CIRFS KEY FACTS ABOUT THE MAN-MADE FIBRES INDUSTRY IN EUROPE (2012)* Turnover 10.2 billion. Production volume 4.6 million tonnes **

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1 CIRFS CIRFS - the International Rayon and Synthetic Fibres Committee - is the representative body for the European man-made fibres industry. It has member companies in Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom. It also has associate members in Japan and a group of major international raw material supplier associates. Its members account for ca. 85% 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 (2012)* Turnover 10.2 billion Production volume 4.6 million tonnes ** Investment 1.1 billion (over the last 5 years) Innovation 1.0 billion (over the last 5 years) Employment 21,000 * Including Turkey, excluding Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova ** including spunlaid, monofilament, polyethylene

2 The Industry s Products Man-made fibres account for 82 % of all textiles fibres processed in Europe. The principal enduses 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, hygiene products, 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, flame retardancy, 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 mechanically spun into yarn or incorporated in unspun uses such as fillings or non-wovens. Synthetic fibres - polyester, polyamide and acrylic, for example - are mainly 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, and e.g. polyamide fishing nets are recycled into caprolactam that can be used again in PA fibres. Cellulosic fibres viscose (rayon), 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 car or aircraft fuel saving and windmills.. 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:

3 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 68 countries are covered in total. 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 Standardization 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; REACH- registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances; research management issues, including cooperative research programmes. CIRFS is a sponsor of the International Man-made Fibres Congress, held annually in Dornbirn (Austria). 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:

4 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; gathering of data on individual man-made fibres produced in Europe and market analysis and forecasts; 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 such as technical textiles and fibre developments in the world and Asia in particular. 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 Enterprise, Trade, Competition, Environment and Clima. 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.

5 Contacts with related organizations and bodies CIRFS maintains close and regular contacts with bodies dealing with related issues, including: BISFA - International Bureau for the Standardization of Man-Made Fibres Dornbirn Man-Made Fibres Congress EATP - European Association for Textile Polyolefins (currently being integrated into CIRFS) EURATEX - European Apparel & Textile Organisation (CIRFS is a full member) CEFIC - European Chemical Industry Council (CIRFS is an affiliated member) BusinessEurope (CIRFS is regularly consulted) ABRAFAS - Brazilian Man-Made Fibres Producers Association AFMA - American Fiber Manufacturers' Association ANIQ - National Association of the Chemical Industry - Mexico AIUFFASS - International Association of Users of Artificial and Synthetic Filament Yarns and of Natural Silk APSyFI - Indonesian Synthetic Fiber Makers Association ASFI - Association of Synthetic Fibre Industry, India

6 CCFA - China Chemical Fibers Association Edana - the European Nonwovens Associations Eurocord Eurocoton ICAC - International Cotton Advisory Committee IWTO - International Wool Textile Organisation Japan Carbon Fiber Manufacturers Association JCFA - Japan Chemical Fibres Association KCFA - Korean Chemical Fibres Association NCTO - National Council of Textile Organisation PlasticsEurope - Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe TMMFIA - Taiwan Man-made Fiber Industries Association TSMA - Thai Synthetic Fiber Manufacturers' Association

7 Members of CIRFS List of all CIRFS members is available on the CIRFS website: Contact Points of CIRFS President Giulio Bonazzi CEO of Aquafil Director General Frédéric Van Houte Tel. 32/ Statistics Catherine Wagneur Tel. 32/ Candide Dufloucq Tel. 32/ Technical/Environmental Bernard Defraye Tel. 32/ Economic Analysis Paul Fournier Tel. 32/ Finance/HR, Micheline Verboven Tel.32/ & Administration Management Assistant Natasja Faelens Tel.32/ Assistant Anna Stein-Dulat Tel.32/

8 Publications 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 World Markets for Technical Textiles to 2017 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) EN English version November 2013