Polyester yarn units in spread mode

India likely to take on China's 20 lakh tonne per annum industry in the next five years

Several manufacturers of synthetic fibres in the state have set up new units or enhanced capacities at the existing units in the recent past.

Production capacity for partially oriented yarn (POY)in the country is expected to grow to 15 lakh tonne by March 2005 from around 12 lakh tonne per annum at present.

Such is the magnitude of the expansion in the domestic polymer industry that India is likely to take on China's 20 lakh tonne per annum industry in the next five years.

Reliance Industries is building additional capacity by investing in its polyester staple fibre and polyester filament yarn plants at Hazira and at Patalganga in Maharashtra.

Several polyester texturising units have recently imported second-hand POY plants from China and Korea.

Some of the units to set up POY planst are Ramkrishana Filaments, Gokul Anand and Afris Garden Silk. Others such as Gupta Synthetics, Orange Petrochemicals and Sabnam Polyesters also have similar plans.

The expansion is essentially owing to the surge in demand for such fibres.

Synthetic fibres are preferred as they are easier to maintain.

The government has also recently cut customs duties on polymers "" an input for the manufacture of synthetic fibres "" by five per cent. Moreover, prices of natural fibres have shot up in the last few years.

"With the growing demand for synthetic filaments and more and more texturised machines being set up in Gujarat, Maharashtra and surrounding areas, the Indian textile industry has seen a phenomenal growth and demand for POY," said Chandan Chatterjee, general manager, technology and projects, Industrial Extention Bureau (Indextb), a Gujarat government enterprise said.

The finally texturised and twisted POY is used for suitings, shirtings, ladies garments, sarees, upholstery, causal wear amongst others, giving a cotton type look and feel.

The surge in demand for polyester fabric is not limited to the domestic market. India exported 91.15 million kg of PFY in 2002-2003 against 1.73 million kg in 1990-1991.

In 2003-2004, India exported polyster filament fabric worth Rs 2390 crore, which is 16 per cent higher than that of the previous year. While there is a significant growth in the polyster filament production in the country, nylon and other filament yarns are loosing ground.