CIRFS

CIRFS - the European Man-made Fibres Association - is the representative body for
the European man-made fibres industry. It has member companies in Austria,
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom. It also has associate members in Belarus, Israel,
Japan and South Africa, and a group of major international raw material supplier
associates.

Its members account for over 90% of European production of the main fibres
within the scope of CIRFS - polyester, polyamide, acrylic, viscose, acetate, elastane
and aramid.

KEY FACTS ABOUT THE MAN-MADE FIBRES INDUSTRY

IN EUROPE (2008)

Turnover 11.7 billion

Production volume 3.7 million tonnes

Investment 260 million

R & D Expenditure 200 million

Employment 27,000

Including Turkey, excluding Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova

European Man-made Fibres Association, Avenue E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 6, B-1160 Brussels

Tel.: +32 2 676 7455 Fax: +32 2 676 7454 E-mail: info@cirfs.org, www. cirfs.org
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The Industry's Products

Man-made fibres account for 75% of all textiles processed in Western Europe. The
principal end-uses are in clothing, carpets, household textiles and a wide range of
technical products - tyres, conveyor belts, fillings for sleeping bags and cold-weather
clothing, filters for improving the quality of air and water in the environment, fire-
resistant materials, reinforcement in composites used for advanced aircraft
production, and much else. Fibres are precisely engineered to give the right
combination of qualities required for the end-use in question: appearance, handle,
strength, durability, stretch, stability, warmth, protection, easy care, breathability,
moisture absorption and value for money, for example. In many cases, they are used
in blends with natural fibres such as cotton and wool.

Man-made fibres come in two main forms : continuous filament, used for weaving,
knitting or carpet production ; and staple, discontinuous lengths of fibre which can be
spun into yarn or incorporated in unspun uses such as fillings or non-wovens.

Synthetic fibres - polyester, polyamide and acrylic, for example - are oil or gas - based;
their characteristics of durability and of low energy usage during treatment and use
are positive environmental features. An increasing proportion of polyester fibres are
made from recycled PET bottles. Cellulosic fibres - viscose, for example - are made
from renewable raw materials such as wood, drawn from regularly replanted forests.
Huge amounts of investment are taking place to reduce further any possible ecological
impact of the industry's processes, and the industry's products are essential to many
environmental improvement programmes such as reduction of air emissions from
power stations. Recycling of man-made fibre products - both re-use and mechanical,
feedstock and thermal recycling (to produce heat and power) - is steadily increasing.

Further information is found on the CIRFS website: www.cirfs.org.

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The Work of CIRFS

CIRFS is active in all areas of common concern to its member companies.

In statistics, it has an extensive data collection and analysis system, providing essential
market information for its members on the level of production, deliveries and stocks
in the man-made fibres industry in Europe. It analyses import and export data for
these countries and also for customer and competitor countries over 65 countries
are covered in total. A unique study is made, on an annual basis, of end-uses of fibre
production and the fibre composition of textile products consumed in the European
Union. CIRFS publishes, every year, a Statistical Yearbook. It also provides members
with available data on production trends for man-made fibres in countries outside
Europe.

In the field of technology and the environment, CIRFS provides an essential forum for
exchange of information and agreement on common initiatives. Issues covered
include:

co-operation with ISO, CEN and the European Union on development of new
standards affecting man-made fibre products, including those relating to
burning behaviour of textile products

maintenance and development of industry standards for use in contracts,

through BISFA (the International Bureau for the Standardisation of Man-
Made Fibres)

ecological issues related to clean manufacturing, health and safety and life
cycle analysis

an important contribution to European textile industry work on the

environment, for example in waste management and in finding criteria for
eco-labelling of products.
research management issues, including cooperative research programmes.

CIRFS is a sponsor of the International Man-made Fibres Congress, held annually in

Dornbirn (Austria).
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In the area of economic analysis, CIRFS closely monitors economic developments

which may affect the industry. It provides information and guidance to members on
the possible effects, and prepares papers for use in contacts with the European Union
and national governments. Specific areas of involvement include:

analysis of developments in European Union trade and, when necessary,

preparation and submission of cases on dumping, subsidies or illicit trade
barriers

monitoring of developments affecting the internal market in the European

Union including in particular the risk of distortion of competition through
government subsidies and through technical barriers to trade

analysis of the general economic background, including exchange rate

movements and price movements of competing natural fibres

preparation of regular technical and market studies on questions of concern

to CIRFS membership technical textiles and fibre developments in China.

In relations with the European Union authorities, CIRFS maintains regular contact
with the European Commission at all levels, from Commissioners downwards, and
particularly with Directorates General Trade, Enterprise and Competition. Major
issues covered include:

Defence of CIRFS members' interests against dumping, subsidies and breaches

of international trading arrangements.

Provision of information and advice to the European Commission on EU trade

policies, notably during the course of international negotiations and preferential
trading agreements with EU associate countries. Support for strict control of
state aid.

Involvement in a wide variety of issues affecting the industry and the industries
which use its products.

