Industry News
2025 State of the Industry Report for Advanced Textiles
Rising costs are top concerns, including inflation and tariffs; companies’ plans include diversification and R&D investments.
The fact that a survey captures a moment in time was never more apparent. The Advanced Textiles Association’s (ATA’s) annual State of the Industry survey took place during the late February and early March period, when proposed tariff rules were changing daily, in addition to other policies. The uncertainty created by that tumult was evident in the concerns and comments people listed in their entries. More than a third of survey respondents cited “tariffs/exclusions” as an issue affecting their business.
The annual survey asks people’s opinion about 21 different issues. The top worries remain fairly consistent year to year, so any notable changes are noteworthy. This year, tariffs have emerged as a new concern among the top six.The questions concern business demographics, revenue forecasts, issues affecting companies, and their plans for the future. Roy Chism, board chairman of the Chism Co., San Antonio, Texas, and Advanced Textiles Association board chairman, noted that the survey responses overall show how the industry’s businesses fit into the larger economy: “ATA’s diverse membership, end products and markets served mirror the economy—up overall, some markets more than others, with some segments flat, all facing both labor and inflation/expense challenges while remaining guarded about the potential of uncontrollable events.”
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