Taipei textile show generates NT$1.9 billion in business opportunities

台北紡織展創造新台幣19億元商機

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s textile industry generated an estimated NT$1.9 billion (US$60 million) in business opportunities at this year’s Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show, CTEE reported.

The three-day exhibition, which concluded Thursday, featured 410 exhibitors from 12 countries. The event included 977 booths and attracted approximately 30,405 buyer visits.

Sustainability, functional applications, and smart manufacturing were key themes. Exhibitors displayed recycled materials, high-performance textiles, and AI-assisted production technologies.

Textile manufacturers are expanding their use of recycled and alternative raw materials, including discarded fishing nets and agricultural waste, alongside recycled plastic bottles. The industry is also developing textile-to-textile recycling methods and single-material products to improve recyclability.

Companies are expanding the use of functional textiles beyond sportswear and outdoor gear. Specialized markets, including protective equipment, medical products, military and police gear, and aerospace applications, are creating new opportunities for high-performance materials.

Meanwhile, AI and digital technologies are increasingly being used for fabric inspection, quality prediction, and production planning. They help manufacturers improve quality control and streamline production processes.

To mark the exhibition’s 30th anniversary, a special showcase featured more than 500 innovative fabrics, accessories, and yarns. It highlighted Taiwan’s latest advances in performance textiles, sustainable materials, and lower-impact production methods.

Major Taiwanese textile companies expressed optimism about the industry’s outlook for next year. Tainan Spinning Co. Chair Hou Po-ming (侯博明) said the industry faced US tariffs and low-priced imports last year. Textile companies responded by cutting excess capacity, adjusting their product mix, and diversifying their businesses, according to CTEE.

Lealea Group Chair James Kuo (郭紹儀) said the industry had adjusted to the difficulties. He expects the business environment to be more stable and favorable next year, although uncertainties remain.