CIRFS publishes a quarterly Activity Report to keep its members fully informed of its
activities.
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Contacts with Other Bodies

CIRFS maintains close and regular contacts with bodies dealing with related issues,
including:

the national man-made fibre associations in Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey

EATP ( the European Association for Textile Polyolefins)

EURATEX (the representative body for the EU textile and apparel industries)

Business Europe

AIUFFASS (the European association representing filament weavers and

independent texturisers)

EUROCOTON (the European association for spinning and weaving of staple

fibres)

CEFIC (the European Chemical Industry Council)

CIPCEL (the International Cellulose Film Committee)

Plastics Europe

AFMA (American Fiber Manufacturers' Association)

JCFA (Japan Chemical Fibres Association)

CCFA (China Chemical Fibers Association)

Fibre association in Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, Taiwan and
Thailand
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Members

The following groups are members of CIRFS :

Advansa (Germany, Turkey)

Aksa (Turkey)
Aquafil (Italy, Slovenia)
Cordenka (Germany)
Dralon (Germany)
Dow Fiber Solutions (Spain)
DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems (Spain, UK)
Enka (Germany)
Fidion (Italy)
Fisipe (Portugal)
Glanzstoff-Bohemia (Czech Republic)
Greenfiber International (Romania)
Hyosung (Turkey)
Inacsa (Spain)
Kelheim Fibres (Germany)
Kordarna (Czech Republic)
Kordsa (Turkey)
Korelita (Lithuania)
Korteks (Turkey)
Kuitu (Finland)
Lenzing (Austria, UK)
Montefibre (Italy, Spain)
Nexis Fibers (Germany, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland)
Performance Fibers (France, Germany)
Polyamide High Performance (Germany)
Polyteks (Turkey)
Radicifibres (Italy, Romania, Switzerland)
Rhodia (France)
Silon (Czech Republic)
Sinterama (Italy)
Sniace (Spain)
Teijin Aramid (Netherlands)
Tergal Industries (France)
Trevira (Belgium, Denmark, Germany)
TWD Fibres (Germany)
Wellman International (Ireland)
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The following national associations are associated with the work of CIRFS :

Assofibre (Italy)
IVC (Industrievereinigung Chemiefaser) (Germany)
Profibra (Spain)
SUSEB (Turkey)

Officers

President Andreas Eule Cordenka

Contact Points

Director General Colin Purvis Tel : 32/2.676.7460

e-mail: pur@cirfs.org

Statistics Bernard Bruyre Tel : 32/2.676.7464

e-mail: bru@cirfs.org

Catherine Wagneur Tel : 32/2.676.7450

e-mail: wag@cirfs.org

Candide Dufloucq Tel : 32/2.676.7462

e-mail: duf@cirfs.org

Technical/Environmental Bernard Defraye Tel : 32/2.676.7468

e-mail: def@cirfs.org

Economic Analysis David Morris Tel: 32/2.676.7466

e-mail: mor@cirfs.org

Finance / Administration Micheline Verboven Tel : 32/2.676.7458

e-mail : ver@cirfs.org

Secretariat Meetings and Tel : 32/2.676.7455

Organization e-mail: secretariat@cirfs.org
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Publications

CIRFS Statistical Yearbook

BISFA Terminology Relating to Man-made Fibres
BISFA Technical Reference Document on Commercial Mass
BISFA Policy on Generic Fibre Names
Guidelines for inter-laboratory tests

BISFA Methods for Testing Fibres:

Polyamide filament yarns

Polyester filament yarns
Viscose, modal, cupro, lyocell, acetate and triacetate, staple fibres and tows
Steel tyre cords
Acrylic staple fibres
Textured filament yarns
Nylon staple fibres
Polyester staple fibres
Viscose, cupro, acetate, triacetate and lyocell filament yarns
Polypropylene staple fibres
Textile glass filament yarns
Bare elastane yarns
Organic Man-made Fibres with Anti-Bacterial activity
Para-Aramid Filament Yarns
Polyamide BCF (Bulk Continuous Filament Yarns)

Available from CIRFS / BISFA on request.

World Markets for Technica Textiles to 2012

World Markets for Nonwovens and other Unspun Products to 2010
World Markets for Textured Yarn to 2010*
Natural and Man-made Fibres in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to 2010
World Markets for Interior Textiles to 2012
India: the Market for Natural and Man-Made Fibres, Textiles and Textiles
Manufacturers: Forecasts to 2012

Available from:
International Newsletters Ltd Tel. 44/870 165 7210
9 A, Victoria Square Fax 44/870 165 7212
Droitwich email: sales@intnews.com
Worcs, WR9 8DG (UK)
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World Markets for Spun Yarns : Forecasts to 2010

World Markets for Knitted Textiles and Apparel: Forecasts to 2010
World Markets for Woven Textiles and Apparel: Forecasts to 2010

Available from :
Textiles Intelligence Ltd. Tel. 44/1625.536.136
International Subscriptions Fax 44/1625.536.137
10 Beech Lane
Wilmslow, SK9 5ER e-mail: info@textilesintelligence.com
UK