Japan’s synthetic fibre output falls
Manmade fibre output in Japan fell in 2009 for the ninth consecutive year. Furthermore, the decline, at 22%, was more than double the rate recorded during the previous eight years.
Filament yarn output fell 29.9%, while staple fibre output dropped 15.1%. The fall in filament yarn output reflected double-digit declines in all the main fibre types. In the staple fibres segment, the output of all the main synthetic fibre types fell at double-digit rates except for cellulosic staple fibre output, which dropped just 4.3%.
In synthetics, capacity utilisation plunged to less than 50% in 2009 as output declined by as much as 24.3%. In cellulosics, capacity utilisation was a more sustainable 75.6%. Nonetheless, this was its lowest rate since 2000 due to a 10.1% drop in output.
Mill consumption levels have also deteriorated in recent years. Although usage rose slightly in 2006-07 and 2007-08, it fell 14.3% to a new low in 2008-09.
