Int'l textile equipment makers drawn to Chinese market

SHANGHAI -- More than 1,300 textile equipment manufacturers from around the world are attending an ongoing exhibition in Shanghai as Chinese textile producers turn to high-end technology to boost their businesses.

"China's textile companies are focusing on technological upgrades, which has opened up an expanding market for textile equipment," said Lin Jianlong, vice-president of the China Sewing Machinery Association.

The China International Sewing Machinery & Accessories Show, which is being held from Sept 27 to 30, features products and equipment from a wide variety of global textile equipment manufacturers. Ten German textile equipment companies have their own pavilion dedicated to exhibiting their wares.

"China is our most important export destination, as its textile industry is in a leading position," said Ewlgar Straub, president of the German Engineering Federation (VDMA).

"We hope our high-quality and high-tech equipment will help our Chinese customers to produce the best industrial textiles," said Guenter Veit, vice-president of the VDMA.

The potential value of China's industrial textile market is expected to reach 1 trillion yuan ($156.74 billion) in the future, according to the China National Textile Industry Council.

The industrial textile market has posted an annual growth of more than 18 percent over the last two years. In 2009, output of domestic industrial textile products totaled 7.23 million metric tons, valued at about 240 billion yuan.