The market prospect of this high-density fabric is worrying
In recent years, high-density fabrics have shown rapid growth in down products worldwide, mainly in the sports and outdoor fields. Since five years ago, as the demand for lining fabrics has expanded, the development trend of lightweight, compact and high-density products has accelerated. Japanese fabric manufacturers have also taken advantage of this craze to achieve rapid development. However, with the strong appreciation of the yen and the increasing competitiveness of South Korean and Taiwanese manufacturers, the development of lightweight high-density fabrics, which is booming in Japan’s domestic woven manufacturers and the Hokuriku origin market, has slowed down. The prosperity of Japanese woven high-density fabrics has also slowed down. Things are going from bad to worse. In order to save the market, Japanese companies have begun to strengthen the development of advanced fabric technology and have also stepped up efforts to expand overseas production scale in order to better control costs.
The market for high-density products is in sharp decline
Since the second half of last year, Japan’s high-density fabric market has undergone major changes. Toyobo STC’s sales of high-density fabrics and yarn raw materials have shown a decline in growth since October 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, the company’s sales fell by 30% year-on-year. For the past seven years, Toyobo has been committed to expanding the scale of production in this field. Although its average annual growth in 2011 remained at 15%, it took a sharp turn in 2012, and sales are expected to decrease by 20% to 30% that year. Toray President and Fiber Business Director Hidezo Tanaka said that the high-density fabric market reached its peak in 2011 and will enter a downward trajectory in 2012. Toray began to regulate production volume in the first quarter of this year. The deterioration of the high-density fabric market has also affected other weaving companies and printing and dyeing plants in Hokuriku production areas.
Competitiveness from South Korea and other countries is overwhelming
Lightweight and high-density fabrics produced using denier yarn are the mainstay products of the Hokuriku region. The high-density fabrics produced in Hokuriku are at the leading international level in terms of production technology and product quality. However, in recent years, South Korea and Taiwan have grown rapidly in this field, and once approached Japan’s international leading position. According to industry insiders, Japan’s 20-denier products, which have an absolute advantage, have been overtaken by South Korean and Taiwanese companies. Currently, Japanese companies have to position this type of product as a mass product.
Although the main markets for high-density fabrics such as European and American countries once had good sales to Japanese sports and outdoor manufacturers, as the yen appreciated intensified and the Korean won fell, this created opportunities for Korean and Taiwanese products to enter the market. This has prompted Japan to escalate its competition with South Korea and Taiwan.
Teijin Fiber Sports and Underwear Group Head Suzuki Tetsushi said that during the business war between 2011 and 2012, the worldwide trend of warmer winters caused Japanese merchants to enter the discount season at the beginning of the new year, which to a large extent also The volume of negotiations for this year’s autumn and winter products has been reduced.
The market is saturated and inventory is worrying
In the long run, the production scale of the Hokuriku production area shows a shrinking trend. In recent years, due to the rise of “high-density fabric foam”, manufacturers have introduced looms and dyeing equipment to expand production scale. But despite this, the market continues to be saturated. Textile manufacturers in Hokuriku production areas estimate that there will be a large stockpile of high-density fabrics.
Since the second half of last year, sales of high-density fabrics have declined. Judging from the production statistics of Hokuriku provinces (as of March 2012) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s fiber and daily necessities statistics (February 2012), production has not been able to be controlled, and the accumulated inventory is expected to cause substantial price cuts. This is bound to have a negative impact on the sales of various companies this year.
Weaving enterprises seek adjustment in difficult times
Industry insiders revealed that this situation will continue for some time. Currently, Japanese companies are also beginning to formulate new strategies. Toray plans to strengthen cooperation with purchasing companies to promote sales while continuing to implement a one-stop system from yarn to sewing. The company has completed preliminary production adjustments this spring and will start adjusting the production scale of high-density fabrics again in April.
While Toyobo SCT is actively coping with the downturn in the leisure market and declining sales, it is also developing first-line sports and outdoor brands in Europe and the United States. At present, in addition to signing contracts for the lightest 7 denier products, Toyobo SCT is also focusing on developing Special products such as diamond-resistant high-strength Y-shaped satin veils and glossy yarns that cannot be imitated by South Korea and Taiwan. At the same time, SCT is also applying for a U.S. patent for its high-strength fabric technology that has been patented in Japan, in order to expand its influence in Japan and consolidate its market position.
Teijin Fibers uses eco-friendly fabrics that are of concern in the sports and outdoor fields as weapons, strengthens the research and development of recycled polyester 15 denier and 10 denier products, and strengthens cooperation with Japanese domestic production areas in high-end products such as elastic fabrics to strengthen research and development efforts. Recently, in China, the fabric production base, Nantong Teijin achieved mass production of 20 denier, and also completed mass production of products above 30 denier in Thailand. This not only greatly improved the company’s overseas production level, but also strengthened its support for European and American manufacturers. sales work.
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