Synthetic textile is made from either inorganic products or its combination with organic fibers. It can have superior properties compared to natural fibers such as cotton or silk.
One example of a synthetic textile is polyester, which is a petroleum-based polymer. It can be blended with natural fibers such as cotton or wool or with artificial ones to make the fabric more durable. It can be used in clothing, upholstery, floor coverings and insulation.
Per capita consumption of polyester in Iran is as little as 2.5 kilograms compared to 3.1 kg in China, 6 to 9 kg in the US, Japan and western Europe, Forsat-e Emrooz daily reports.
In fact, domestic production of synthetic fibers fails to meet the local demand and fibers such as nylon, polyvinyl chloride and polyolefin are mostly imported. In terms of weight, acrylic, polyester and jute are top imports.
While the most popular synthetic fiber in Iran is polyester, jute also forms a big component of machine-made carpets. Polyester, acrylic and cotton are in high demand in Iran.
Imports of cotton are insignificant and a part of it is used in hand-woven carpets. The fact of the matter is that the price and quality of cotton play an important role in the level of its consumption. Nylon is mostly imported for tire production.
From the national perspective, polyester is a strategic commodity for the textile and petrochemical industries, but currently more than half of the country’s need is met through imports. In fact, synthetic thread and fibers are among major imported commodities in Iran.
The export of fabric is a meager 10% of total textile exports in Iran, which has resulted in a very high negative trade balance in the fabric industry.
Iran’s share of world’s synthetic fabric consumption is insignificant; acrylic, nylon and polyester consumption comprises 5%, 0.9% and 0.8% of their global consumption respectively.
Investment in polyester industry will help meet the domestic need, reduce imports and complete the textile production chain. It is a labor- and capital-intensive industry.
The investor should approach the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade for setting up a factory for synthetic textile production.
