Saurer, the textile machinery manufacturer has come out with a preliminary 2005 fiber production figures. Last year's activity was characterized by uncertainty from the abolition of quotas, strong increase of crude oil prices and its intermediates, ongoing shifting of capacity towards Asia and technical reactions resulting from high fiber inventories in 2004. After the strong rise in 2004, growth rate came down to 2.2 %. This corresponds with a volume slightly surpassing 70 mln tonnes. However, last year's performance has led to a situation last
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Natural fibers have enjoyed favorable conditions in demand, while manmade fibers did not manage to achieve the production level of 2004. Other natural fibers (kapok, ramie, flax, hemp, jute, sisal, coir) remained unchanged at 5.7 mln tonnes. Natural fibers were able to gain ground, in particular due to a strong 6.1 % increase of cotton consumption. This was partly driven by lower prices in several regions. Cellulosics have continued their growth, rising by 3.5% to 3.3 mln tonnes. Synthetics have marginally lost market share as a result of a 0.3% decrease to 34.6 mln tonnes. 
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