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Three Japanese companies have taken the lead in carbon fibre production. The companies -- Toray, Teijin and Mitsubishi Rayon -- along with the University of Tokyo are developing a government-funded project that involves the country’s three major players along with a promise to resolve the major issue of its current high cost that is prohibiting progress in a number of industries, most notably the mass consumer car market.
Speaking at the 2nd International Composites Congress held in Dusseldorf, Germany, on November 29th, managing director of Japan’s National Composites Centre based at Nagoya University, Professor Takashi Ishikawa, spoke of new carbon fibres that are now nearing commercialisation following the Innovative Carbon Fibre Project over the past few years. They are based on new fibre precursors which require no oxidisation and with carbonization being carried out by microwave the key energy consuming stages in carbon fibre production which limit the output of current lines to around 2,000 tons a year along with a dry plasma surface treatment.
These three features particularly the elimination of oxidisation will result in great energy savings in carbon fibre processing, cutting energy consumption by more than fifty per cent compared to the current so-called Shindoh Process. This means that the lowest cost carbon fibres will be realised once full scale lines are in operation. The potential output per line will be more than 20,000 tons annually.
Cotton prices in Brazilian cotton market resumed their upward trend in the later part of November. In the first fortnight, cotton prices increased slightly but stabilised mid-month only to see rising trend in end of November. This was stated by the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (Cepea-Brazil) in its latest fortnightly report.
The scenario before the end of the month was linked to the gap between bidding and asking prices which, in turn, was related to the quality of the cotton available in the market. When the quality was high, agents disagreed about the available volume and while some of them believed cotton supply was already low, others claimed that there were still batches to be traded in the off-season period.
However, later in the month, when Brazilian cotton prices resumed, trading companies and cotton growers that were active in the market were firm in their asking prices keeping an eye on the fluctuations of international and dollar quotes and on the low supply of high-cotton-quality from the 2015-16 season. During the second fortnight of November, few processors were seen showing interested in new cotton purchases in the spot market. On the other hand, trades involving cotton for delivery in 2017 were seen at a good pace. Dealers were more active in the spot market, buying and selling cotton batches.
According Brazilian Stock Exchange of Goods (BBM) data tabulated by Cepea, 67.9 per cent of the 2015-16 Brazilian crop estimated at 1.28 million tons had been traded until late November. Of that total, 49.2 per cent was allocated to the Brazilian market while 50.8 per cent to the international market. Regarding the 2016-17 crop estimated at 1.4 million tons, 23.1 per cent has been traded. Of this, 24.5 per cent was allocated to the domestic market and 75.5 per cent to the international market.
A recent report published by Markets and Markets, a leading market research firm, ‘Textile Coatings Market by Type (PVC, PU, Acrylics, SBR, Natural Rubber) End-Use Industry (Transportation, Building & Construction, Protective Clothing, Industrial, Medical, Sports, Agriculture, and Packaging) - Global Forecast to 2021’ , says the size of the global coatings market that stood at $5.51 billion in 2015 and is projected to reach $6.81 billion by 2021 at a CARG of 3.5 per cent. The report indicates, rising industrial, transportation and building and construction are driving the market for textile coatings. Along with these, increasing quality and performance standards in textile coating based fabrics are also driving the market.
Asia-Pacific dominated the market in 2015, China being the largest consumer of textile coatings in the world. Demand is driven by the diverse industrial markets ranging from building and construction, automotive, industrial, and protective clothing, among others. The ensuing increase in investments and rise in the number of new manufacturing establishments are anticipated to lead Asia-Pacific to emerge as the prime driver for the growth of textile coatings market, says the report.
According to the report, industrial segment for textile coatings includes industries such as oil and gas and manufacturing among others. Growth in oil and gas and manufacturing industry will drive the textile coatings market. North America is expected to witness growth in oil and gas and manufacturing industry due to the recent discoveries of shale gas and shale oil in the region and strong manufacturing base in the US.
Other countries such as Argentina, India, UAE, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia and Chile are expected to see fastest-growth in the manufacturing industry.
The Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel of the US has reported that monthly imports of cotton, wool, man-made fiber, silk blend, and non-cotton vegetable fiber textile and apparel products totaled 5.49 billion square meter equivalents in September, down 9.6 per cent from August and 5.9 per cent from September 2015. Textile imports totaled 2.96 billion SME, down 12.8 per cent from August and 6.0 per cent from the previous year, while apparel imports of 2.53 billion SME were down 7.3 per cent from August and 5.8 per cent from a year earlier.
Total year-to-date imports were 47.3 billion SME, down 2.4 per cent from the previous year, as textile imports fell 3.0 per cent to 26.9 billion SME and apparel imports lost 1.6 per cent to 20.4 billion SME. For the year ending in September last, imports of textiles and apparel totaled 62.4 billion SME, down 1.5 per cent from the same period a year earlier, as textile imports dropped 2.5 per cent to 35.5 billion SME and apparel imports fell 0.3 per cent to 26.9 billion SME.
RadiciGroup has released a series of video clips communicating some of the key themes of its ‘Sustainability Report 2015’. The group is a leading producer of a wide range of chemical intermediates, polyamide polymers, engineering plastics, synthetic fibres and nonwovens. In addition to a video message from President Angelo Radici, shown at the official presentation of Sustainability Report 2015, three video clips called ‘Glimpses’ deal with three themes viz sustainable supply chain, use of water resources and parent company ISO 9001:2015 certification are aimed at illustrating the Group’s strategies for sustainability: concrete action and measurable results.
In a briefing Radici said in 2015, RadiciGroup’s business development was accompanied by positive financial results due to continued focus on operational and financial efficiency and its watchful management policy. The performance of our Business Areas was good overall, although there were some challenges in some markets in difficulty that tested our ability to react and adapt.
For 12 years, the RadiciGroup has reported on its industrial businesses with data and results on its economic, social and environmental sustainability. The concept and realisation of the Glimpses clips were the work of Exposure Architects based on an idea of architect Oliviero Godi who chose to make the videos in black and white.
The black-and-white format helps viewers concentrate on the contents, the people and natural resources making up the surroundings in which RadiciGroup works. And this environment is what the Group is determined to preserve so that it can continue to operate sustainably in harmony with the local communities, Godi commented.
Some 2000 power looms in Erode, Tamil Nadu, have shut down because of the decline in yarn prices. Most power loom owners had got a good number of orders from textile merchants when yarn price was Rs 215 a kg. But for the past week the price has decreased and is selling at Rs180 a kg.
Many power loom owners had procured a huge quantity of cloth, but those who gave orders are now demanding that the price be reduced by Rs 3 a meter, which is impossible as production costs are high.
The new cotton crop is expected to arrive for sale in December at Rs 40,000 a bale. Today it is available at Rs 46,000 to Rs 48,000 a bale. Yarn and cloth producers want steps to be taken to maintain stability of cotton and yarn prices. They want the price to be fixed for a month. If there was poor or high demand the price could be changed after 30 days.
A a group of four related trade fairs: Avanprint, Avantex, Texworld and Apparel Sourcing will be held simultaneously at Le Bourget in Paris in early next February. These fairs will showcase the merits of the textile world to professionals from across the whole industry. The four textile trade fairs have attracted a seen a good increase in registrations, say Messe Frankfurt, the event organisers.
Avanprint, the trade show dedicated to digital printing offers solutions for textile procurement and clothing industry research. The digital textile printing is fundamental to the future of the industry. The performance of the cutting-edge solutions presented at Avanprint constitutes an essential element in cutting consumption of water and energy, in optimising required workspace and in reducing the amount of waste that conventional printing methods entail.
Apparel Sourcing is where the latest innovations for clothing production and accessories will be demonstrated. In view of the current economic situation, Apparel Sourcing Paris has made it a point to take a rigorous approach in selecting the expertise presented here, aware of the promotional value and the need to secure growth markets. Its goal is to provide buyers a platform that presents a wealth of expert techniques and specialised and rare skills, offering high quality and flexibility.
