The decline, based on figures from ATMI annual year-end trade and economic report, is the second-highest in half a century. Textile mill and textile product mill employment fell to 428,000 workers at year-end 2003, a loss of 50,000 industry jobs from year-end 2002. .
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While 10 per cent of all textile jobs lost were at Kannapolis-based linen and towelling manufacturer Pillowtex Corp, the majority of losses were in the apparel sector which suffered an eight per cent year-on-year decline in shipments to $40 billion. .
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Nearly 50 textile mills shut their doors in 2003 ATMI said, adding that more than one out of every four textile jobs that existed in the United States just 36 months ago in January 2001 has now disappeared. .
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Meanwhile, shipments of non-apparel textiles such as carpets and industrial fabrics rose two per cent year-on-year to $35bn for the 12-month period. .
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“This so-called economic recovery, that has not extended to manufacturing, definitely has not extended to the textile industry,” ATMI spokesman Robert Dupree said. .
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“When you lose a tenth of your workforce in one year, there definitely has not been a turnaround.” .
ATMI president James W Chesnutt, National Spinning Co, said the year-end report highlights the fact that the US textile industry “will be in a fight for its survival in the coming year.” .
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He called on the Administration to negotiate an effective textile trade agreement with China and take punitive steps against China over its “illegally manipulated currency, its textile subsidies, tax rebates and other illegal trading practices. .
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“As for the Congress, it must reject the fatally flawed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) that was recently negotiated, and reject any attempts to expand preferential trade programs such as AGOA to the detriment of US textile producers and jobs.” .
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ATMI said imports from China rose by approximately 85 per cent last year, with China now supplying 19 percent of the US textile and apparel import market. .
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In apparel categories where China was removed from quota control, China gained a 55 per cent share of the market in less than two years and is now twice as large as the next largest supplier (Mexico).
Date:1/15/2004
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