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South Korean factories are operating in an export processing zone in Bangladesh. The zone has 25 factories. Nine new factories will go into operation this year. The plan is to reach a total of 100. Exports earnings of the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) are gaining momentum. Companies like Samsung and LG are interested in investing in the EPZ.
Out of the 25 factories, one is a shoe factory and the rest are for textiles. The zone offers some 20,000 direct jobs, which is expected to double by 2021. The target is to create 1,00,000 jobs. Indirect jobs will total 2,00,000.
Construction is underway for IT industries, a product research, design and development zone, and a female workers' dormitory. Other facilities in the making include a university building for 3,000 students, schools, colleges, hospitals and vocational institutions, all expected to be complete by 2021.
In the 2,492-acre zone 48 per cent of the area has been allotted for setting up factories and associated facilities while the rest are for gardens and lakes. This is Bangladesh’s largest private export processing zone. In 2009, it saw factories begin operations. Some of these are Karnaphuli Shoes, Karnaphuli Garments, Karnaphuli Polyester Products, Evertop Product Development Company, Gaya Product Development Company and Dei-Go Product Development Company.
Planet Textiles was held in Canada, May 22. Textile technology that can recycle discarded clothing to produce both petroleum and plant-based monomers, unique technology to improve the biodegradability of polyester, new textile dyes from biosynthetic and wood-based feedstocks and new ways to produce viscose fibers from food and beverage waste streams were just some of the innovations presented.
The event attracted delegates from Australia, China, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh as well as a heavy European contingent. Textile microfiber pollution featured strongly on the conference program delegates were taken through the development of a new standardised test method for textile microfiber release during washing. Intrinsic Textiles revealed a new process for breaking down polyester microfibers not only in wastewater treatment sludge, but also for breaking down these synthetic microfibers in seawater and other environments.
There were three packed breakout sessions on textile chemistry in water use, transparency in the manmade fiber sector in relation to deforestation, and how to leverage financing mechanisms to scale sustainable innovation in the apparel sector.
The goal for Planet Textiles is to help the textile industry find more harmonized sustainable solutions, as now more than ever, the industry—and the consumer—are calling for transparency and products to be made more sustainably.
European Union exports of circular knitting machines increased by 3.1 per cent in 2017 from 2016. Among EU countries, two continue to stand out in terms of knitting machine exports: Germany and Italy. While Italy is the leader in sock knitting machines, Germany leads in terms of circular knitting machines for apparel fabrics and other applications.
The European Union produces many of the world's finest and most advanced circular and hosiery knitting machines. Renowned international brands like Mayer & Cie. and Terrot continue to dominate large diameter machine sales, with small diameter specialist machine builders such as Harry Lucas also contributing.
Italy is the second largest exporter after Germany. In 2017, Italy had a 22.3 per cent share of EU circular knitting machine exports. Italian brands such as Santoni and Pilotelli (now owned by Terrot) continue to export globally. Turkey’s share was 18.3 per cent in 2017.
Italy is the largest exporter of sock knitting machines. Italy’s share of EU sock knitting machine exports in 2017 was 87.2 per cent, leading the world with internationally celebrated brands such as Lonati, Sangiacomo, Rumi, Busi Giovanni and Cesare Colosio. Turkey received 29 per cent of EU sock knitting machines exports in 2017 while China received 18.6 per cent.
Redress will organise ‘Design Award 2018’ the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition in September 2018 in Hongkong. The competition will enable finalist to present their collections created entirely from waste textiles to an international audience The company recently announced 11 finalists representing 11 different regions including Hong Kong, India and the UK.
The finalists sourced inspiration from a range of complex and topical issues such as climate change, war, gender identity, over-consumption and how the internet has altered our relationships with one another. These 11 emerging designers represent a new generation of socially and environmentally conscious individuals who are determined to make a difference through their actions. The designers embody a growing movement to bring textile waste back into fashion and take the circular economy mainstream.
All finalists will now create their five-piece collections from their homes in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Israel, Philippines, Japan, France, UK, Spain, Denmark and - a first for the competition - India and Australia. Their collections will soon be handed over to the competition’s logistics partner, UPS, who will expertly deliver them to Hong Kong in preparation for the Grand Final fashion show at HKTDC’s Centrestage fashion week onSeptember 6, where the winners will be announced in front of a 1000-strong audience and via global live stream.
Yarn Fabric & Accessories (YFA) show will be held in Ludhiana from August 30 to September 1. This is Ludhiana’s first ever exhibition of fibers, yarns, fabrics and accessories. It aims at redefining the way fiber, yarn, fabric and apparel accessories are sourced. It will bring renowned suppliers from these four segments closer to buyers and also offer buyers a one-stop place to source all their requirements.
The show is a gateway for companies to enter the attractive and lucrative north Indian market and grab a slice of the ever-growing market for textiles and apparels. It is taking place in a northern region of India, which is one of the biggest Indian hubs for manufacturing textiles and apparel.
For exhibitors to get full advantage during the course of the three-day show, the organizers have also planned several B2B meetings between exhibitors and visitors and have also invited business delegations from various parts of the country. Ludhiana and its surrounding area is the headquarters for several renowned Indian and global apparel brands and also home to thousands of knitting, spinning and weaving units as well as garment manufacturing units.
