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"Autumn/Winter is important as it encompasses the festive season. For this season, people select festive wear, bright colours, great lustre, texture and cuts. On living upto the expectations of consumers, Manohar Samuel, President (Marketing), Birla Cellulose, the Pulp and Fibre Business, says that these are the demands for the festive season as much as the functional requirement of keeping the consumer warm and being comfortable also about quicker drying and easy to maintain an autumn/winter scenario. These are the aspects where consumer feedback shows our challenges."
Autumn/Winter is important as it encompasses the festive season. For this season, people select festive wear, bright colours, great lustre, texture and cuts. On living upto the expectations of consumers, Manohar Samuel, President (Marketing), Birla Cellulose, the Pulp and Fibre Business, says that these are the demands for the festive season as much as the functional requirement of keeping the consumer warm and being comfortable also about quicker drying and easy to maintain an autumn/winter scenario. These are the aspects where consumer feedback shows our challenges. “We have worked with the brands to augment most of our products and fabrics taking in their feedback. The Liva Accredited Partner Forum Members have also contributed in the innovation of these products in blends and weaves,” adds Samuel.
Talking about the Liva outlook, Samuel feels that Autumn/Winter 2017 for LIVA is going to be interesting because we have come out with a collection, which encompasses a lot of blends. This collection is in line with the global trends. Blends with polyester, nylon, acrylic, wool and linen are seen in our latest collection. Discussing about the influencing factors, he elaborates that the factors that influence the market are what consumers want and what they see as available. Because today at the click of a button they glance through global brands online and they would like to have products like those.“Our fabrics for the autumn/winter collection this time are heavier,” says Samuel.
Challenging scenarios?
According to Samuel, Liva has not been impacted much by the fluctuation in cotton prices because their cotton blends are fewer. But most of the impact is from the consumers and the brands being able to reach out to the different segments of the consumers who would be using these products. “In terms of imports, we have our man made cellulose fibres being imported into the country and in terms of export, the manmade cellulose based yarns and garments which are exported from India. The ‘Make in India’ concept has made us look at such products that are being imported, the reasons for their import and we have partnered with some of the customers here to get this right. For example, in India, we have partnered with a few trouser manufacturers for making the fabric and a similar version available in India,” avers Samuel. In garment export, manmade cellulose garments have done well because the LAPF (LIVA Accredited Partner Forum)has focussed on innovation, product quality and service based on the LIVA Standards. This is increased and is around 27 per cent CEGR when compared to competing fibre. Going ahead, the company would like to make the entire product system sustainable as well as the business.
Policy recommendations
To be globally competitive, we need to be part of trade blocks, which is something the ministry would be contemplating upon because it has to do with not only textiles and clothing but also other products and merchandise from India, feels Samuel. But most of the growth has happened in the clothing exports with countries who have been part of trade blocks, which can help the industry to become more competitive. The next option is about fibre neutrality because in India, man-made fibres have cascading duties, making it expensive and there is a skew towards cotton in terms of fibre share. The global market share is drastically different to India market share in term of man-made fibres.
World cotton production is forecast to increase seven per cent in the crop year that starts from August 2017. The higher 2017/18 cotton production projection is the result of favorable prices that are encouraging a rebound in area.
India, China, and the US are forecast to account for a combined 62 per cent of global cotton production in 2017-18.
Global cotton consumption is forecast to increase by two per cent as world economic growth recovers in 2017 and 2018.
After decreasing by three per cent in 2016-17, India’s consumption is forecast to recover due to competitive prices for its cotton yarn products, expanding capacity and the resolution of the consequences of demonetisation.
China’s mill use of cotton is forecast to increase by one per cent, accounting for 30 per cent of world cotton consumption. Mill use in Pakistan may grow by one per cent due to new incentives for textile exports while Bangladesh may witness a five per cent rise.
With over supply in major countries, cotton prices may remain subdued. Prices may also be tempered as China reduces its inventories by dumping cotton stock in world markets. Meanwhile, stocks in India, Brazil, the US and Pakistan are expected to rise in 2017-18 with larger crops forecast.
South Africa’s wool market traded lower at this week’s auction. Sentiment on the wool market was heavily influenced by the volatility and strengthening of the rand.
The 2016-17 wool growing season is nearing its end and at this penultimate sale prices particularly on the medium and shorter length wool declined significantly.
Demand for good quality long fleece wool remains good. The fierce rivalry between Lempriere, Standard Wool and Modiano continues unabated.
