Catalan textile companies are facing higher raw material and energy costs after the war in Iran, according to Texfor, the Textile Industry Confederation. The group says the pressure is being felt across Catalonia, and that firms cannot fully pass the increases on to customers without losing ground to foreign competitors.
Texfor says it represents 75% to 80% of textile firms in Catalonia and Valencia. The organisation is asking public administrations to act, including through tax reductions similar to those applied to petrol, and by giving more weight to local public procurement.
Jaume Balaguer, Texfor’s president, told the Catalan News Agency that polyester, an oil derivative, has risen by 50% in a few months. He said production costs are also linked to energy use, and described the increases as very significant.
Other materials have also become more expensive. Texfor says polyamide is up 30%, wool is up between 10% and 20%, and some basic chemical products used for dyeing and finishing have risen by up to 100%. Special coated threads are 30% more expensive, bioceramic materials have risen by 23%, and carbon threads by 20%.
Balaguer said changing consumer habits, including more online shopping and greater globalisation, are adding pressure. He also pointed to higher gas prices. Finishing companies, which provide a service, often have to pass on some of the extra cost, but many producers avoid doing so in full because they do not want to damage their order books.
Texfor says public administrations and the market should be sensitive to the situation. The group also wants certification rules to recognise the quality, traceability and compliance of European companies without adding extra burdens, and it is calling for support to renew and modernise machinery. More Catalonia news