Preliminary Findings from

the Primary Survey

Introduction
To understand the nature, engagement, and structure of three important pillars of technical textile industry in
India i.e. Product Manufacturing, Raw Material Manufacturing and Machine Manufacturing, a pan India survey
of technical textiles product manufacturing companies, machine manufacturing companies, and fibre, filament
& technical yarn manufacturing companies was carried out using a structured questionnaire. Purposive
sampling method was used to identify the sample for survey given the unequal representation of companies in
the twelve application segments of the industry. The objective was to have a fair and adequate representation
of companies in all the application segments. The sample derived from the purposive sampling strategy, which
is a nonprobability sampling method adopted in this study, is assumed as being representative of the
population. The following paragraphs present the preliminary findings from the survey for the three categories
of companies.

3.1 Technical Textile Product Manufacturing

Companies
This section captures the responses obtained from 93 technical textile product manufacturing companies
operating in various application segments in India.

3.1.1 Type of companies based on Ownership Structure

Out of 93 product manufacturing companies, 49% of the companies were Private Ltd, and 30% of them are
Public Ltd., 13% are Partnership firms and 7% are sole proprietorships.

Table 3.1 : Ownership Structure of Companies

Type of Company Percentage of

respondents
Private Limited 49
Public Limited 30
Partnership 13
Sole Proprietorship 7
Others 1
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Figure 3.1: Percentage distribution of companies based on Ownership

The following results were obtained about the distribution based on scale (MSMEs-Non MSMEs) and focus on
exports (Export Oriented Units EOU or non-EOU).

Medium scale MSMEs constitute 35% of the respondent companies and 28% are small enterprises, 20% of
the sample comprise Non-MSME national enterprises, while Non-MSME-Multinational enterprise constitutes a
small share of 5%.

Figure 3.2: Distribution of enterprises

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Figure 3.3: Distribution of enterprises in terms of export focus and scale of investment

Majority of enterprises are MSMEs and most of them cater to the domestic market. However, a small
percentage of the enterprises are export oriented units (EOUs). There is also a representation from the
category of Non-MSME Multinational enterprise whose exports account for 67% of the total. Even though the
export-oriented units are few in number, they are able to avail benefits such as procurement of raw materials
or capital goods on a duty-free basis, reimbursement of GST, etc.

3.1.2 Segment wise spread of the companies

Most of the respondent companies operate in more than one application segment of technical textiles, with
largest share of companies in Indutech, Meditech and Protech segments. The remaining segments are
represented at similar levels (between 17% to 19%) except Buildtech and Oekotech segments which have
13% and 8% representation in the sample. Most companies are involved in more than one role. Around 85%
are manufacturers, 36% are exporters, 17% are convertors and 14% are importers of technical textiles while
a few are also involved in testing services (2%).

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Figure 3.4: Distribution (number) of companies in the 12 application segments of technical textiles

Figure 3.5: Role of companies in the supply chain

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3.1.3 Consumers of technical textile products in India

Table 3.2 : Consumers of technical textiles in India

Sector Government Private Sector

sector
Agriculture 9 23
Automotive 5 28
Clothing 6 24
Construction 17 27
Environment 15 20
Healthcare 16 31
Packaging 7 19
Sports equipment 2 15

There are more number of technical textile producers who cited private sector organisations among their
consumers than those who have government organisations as their consumers. Among the private sector
consumers, there are more consumers of technical textile products in automotive, construction and healthcare
sectors and least in sports equipment. Among government customers, there are more number of consumers
in construction (Buildtech), healthcare (Meditech) and environment (Oekotech) segment.

3.1.4 Raw material consumption by technical textile product

manufacturing companies

Around 68% of the respondent organisations reported that they consume raw materials from sources within
the country whereas 32% of the respondents mentioned that they source the raw material from international
sources. Consumption of raw materials varies depending on the kind of products being manufactured and
multiple raw materials are used in every manufacturing companies. Normal Polyester is the most widely used
raw material and around 48% of the respondents reported that they do procure it as part of their raw
material. It is followed by Nylon (39%) and High tenacity polyester (37%). Rubber is consumed by a very
small percentage of respondents.

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Figure 3.6: Consumption of raw materials - domestic versus international market

Figure 3.7: Consumption of various types of raw materials

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3.1.5 Manufacturing processes used by technical textile product

manufacturing companies
The figure presented below depicts the percentage distribution of the processes being adopted by product
manufacturing companies in the technical textile industry. 

Figure 3.8: Manufacturing processes used by technical textile companies in India

Around 36% of technical textile companies use weaving and knitting as the main process for product
manufacturing. Majority of small and medium firms use simple and cost-effective processes like Coating,
stitching etc. as indicated in the ‘Others’ response. Other key processes are Yarn Manufacturing and Non-
woven having a share of 14% and 9% respectively while rest of the processes have limited use among the
respondent companies.