The rand was four per cent stronger against the dollar compared with the average rate at the previous sale. Major traders were Lempriere, Modiano, Standard Wool and Stucken & Co.
The average clean prices for the selection within the different micron categories for good top-making long fleeces were as follows: 18 microns decreased 1.7 per cent; 18.5 microns decreased two per cent; 19 microns lost 3.1 per cent; 19.5 microns moved down 1,9 per cent; 20 microns decreased with 1.9 per cent; 20.5 microns moved down1.6 per cent; 21 microns weakened 1.2 per cent; 21.5 microns decreased 1.5 per cent; 22 microns lost 1.1 per cent; and 22.5 microns decreased 1.5 per cent.
The Australian EMI lost 2.4 per cent this week. The Cape Wools All Wool Indicator lost 2.3 per cent.
Three synthetic fiber producers from the US have filed petitions alleging that dumping of fine denier polyester staple fiber from China, India, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, and subsidised imports of the fiber from China and India, are causing material injury to the domestic industry.
The three producers have asked the US to investigate the dumping, subsidies, and injury and to impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties on the imports of fine denier PSF from the subject countries.
The petitions allege that producers in each of the five countries are dumping fine denier PSF in the US market at sizeable margins. China’s dumping margin is alleged to be 88.07 to 103.06 per cent, while that of India is 21.31 to 29.70 per cent.
The synthetic fiber producers who have filed the case are DAK Americas, Nan Ya Plastics and Auriga Polymers. They say such imports increased by 68 per cent from 2014 to 2016.
The allegations identify a number of significant national and regional programs, including preferential export financing, preferential income tax treatment, tax exemptions, rebates and credits on imports of inputs and capital goods used in the production of fine denier PSF and grants for fine denier PSF producers to assist in the development of export market and to protect against commercial risk.
Sri Lanka will get back GSP from the EU. The country first got the facility after the Asian tsunami disaster in December 2004 but it was then withdrawn in 2010 because of human rights violations issues.
With this restoration, Sri Lanka’s balance of payments and debt servicing issues could be resolved by increasing exports.
The EU remains Sri Lanka’s main export market, with more than 30 per cent of the country’s annual merchandise sold to Europe. The EU is the biggest single market for Sri Lanka’s apparel exports.
However Sri Lanka’s exports may not expand rapidly because of manufacturers’ inability to immediately enhance their production capacity.
Structural limitations, such as labor shortages, are also a barrier. A factor in the shortage of labor is the low wages paid by companies.
Increasing production capacity, above all, depends on attracting investment. Sri Lanka’s foreign direct investment halved in 2016 from the previous year. The fall was a result of international financial volatility and investors looking for more profitable production facilities.
Whereas Sri Lanka’s competitors, such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, are embarking on large-scale economic reform agendas, Sri Lanka’s relative reticence restricts its potential for growth.
In 2015, Vietnam, Pakistan and Cambodia had higher EU export earnings than Sri Lanka.
Top garment manufacturers, technocrats and technology providers recently got together to imagine the future of the garment manufacturing business in Bangladesh, in an event organized by Thread Sol.
The event explored a range of pivotal subjects set to impact the future of garment manufacturing in the country, in particular, three fundamental elements: resource optimisation, lowered costs and improved outputs.
Participants also took a closer look at how the best manufacturers in Bangladesh rely on a combination of technology and best practices to deliver timely output without compromising on quality or cost.
Factories in Bangladesh need automation and data analytics more than ever. The productivity gains could be significant as even a modest three or four per cent savings of fabric could add millions of profits that could be invested for the future.
Technology is a solution that can aid manufacturers in this dynamic industry. Some of the best manufacturers in Bangladesh have integrated technology into their set-ups and realised benefits. Manufacturers need to adopt the fast fashion environment of consumerism.
A recurring theme throughout the event was the notion that locking-in the right partnerships, with the right innovations, will enable apparel companies in Bangladesh to turn challenges into opportunities.
The event was organized by Thread Sol, a pioneer in enterprise material management for the sewn products industry.
Spinexpo trade exhibitions in France, US and China will present autumn- winter 2018 fibers, yarns and knitwear collections.
China Spinexpo will be held August 29 to 31, 2017, showcasing over 200 specially selected companies. This trade show caters to a growing mid-end domestic market and international brands manufacturing in Asia. The show continues to be a driving force in moving suppliers and buyers forward, urging them to bring fresh and new ideas in design, innovation and technical application.
