Textile Manufacturing

Textile Manufacturing

Brief Excerpt from Industry Overview Chapter:

Companies in this industry operate mills that produce textiles and textile products from natural and synthetic materials. Major companies include Milliken and WL Gore & Associates (both based in the US); Chinatex and Weiqiao Textile (both based in China); Far Eastern New Century (Taiwan); Hyosung (South Korea); and Teijin, Toray, and Toyobo (all based in Japan).

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by the domestic apparel industry and consumer demand for home furnishings like carpets, furniture, and curtains. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations. Large companies have economies of scale in production for high-volume items. Small companies can compete successfully by producing specialized textiles. The US industry is concentrated: the 50 largest companies generate about 60% of revenue.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products are yarns, textured, crimped, and bulked, filament, including stretch (about 10% of revenue). The industry produces yarns and threads out of natural (wool and cotton) and synthetic (plastics) materials. Yarns and thread are used to produce fabrics that are woven or knit, finish fabrics by dyeing or coating them, and make fabrics into simple finished consumer products like rugs, carpets, curtains, linens, and textile bags.