3.1.6 Procurement of Machineries by technical textile product

manufacturing companies
Figure 3.9: Percentage distribution of purchase of Machinery from domestic versus international market

Around 60% of the respondents from among technical textile product manufacturing companies mentioned
that they imported the machinery from overseas sources and a comparatively smaller percentage (39%) of
respondents sourced the machines from domestic market. Indian companies import the machinery mainly

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from China, Germany, and Taiwan, that comprise 31%, 19% and 10% of India’s imports in this category.
Respondents stated that there is an immediate need of targeted investment in domestic machine
manufacturing infrastructure to reduce various costs associated with the imports of machinery from abroad
and contribute towards making India’s technical textiles manufacturers more competitive.

Figure 3.10: Import of machinery by Indian technical textile product manufacturing companies from various countries
(Percentage share)

3.2 Fibre, filament and technical yarn

manufacturing companies
This section presents some of the initial findings from the responses received from fibre, filament and
technical yarn (raw material) manufacturing companies who supply these raw materials to technical textiles
product manufacturing companies in India.

3.2.1 Types and forms of fibre, filament and technical yarn produced
by Indian raw material manufacturing firms
The respondent companies manufacture and supply various types of fibre, filament or technical yarn to the
textile industry in general and also to the technical textile industry in particular. Various types of such material
(Polyester-based, Acrylic-based, and others) manufactured by these companies is presented in the following
table.

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Table 3.3: Type and forms of Fibre, Filament or Technical yarn manufactured

Type of Fibre, Filament or Form of Fibre, Filament or Technical Yarn

Technical Yarn Type manufactured

Polyester-based ● Polyester Staple fibre

o Solid Hollow and Dyed
o Reinforcement fibre
o Polypropylene fibre
o PET Flakes/PET Chips/Nonwoven Fire retardant
o Anti-bacterial
o Polypropylene Stable fibre
o Spun bound Nonwoven
o Coated Textile
● Polyester Industrial Filament Yarn
● PBT

Acrylic-based ● Staple Fibre

o Tow
o Yarn
o TOPS

Others ● Mono-filaments and multi-filaments of Nylon6 and Nylon66

● HDPE
● Co polyamides
Source: Primary Survey by IIT Delhi

Majority of the raw material manufacturers in India manufacture polyester-based raw materials; within that,
staple fibre and filament yarn are the most prominent material. Half of polyester-based manufacturers also
produce polypropylene staple fibre. In case of acrylic-based material, majority of the companies produce
staple fibre in the form of yarn, TOPS and Tow. Some manufacturers also produce mono-filaments and multi-
filament yarn of Nylon along with HDPE and Co-polyamides.

3.2.2 Supply of raw material in the domestic and global markets

To ascertain the share of raw materials supplied to the technical textile sector, the information presented in
the table below gives particulars of supply, divided between domestic and global market.

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Table 3.4: Supply of raw materials to technical textiles industry by raw material manufacturers

Percentage of raw material supplied to technical Percentage of raw material supplied to technical
textile industry in India textile industry abroad (Exported)

2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20

75-81% 60-70% 50-80% 19-25% 20-40% 20-50%

Source: Primary Survey by IIT Delhi

Over 75% of Polyester-based raw material manufacturers supply in the domestic market as well as export it to
overseas markets. Primary export destinations are Europe and USA. Manufacturers who produce HDPE
monofilaments cater mostly to the domestic demand. Based on the responses received, it can be stated that
in 2019-20 the raw material manufacturers sold 50-80% of the raw material to technical textiles industry in
India, and exported 20-50%. The share of exports in total sales has been on an increase from 2017 to 2019.

3.2.3 Segment-wise raw material supplied by raw material

manufacturers in India
The supply of raw material to different segments of technical textiles in India by the respondent companies is
presented in the following table:

Table 3.5: Segment-wise raw materials supplied by raw material manufacturers in India

Segment Raw Material

Agrotech Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre/ Polypropylene Staple Fibre

Nylon6, Co polyamides, Polyester and HDPE monofilament and Nylon6 multifilament, and
twines

Buildtech HDPE monofilaments

Polyester Industrial Filament Yarn

Clothtech Polyester Staple fibre, PP Fibre

Geotech Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre/ Polypropylene Staple Fibre

Polyester Industrial Filament Yarn

Hometech Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre/ Polypropylene Staple Fibre

Indutech Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre/ Polypropylene Staple Fibre

Polyester Industrial Filament Yarn

Meditech Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre/ Polypropylene Staple Fibre

Nylon6 and 66, Polyester, PP, HDPE, PBT Monofilaments, and Nylon6 and 66 Multifilament

Packtech Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre/ Polypropylene Staple Fibre

