According to the statistics of China Textile Machinery Association, the number of flat knitting machines in the first three quarters of 2016 is about 90,000. According to customs statistics, the export value of flat knitting machine industry in China was 152 million US dollars in the same period, an increase of 14.1% over the same period.
In the first three quarters of 2016, the number of outlets of large and small circular weft machines in China was about 17,000. In the same period, the export value of large and small circular weft machines in China was 162 million US dollars, an increase of 18.6% compared with the same period last year. Benefiting from the investment and construction of textile enterprises in Southeast Asia in Taiwan and mainland China, the export amount of circular weft machines in the first three quarters increased steadily year on year.
In the first three quarters of 2016, the knitting machinery industry generally ran smoothly. Influenced by different market demands, the performances of three main types of flat knitting machine, circular weft knitting machine and warp knitting machine are quite different: the production and marketing of flat knitting machine industry are booming, the market performance of circular weft knitting machine is general, and warp knitting machine is still facing greater downward pressure.
The flat knitting machine industry continued its good momentum in the first half of the year. Compared with the same period last year, the overall market situation has improved significantly.
The circular weft machine industry warmed up in the third quarter of 2016, and sales in the first three quarters were basically flat compared with the previous year. In the first half of 2016, domestic circular weft machines were greatly affected by the large-scale closure of printing and dyeing factories in Shaoxing. Sales of circular weft machines declined year-on-year and improved slightly in the third quarter. Sales models are mainly single-sided machine, computer jacquard circular weft machine performance is outstanding, while fine or thick gauge machine performance is better, although the market share of adjusting circular weft machine is small, the market performance is outstanding, pantyhose machine market gradually warmed up.
Warp knitting machine industry is facing greater downward pressure in 2016. In recent years, the knitting industry has been closely integrated with fashion industry, such as the wide application of lace, which has led to the rapid development of multi-bar warp knitting machine for several years. The large-scale popularity of women's underpants has led to a large demand for 8-inch circular weft knitting machine equipment. In 2017, along with consumers' further pursuit of individualization and the continuous development of fashion industry, the corresponding knitting machinery also has broad prospects for development.
The flat knitting machine market will continue its good momentum. On the one hand, the knitting speed and knitting pattern ability of the old computerized flat knitting machine in domestic sweater weaving enterprises can not meet the production demand, and a large number of equipment needs to be eliminated and updated; on the other hand, the production enterprises for knitting shoes have maintained a strong demand for flat knitting machine equipment.
At present, full-formed shoe upper machine is the trend of development of knitted shoe upper machine. It is expected that there will be room for further development in shoe material technology and materials in the future. It is noteworthy that domestic circular weft machine enterprises have begun to focus on the development of vamp circular weft machine, some enterprises have prototypes; benefiting from the rise of artificial fur and sports shoes, double needle bed and high-speed warp knitting machine will be expanded and extended; with the vigorous development of industrial knitting applications, users' demand for multi-axis warp knitting machine will continue to grow.
