ABSTRACT

The share of chemical fibres in total fibre consumption is a little higher; the difference is due to exports of natural fibres and imports of chemical fibres. Like natural fibres, chemical fibres are composed of long thread-like molecules. Depending on the raw material, chemical fibres can be classified into two groups: cellulosic and synthetic fibres. The chapter gives brief account of the development of the industry in Brazil. It describes the production process in some detail and analyses the employment practices of firms operating in Brazil. Even though Brazil is a major producer of natural fibres – mainly cotton, man-made fibres have increasingly gained ground, particularly since the 1960. Production in Brazil of man-made cellulosic fibres began in 1931 and of synthetic fibres in 1955. Man-made cellulose fibres are manufactured from naturally formed materials whose molecules are merely rearranged.