FW
Sutlej Textiles has acquired Birla Textile Mills. The acquisition will help increase its market share and the company is expecting a double digit growth in the current year.
The existing capacity of Sutlej Textiles is 2,93,000 spindles and after the acquisition it will go up to 3,77,000 spindles, a 25 to 30 per cent increase in capacity. The company is also looking to increase its capacity in the home textiles segment, from 2.6 million meters to 9.6 million meters at a capex of Rs 88 crores.
Sutlej Textiles has also lined up a Rs 270 crores project for about 35,000 spindles. Sutlej is one of India’s leading textile producers with a value chain extending from yarns to home textiles. It has a presence in several countries.
Sutlej exports value added synthetic and blended dyed spun yarn. It is a prominent manufacturer of cotton and cotton blended dyed and mélange yarn. Sutlej Textiles is also among the few exclusive spinners in India for specialty yarns such as modal, lyocell and tencel. The company is a one-stop shop for all types of spun yarns.
sutlejtextiles.com
Suryalakshmi has commissioned a fourth spinning mill to produce value-added and premium fancy yarns. The plant in Amravati, a cotton producing hub, will take the total capacity of the mill to 87,000 spindles. The plant includes fully automated, state-of-the art imported spinning technology. The company anticipates annual revenues of Rs 150 crore plus from this plant alone.
Suryalakshmi Cotton Mills is an integrated yarn to garment manufacturing company. With commencement of operations at the new plant, it can significantly cut down its dependence on third-party vendors for procuring yarn, enabling better quality control and increased cost efficiencies.
Due to the location, which is a cotton belt in Maharashtra, the unit has abundant access to high quality raw material and labour. The high value yarns produced in this plant would be used for captive consumption in its denim division. It will enable Suryalakshmi to be in sync with the latest trends in the world of denim and cater to global and domestic fashion demands more effectively.
Founded in 1962, Suryalakshmi manufactures yarn, denim fabric and garments for leading private labels, fashion brands and retail chains in 29 countries across the globe. It is also a leading producer of denim fabric in India with a capacity of 40 million meters per annum.
www.suryalakshmi.com
Cooperative spinning mills and National Textile Corporation (NTC) units in Tamil Nadu, as well as the private sector, are putting in efforts for modernisation and value-addition, though the textile sector is going through a challenging phase with a dip in demand.
The State government had sanctioned Rs 175 crores for modernisation of six cooperative spinning mills, which were completed in July, said officials. From blow room to spindles, there was complete modernisation of these six mills and trial run is on at present. Also, the Tamil Nadu Textile Corporation (TNTC) has invested of Rs 5 crore, and commissioned a new loom shed, with 10 shuttle-less looms at Kurichi.
For the free dhoti and sari scheme, production of school uniform and to meet the requirements of various government departments yarn and fabric from the cooperative spinning mills and the TNTC is used. Productivity and quality will improve and more number of people will be employed with the modernisation and the new loom shed, according to officials.
Consolidation and modernisation is being considered by NTC, which has seven mills in the State. Two years ago, it had taken up capacity addition in two mills and invested in modernisation between 2008 and 2010. A Arulsamy, Executive Director (South) said this has helped the mills improve productivity, reduce costs and improve quality. However, another round of consolidation and modernisation is needed now.
Ntcltd.co.in
13,075 visitors from 109 countries - the same as in September 2014 - made this 37th event generally steady, but with a slight increase in the number of visitors from the Americas in particular. Fluctuations in rates of exchange disadvantageous to Europe and economic crises undoubtedly played a part, but, as many exhibitors said, many American buyers could not attend due to religious holidays.
Considerable rise in French visitors
Michael Scherpe, CEO of Messe Frankfurt France, commented, "I noticed a significant rise in the number of French visitors in February 2015. This has persisted this time round, because France is becoming the leading country of origin of our visitors, with a marked rise of almost 12 per cent. I am delighted that Texworld Paris' offer meets the expectations of French buyers in every respect, all the more so because we have applied much more rigorous selection criteria, which have brought about an expansion in the range of exhibitors' offers, particularly in respect of creativity, style and aesthetics, in perfect harmony with current trends and "western" tastes.”
Messe Frankfurt France took over halls 2 and 4 at the Le Bourget Exhibition Centre, staging a new concept. Much more open stands, easier movement through the aisles and clearer, more evident division allowed visitors to refine their search for exhibitors whilst still making new discoveries. The new layout was greatly appreciated not only by visitors, but also by exhibitors.
Pankaj Srivastana, General Manager of Shahi Exports, said, “Texworld Paris is really well organised. It was very easy for us to locate good products and new suppliers. Even our most recent fashion requirements were met.” Added Gijsbertha Dancery, an independent materials buyer, “I come especially to see the latest trends, but this time I found the fair very welcoming. Far more open stands are very hospitable. They tempt us far more to discover the collections.”
First time visitor, Dhanarat, Managing Partner at VGS Exports, said “Texworld Paris has proved an excellent trade fair for purchasing. What I like is that you can find fabrics for garments and accessories under one roof. I shall be back next time.”
Except Russia, fair saw rise in international visitorsApart from France, which is taking over the lead in Europe, ahead of the UK and Spain, a pronounced increase in the number of professionals from Tunisia (38 per cent) and Morocco (18 per cent) was observed. Portugal, a major buyer of garments, confirmed this trend at 17 per cent, as did Romania, which was very much in evidence this time, at 51 per cent.
