistan. While the textile machinery trade has itself felt the world’s economic recession, Asian markets will continue to lean on Switzerland’s products because of their technical innovation and mechanical reliability. Asian markets will continue to purchase Swiss machinery with their eyes focused on an easier economic environment.

Switzerland’s textile industry holds a similar optimistic outlook. Swiss companies kicked off 2009, dubbed the International Year of Natural Fibers, by hosting Heimtextil in Frankfurt. The event focused on sustainability, with an emphasis on innovation. Innovation is something the Swiss industry has focused on throughout its history.

Late in 2008, Hermann Buehler AG presented SwissCotton BeDry, a new yarn that made it possible to produce 100% cotton products with moisture management properties. The new technology paved the way for cotton to have a stronghold in the sports and active-wear markets.

In bolstering the world’s textile manufacturers through technology, Switzerland is still a major player in the global cotton industry. While the country struggles with the rest of the world through the economic recession, innovation and technology will benefit both Switzerland and the world.

0