Statistics: Fibre Consumption in South America

Statistics: Fibre Consumption in South America

SUMMARY
FIBRE PRODUCTION
Cellulosic fibre production
Synthetic fibre production
MILL FIBRE CONSUMPTION
Cellulosic fibre consumption
Synthetic fibre consumption
Natural fibre consumption
OUTLOOK
STATISTICAL APPENDIX
List of tables
Table 1: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru: production of man-made fibres, by fibre type,
1998-2007
Table 2: South America: mill consumption of fibres, by fibre type, 1998-2007
Table 3: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru: mill consumption of fibres, by fibre type, 1998-2007
Table 4: Argentina: production, trade and mill consumption of fibres, by fibre type, 1998-2007
Table 5: Brazil: production, trade and mill consumption of fibres, by fibre, type, 1998-2007
Table 6: Chile: production, trade and mill consumption of fibres, by fibre type, 1998-2007
Table 7: Colombia: production, trade and mill consumption of fibres, by fibre type, 1998-2007
Table 8: Peru: production, trade and mill consumption of fibres, by fibre type, 1998-2007

Consumption of fibres in South American mills fell by 1.7% in 2007, following a 2.0% increase in
2006. As a result, usage remained below the peak seen in 2004 although it was still higher than in
2005—and well above the trough recorded in 2002 at the time of the Argentinean financial crisis.
South American textile and clothing companies have had to struggle in the face of a weakening US
dollar, which has made their goods more expensive in their biggest export market, the USA. Also, they
have faced strong competition from low cost producing countries in Asia—especially China.
Nevertheless, mill consumption rose in some South American countries in 2007.
Brazil continued to dominate the industry in 2007, having accounted for 63% of total fibre
consumption in the region during the year. However, usage fell to 1.60 mn tons, which was down on
each of the previous three years. Usage also continued to decline in Chile, but consumption in
Argentina, Colombia and Peru continued to increase.
Cotton represented as much as 53%, or 1.34 mn tons, of all fibres consumed in South America in
2007. Synthetic filament yarn accounted for 30%, synthetic staple fibre for 14%, cellulosic staple fibre
for 2% and wool for 1%. Usage of cellulosic filament yarn was negligible.