Spinexpo France will be held July 3 to July 5, 2017. Products from leading top-level international exhibitors including 85 spinning mills, knitwear and machine manufacturers as well as the swatch studios, will be displayed at the show.
Spinexpo United States will be held July 18 to 20, 2017. The exhibition will feature 77 leading exhibitors, similar to those in Paris and is a B-to-B trade show attracting key influential brands from the American markets. Exhibitors will be showcasing innovative products with a focus on performance and functionality as well as new spinning and knitting techniques across core and fancy items. A special focus will be on a wider range of products with stock service, shorter lead times and faster delivery times.
Spinexpo is the industry’s leading sourcing exhibition dedicated to promoting innovation in yarns, fibers and knitwear.
Like-for-like sales in the UK were down 1.3 per cent overall for the month of May, while fashion stores were hit with a 3.6 per cent fall in year-on-year figures.
Fashion sales were negative in the first three weeks of May, while the figures for the month make it the fourth of the year recording no in-store growth, suggesting a worrying downward spiral for clothing retailers.
Home ware stores fared better, posting like-for-like growth of 1.2 per cent off a strong base this year, but the lifestyle goods sector was the major winner with a sales boost of 3.9 per cent year on year, buoyed by record tourist numbers and a weak pound.
Reduced spending, resulting from household budgets coming under increasing pressure from rising inflation and low wage increases, was being felt most by fashion retailers. They are facing turbulent times with rising operational costs, higher import prices and economic uncertainty.
These factors have resulted in higher inflation and therefore lower discretionary spend. Since shoppers need incentives to make purchases, retailers have chosen to run targeted, short-term discounting in an attempt to ignite spending and protect further erosion to margins.
The hope is that these turbulent times calm down and the right strategies pay dividends.
CPM (Collection Premiere Moscow) will be held August 30 to September 2, 2017.The fashion trade show will showcase clothing for spring/summer 2018 and incorporate 18 catwalk shows by high-end labels, trend lectures by in-house experts and seminars for buyers and exhibitors.
The event will present the latest international trends and collections for various segments including women’s wear, men’s wear, children’s wear, knitwear, leisure wear, leather wear, fur wear, swim and beachwear as well as accessories, young fashion, evening wear and lingerie.
CPM was founded in 2003. It is open for every fashion brand or their agents or distributors who would like to sell their collections to professional buyers. In addition there are many designers who are showing their latest collections to be ordered.
CPM is an information platform and a networking tool for the textile business in Russia. Some of the highlights this show offers are 47 fashion runways which show 1,520 collections in total, informative seminars and the Russian Fashion Retail Forum. This expo is the largest fashion celebration in Eastern Europe, attracting shop owners, corporate executives, buyers and store managers.
CPM includes three segments: CPM Premium, CPM Kids Premium Brands and CPM Accessories and Shoes.
For the 2017-18 fiscal year the government reduced the corporate tax for the sector to 15 per cent from the exiting 20 per cent in the proposed budget toease the growth of the readymade garments (RMG) sector as well as ease of doing business.
While placing the budget finance minister AMA Muhith pointed out saying that apparel sector has been enjoying various incentives and tax benefits and looking at the RMG sector’s contribution to economic growth and employment generation, he would reduce the corporate tax rate to 15 per cent for RMG sector. The reason being it was under manifold pressure due to adversities in the international market and claimed cash incentives along with withdrawal of withholding tax, he added. He ensures both sustainable development as well as conservation of our environment the government has undertaken various initiatives for preventing environment pollution and maintaining ecological balance. He also believes export to the US market will increase with accelerated economic recovery in US.
Talking to The Independent, research fellow of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Towfiqul Islam Khan says the tax rate will definitely facilitate the RMG sector to accelerate exports to the international market and thus there will be a boost in the local economy.
In regards to green factories in textile and RMG production Khan revealed that 67 LEED-certified factories were operating in Bangladesh, and among these, 13 have received platinum status, 20 gold status, and 34 silver status. 220 factories were waiting in the pipeline to get the LEED certification and hence according to him this 14 per cent tax rate will certainly encourage more factories to get green building certificates in future.
Compared to last year till March of the current fiscal year, growth of import payments stood at 11.07 per cent. Aiming to promote the growth of domestic heavy industries, the minister proposed to continue with VAT exemption for some items for a few years more.
The industries that will get the benefit are local manufacturers of refrigerators and freezers, air-conditioners, domestic producers and suppliers of palm oil and LPG cylinder manufacturers.