Avantex, is known for sourcing innovative products to help create and design collections that blend fashion with the latest technological developments. Since Avantex Paris was launched in September 2015, they have taken steps so that heads of collections and designers are offered solutions that are at the forefront of innovation for clothing and fashion accessories. The February 2017 show will give rise to a series of new features to enhance sourcing for innovative fashion products and services and to intensify the interaction that is a vital factor in developing new products.
Texworld aims to introduce latest trends from across the industry. Messe Frankfurt France reports an 80 per cent increase in registrations for the next edition of these four shows. The four textile trade shows will take place from February 6 to 9 at Le Bourget, Paris.
South Koreans outdoor apparel and gear maker Black Yak Corp has teamed up with textile manufacturing giant Hyosung to develop functional outdoor clothing. The two firms have signed a MoU under which the sportswear maker will use Hyosung’s odour-neutralising yarn products for making its t-shirts and underwear from next year.
Hyosung’s functional nylon and polyester (PET) yarn products Freshgear and spandex material Creora Fresh, both of which are known to be effective in eliminating smell of sweat or foot odour in textiles, will be adopted by Black Yak. These are mainly used in making underwear, sportswear and stockings which directly contact human body.
Both entities will be working together to develop the fabrics with these yarns. They expect to make use of each other’s global sales network and competitive edges to help expand their presence in their respective global textile and outdoor fashion markets.
The partnership will also help expand market share at home and abroad by employing a range of the latter’s performance fibres to its garments. Black Yak doesn’t run or owns production facilities, it works with external partners in China, Vietnam and Indonesia to produce its goods.
In a series of measures to boost internet commerce across the European Union, the European Commission has proposed simplifying value-added sales tax (VAT) requirements for online retailers. The Commission has already made its plans public in order to make parcel deliveries more affordable, protect consumers when they buy online and to limit geo-blocking, the practice of barring consumers in one country from buying from a provider in another.
Currently, online traders of goods have to register for VAT in each of the EU countries to which they sell goods, a significant barrier given it can cost about €8,000 euros to comply per country. Under the new rules, European companies selling goods online will be able to cover all their VAT obligations across the bloc via their own national tax authorities. The Commission said simplified rules on VAT would save EU businesses €2.3 billion and would also make it easier for smaller companies to trade across borders.
To support start-ups and small traders, companies would be able to sell goods upto €10,000 to other countries in the EU and treat them as domestic sales subject to local VAT rules. For larger businesses, they would no longer be needed to provide two pieces of evidence to identify the location of customers. In future, one piece would suffice. The proposals are part of an EU drive to reduce ‘red tape’ and show it is working for its citizens in the face of a crisis of confidence following Britain's vote to leave the bloc and the rise of populist eurosceptic parties. The new rules will also ensure VAT is paid in the country of the final consumer and help governments recoup some €5 billion of last VAT from online sales per year.
Leading Chinese and global companies say there is huge potential for increase in nylon consumption. Oversupply, demand, capacity, as well as future outlook and strategies were among the other points discussed at the forum.
Huang Wei from Fiber Raw Material Department of Sinopec Chemical Commercial Holding says there is a huge potential for nylon consumption and the markets may begin to shake off the burden of oversupply in 2019. Wei focused on caprolactam fundamental changes and market perspective and discussed carpolactam market outlook. He made these comments at the 14th China International Polyamide & Intermediates Forum. The Forum, supported by Nylon Committee of China Chemical Fiber Association (CCFA) and China National Chemical Fiber Corp., was organised by China Chemical & Fiber Economic Information Network (CCFEI) and Tecnon OrbiChem in Shanghai.
Song Manjun, of Fujian Shenyuan New Materials highlighted China's role in a changing world. He pointed out that China is achieving self-sufficiency in caprolactam with improving quality, and gaining strong influence in Asia and globally on pricing and trade flow. He also mentioned that global PA6 growth is mainly from fibre, while China dominates spin PA6 market, with more export of high quality. Though EP and film applications have quality gap, he said, more Chinese players are stepping in.