Mobiltech Recycled Polyester Staple Fibre/ Polypropylene Staple Fibre

Nylon6, Nylon66 and PP monofilaments
Source: Primary Survey by IIT Delhi

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3.2.4 Import of raw material from outside India to produce Fibre,

Filament, or Technical Yarn
The analysis of the scenario of raw material imports by the manufacturers of Fibre, Filament and technical
yarn in India indicates that materials like SMBS, DMF, Titanium Oxide, VAM, CAN (Acrylic-based) are sourced
from Europe, US and China. Because there is a poor availability of these materials in India, especially SMBS,
DMF and Titanium oxide, the incentives offered by countries such as Singapore for raw materials like VAM and
CAN make it lucrative for Indian importers to import from them. Raw material manufacturers mainly import
Polyester (PET) lumps/chips/flakes and granules from Europe, USA, Nigeria, Poland, Saudi Arabia and France.
Other type of fibres, like Pa66 and Co-polyamides, are also imported from USA and Europe.

Table 3.6: Import of raw material by Fibre, Filament, and Technical Yarn manufacturers in
India

Type of fibre Raw material imported Country from where Reasons for import
raw material
imported

SMBS Germany, Thailand, Turkey

DMF Saudi Arabia, China,

Europe (Germany) Limited manufacturing of
these raw materials in
Acrylic Titanium Dioxide Germany India

VAM Singapore, Korea, US,

China, Saudi Arabia Benefits in terms of duty
fees on import
ACN Korea, USA, Europe,
Singapore, China, Brazil

PET lumps/chips USA, Europe, Nigeria,

Polyester Poland, Saudi Arabia,
France
Not available
Polyester Granules Europe

Pa66 granules USA, Europe

Others
Co-polyamides granules Europe

3.3 Technical Textile Machine Manufacturing

Companies
The following paragraphs present the initial findings from the responses received from the machine
manufacturing companies who supply machinery to the technical textile product manufacturers in India. The
analysis is based on responses received from 12 companies.

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3.3.1 Categorisation of technical textile machinery manufacturing

companies

Table 3.7: Categorisation of machinery manufacturers

Machinery/ Importer of Manufacturer International International
Manufacturer
machinery machinery/ and exporter of agent of branch of
of Machinery/ components machinery machinery/ machine machine
machinery assembler components machinery manufacturer manufacturer
components
components
58% 50% 42% 50% 25% 58%

Most of the respondent companies are either machine or component manufacturers in technical textiles with
an equal representation from subsidiaries/partners of international machine manufacturing companies. Almost
half of the respondents are engaged in assembling and export of the machinery components. A very small
proportion of the respondent companies are agents of international machine manufacturers.

3.3.2 Supply of machineries to various segments of technical textiles

in India
Manufacturing companies supply machines for all the application segments of technical textiles but as the
machine usage differs in each segment, so are the requirements. From the figure below, it can be observed
that the respondent companies are catering to all the twelve segments. Indutech, Hometech and Geotech are
the three largest application segments of the respondent companies followed by Sporttech and Meditech.

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Figure 3.11: Use of machineries (Segment wise breakup)

3.3.3 Import of Machinery

Technical textile machine manufacturing is at a very limited scale in India. This is corroborated by the fact
that most of the respondent companies import machines/machinery components from outside India
(Germany-33%, Japan- 25%, Italy- 25%, China- 25%) and also from Switzerland and Belgium. The details of
these imports are presented in the following table:

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Table 3.8: Imports of Machineries/ Components by machinery manufacturers in India

Companies Machinery/machinery components exported Incentives/benefits

Name of the importing associated
Country from the
country (%)

Germany 33% ● Felting Needles Jet Strips Weaving Accessories ● Precise drive
Weaving Pep machines, Knitting Needles Sewing controls leading to
Needles Tufting Components Card Wire improved machine
● Truetzschler Nonwovens Gmbh performance.
● BICMA Hygiene Technologie Gmbh ● At present, no
● Karl Mayer Technische Textilien incentive associated
● Complete lines and individual machines for making (no economic
high quality nonwovens from staple fibres through motivation)
needle punch process, hydroentanglement process,
thermobond and chemical bond process (partly with
partners)
● Servo Motor, Drive, PLC

Japan 25% ● Tsudakoma crop ● CEPA Certificate

● TMT machinery Fob zero import
● pneumatics duty
● Reliability of
product
performance

Italy 25% ● Air texturising ● Higher process

● Gear Box flexibility
● Proven product

China 25% ● Non-woven ● Cheap Rates

● Rasal
● Ultrasonic and other components

Switzerland 8% ● Blowroom,Web card ● State of the art

● Heavy duty winders,Air covering,NW card clothing technology
● 1.5 meter width

Belgium 8% NA NA

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