German textile machinery manufacturers saw their machinery and accessory exports increase by 15.5 percent in the first half of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006, to total 1.9 billion euros (US$2.703 billion) and comprise 95 percent of all German machinery exports, according to a recent report from the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) Textile Machinery Association.

“Being the export world champion for over 50 years, the German textile machinery business performed extremely well in the first half of the ITMA year 2007,” said Thomas Waldmann, managing director, VDMA Textile Machinery Association.

Spinning machinery topped the list of textile machinery export increases for the period, with a rise of 39 percent to 776 million euros ($1.104 billion); followed by weaving machinery, up 19.3 percent to 191 million euros ($272 million). Knitting, hosiery and like machinery exports rose to 639 million euros ($909 million); and finishing machinery including washing, bleaching and dyeing totaled 292 million euros ($416 million).

China was the top customer for German textile machinery, representing 25 percent of the export market and 477 million euros ($679 million) in value; followed by Turkey, 172 million euros ($245 million) — a 63-percent increase from the year-earlier period; India, 154 million euros ($219 million); Italy, 97 million euros ($138 million): and the United States, 91 million euros ($130 million).

VDMA also reported that more than 330 German companies exhibited in 30,000 square meters of space at ITMA 2007 in Munich, Germany, last month. This was a significant increase over the German presence at ITMA 2003 in Birmingham, England, where 232 companies exhibited their products and services.