The world fiber market has enjoyed growth almost along every single segment.
While the use of cotton, wool and silk increased by 4.7% to 27.9 million tonnes, manmade fibers rose by 3.4% to 40.8 million tonnes.
The cellulosic fiber market showed the strongest growth rate in relative terms with an increase of 5.6% to 3.4 million tonnes. This favorable development was predominantly linked to viscose staple fibers. The synthetic fiber segment produced a 3.2% higher output, mainly stimulated by 6.5% surging output of polyester filament yarns. Manmade staple fibers remained at the nearly unchanged level of 15.4 million tonnes while filament yarns grew 5.1% by 1.1 million tones.

The publication “The Fiber Year 2006/07” can be ordered – free of charge – in electronic form (pdf format) by sending your request to:
Andreas Engelhardt  a.engelhardt@saurerarbon.com

Oerlikon (SWX: OERL) is among the world's most successful industrial high-tech companies focusing on machine and systems engineering. Oerlikon stands for leading industrial solutions and cutting-edge technology in textile production, thin film coating, propulsion, precision and vacuum technology. As a company with Swiss roots and a 100-year tradition, Oerlikon, with CHF 4.8 billion* in sales, over 19,000 employees at 170 locations in 35 countries, has evolved into a global player today. The group is ranked first or second in each of its respective markets. Oerlikon's share price trebled in 2006 and its market capitalization exceeded the CHF 8.5 billion mark, which led to the company's inclusion in the European STOXX 600 index. Oerlikon was the best performing stock of the year 2006.