Exhibitors will have access to the most exclusive buyers ever seen in any other exhibition of this category.
Lenzing will expand capacities for Tencel Luxe filament yarn. Basic engineering for construction of the new facility has already been initiated. Luxe, Lenzing is currently positioning itself in the premium luxury market and is embedding the issue of sustainability there in combination with superior aesthetics, The fine filament yarn is comparable to natural silk due to its airy feeling on the skin and the matte finish. It is perfectly suited for very fine fabrics made exclusively from this yarn and as a blending partner with silk, cashmere and wool.
This yarn is made of the renewable raw material wood and is opening up new markets for the company in the eco-couture segment. The decision to construct a new line will serve as the basis for generating a three-fold increase in capacity compared to the previous volume. The additional capacity will be available to customers at the end of next year.
As Lenzing's flagship brand in the textile sector, Tencel will grow beyond fiber types and functional characteristics. It will become a true consumer-focused brand with a promise of something more functional and emotional.
Lenzing’s wood procurement policy is based on sustainability principles. Lenzing proactively supports the improvement of the condition and biodiversity of global forests. Lenzing fibers derived from sustainable forest management make a global contribution to climate protection.
The weakening of the rupiah against the US dollar (USD) is affecting business activities in Indonesia especially the Textile and Textile Products (TPT) industry.
According to the Secretary General of Indonesian Filament and Fiber Films Distribution Association (APSyFI) Redma, “it is getting worse after the Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) 64 years 2017 which caused the imports to increase by 19.6 percent compared to the exports performance in the first quarter of 2018. "The trade balance is still a surplus of USD1, 29 billion, but down compared with the same period the previous year," he further said.
Furthermore, after controlling the import of sales, the textile industry grew by 30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018. However, since Permendag 64/2017 took effect in the second quarter of 2018, demand from the domestic market was replaced by imported products Bonded Logistics Center (PLB).
"If Small Medium Enterprises (IKM) need raw materials, today we will see IKM products that are flooding the market, not imported products," he stated demanding Permendag 64/2017 to be revoked and returned to Permendag 85 / 2016 where the import of raw materials is regulated based on industry needs.
Rwanda is nurturing its garment sector. But domestic demand for locally produced clothes has been stifled by the ubiquity of cheap, secondhand garments imported from Europe and the United States.
Many factories are only running at 40 per cent capacity and secondhand garments, which can sell at well below production costs, are at least partly to blame.
In response, Rwanda increased tariffs on used clothing in July 2016.
These tariffs are now the center of a dispute between the US and Rwanda. If Rwanda continues to tax imported secondhand clothes, the country could lose some of its access to US markets for its exports.
Under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), qualifying African countries are granted duty-free access to the US market. The law which was passed in 2000 is credited for increasing Africa's export sector, with duty-free exports from the continent to the US market almost quadrupling since the law was enacted.
The US has warned Rwanda it would lose some benefits under the act, after Rwanda increased tariffs on secondhand clothes to support its local garment industry.
Selling America's used clothing — much of it donated to charities and the bulk of it originally made outside the United States — is a nearly billion dollar industry. Exports typically end up in poor nations. Africa is a key destination.
India’s 2017-18 cotton exports are likely to jump nearly 30 per cent from the year before to a four-year high.
Higher international prices would drive up shipments.
The country has exported 6.3 million bales so far in the marketing year that started on October 1. India shipped 5.82 million bales of cotton overseas last marketing year.
Increased supply from India could drag on a rally in international prices for the commodity and would likely compete with shipments to Asia from exporters like the United States, Brazil and Australia.
The Indian rupee has fallen more than six per cent in 2018, making Indian cotton cheaper for overseas buyers.
Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Vietnam are the main buyers of the Indian fiber.
Indian cotton is being offered around 84 to 86 cents per lb on a cost and freight basis to buyers in Bangladesh and Vietnam, compared to over 92 cents from the United States and Brazil.
And a pick-up in local consumption amid higher exports is likely to erode India's cotton stockpile.
India’s cotton consumption is likely to rise 5.3 per cent in 2017-18 from the year before.
The country could end the 2017-18 season with closing stocks of less than two million tons, the lowest in decades.
India manages to remain as the world’s second largest textile and clothing exporter.
Export of cotton yarn, fabric, made-ups and handloom products rose 18 per cent year-on-year in April.
The Indian spinning sector’s long pending demand of extending the MEIS benefit for cotton yarn export is yet to be considered. If considered, this would enable the Indian spinning segment to have a level playing field and utilise the surplus spinning capacity and also convert the 6-7 million bales of raw cotton being exported into value added yarn.
In a span of eight months, demonetisation and GST had a marked effect on the performance of the textile industry. The industry registered only 5.37 per cent export growth during 2017.
China, the largest exporter, accounted for a 34.2 per cent share during 2017. Vietnam is fast catching up.
The yarn market has gained momentum in recent times and the unsold yarn stock level is one of the lowest in recent years. The demand for coarse and medium counts, especially open-end yarn, both in the domestic market and export market has increased considerably and several mills have got advance bookings.
But China shifted its major volume of yarn imports from India to Vietnam, which had a 11.93 per cent share in the global cotton yarn trade during 2015.
