Textile solutions - strong market position in Asia and acquisitions to strengthen product portfolio

摘要

In Textile Solutions the order intake for 2005, EUR 1 067m, was below the high level of the previous year (EUR 1 306m, -18%). The main reason for this was the decline in demand from China, principally for major projects for filament installations, texturing and synthetic staple fibers - a decline which first became apparent in the second half of 2004. Sales for the year were EUR 1173m, 3% below the previous year's sales of EUR 1 209m. Chinese customers' uncertainty in reaction to the trade disputes surrounding textile imports in the first half of 2005, together with the high investment levels of earlier years and the government's attempts to restrain the economy (soft landing), all had a bad effect on investment in textile machinery.