Problems associated with difficulties in relations between Europe and Russia were however felt to a great extent. Russian visitor numbers did not rally (-25 per cent). In contrast, Ukraine held its own at 51 per cent. Asia as a whole remained remarkably stable (1 per cent). Hong Kong registered a score of 48 per cent, underlining its craving for creative, top of the range products. The UAE were up 11 per cent and Australian visitors increased by 11 per cent. All three trade fairs maintained their international leadership in France, with 88 per cent of visitors coming from outside metropolitan France.
Overall business sentiment picking up
On the business front, "everything is going Ok" became the exhibitors' watchword at this event. It was the expression heard most frequently at the fair, from the opening onwards. The exhibitors were happy to see many existing clients and also to observe a previously unseen interest in their collections from new buyers. Messe Frankfurt France's adoption of a policy of selecting exhibitors by stricter criteria, particularly their satisfaction of trending fashion criteria, has borne fruit. Visitors were genuinely able to experience an expansion in the range of exhibitors' offers.
This was particularly underlined by the success of two aspects of Texworld Paris - steadily-increasing interest in the small order itinerary, featuring more than 150 exhibitors, offering to take orders for small quantities from fashion designers and niche businesses and interest in ecological and/or fair-trade fabrics were well highlighted by the trends in ‘My Sustainable Forum’, in collections by around thirty established exhibitors, but also in the general offer, which saw fibres such as linen and hemp flourish. It should be added that there was sustained interest in technical, intelligent fabrics with new functions at the first-ever Avantex trade fair, held within the framework of Texworld Paris.
The programme of daily presentations appealed to the audience and those dedicated to world fashion trends were packed out. On Wednesday, September 15, 2015, Texworld Paris welcomed Xu Ying Xin, the Executive Vice-President of CCPIT-Tex, the Chinese Textile Industry Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the current state of the industry in the light of China's recent economic history. Next edition of Texworld Paris will be held February 15 to 18, 2016.
www.texworld.messefrankfurt.com
A project aimed at identifying and training women with aptitude and skill in garment manufacturing under the Kudumbshree fold, ‘Vastramandalam’ was started in Kozhikode recently. Kudumbashree was launched in 1998 as a community network that would work in tandem with local government for poverty eradication and women empowerment.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kannur, will train 500 women above 18 years of age belonging to the Kozhikode South constituency, in the first phase. Employment for these women will be ensured through Micro Business Hub. Women with skills in stitching were selected on the basis of an aptitude test, practical test, and interview.
MK Muneer, Minister for Social Justice and Panchayats, inaugurated a mobilisation camp to identify the beneficiaries of the project in its first phase. M Radhakrishnan, Welfare Standing Committee Chairman of Kozhikode Corporation presided over the inauguration function. Also, present were Kudumbasree District Mission Coordinator TP Muhammed Basheer and Assistant Coordinator Syed Akbar Badusha Khan during event.
www.nift.ac.in
www.kudumbshree.org
The much-popular Chanderi saris are to get a boost with the State Government extending every possible assistance, to take it to new heights.
Anthony de Sa, Chief Secretary, while inspecting sari manufacturing process at weavers’ houses at Chanderi, said that better avenues for craft of weavers will be explored through use of modern technology. He added that Chanderi weavers will not be allowed to face any problem and that the State Government would make efforts to resolve all their problems at by chalking out an action plan.
Thus, skilled weavers from Banaras and Bengaluru will impart training to the weavers and angle looms will be set up in place of wooden looms and punching machines will be installed for computerised designs. Besides, job cards too, would be provided to registered farmers. The Chief Secretary also visited and inspected under-construction Handloom Park costing Rs 50 crores on 4.19 hectares at Chanderi. This park is slated to have a facility to impart global level training to 240 weavers and there will be a computerised design centre to promote online sale and marketing of Chanderi saris. There will also be a yarn bank where weavers will be able to acquire all types of silk and other threads for saris at fair prices.
The Chief Secretary further added that Chanderi’s ancient heritage will be preserved and that Chanderi clothes will be linked with tourism and they will also get a trade mark.
Global synthetic fiber prices fell by 21.7 per cent in September, their steepest monthly decline in more than six years. Declining oil prices, currency devaluations in key textile production regions and slowing global demand due to curtailed economic growth in demand are all contributing to the decline.
After rising abruptly in late August, crude oil fell slowly and steadily throughout September, finishing the month at around two per cent down for the month. In Asia, the world’s largest fiber-producing region, synthetic fiber prices fell by 25 per cent year-over-year, the biggest year-over-year drop since early 2009.
Low capacity utilisation rates, hovering around 76 per cent, small orders due to expected price volatility and tightening liquidity have resulted in a slowdown in Chinese demand rather than the pick-up usually seen at this time of the year. Chinese demand for staple has been slightly better than for filament and is expected to get a boost from seasonal demand for fiberfill in outer wear for local consumption and exports.
The European synthetic fiber price index fell by almost 22 per cent compared to September 2014. The US index fell by almost 16 per cent in September, the least of any major world region, but its biggest monthly drop since August 2009.
Kusters Calico Machinery offers wet processing concepts for woven and knit fabrics. It has now come up with two new washing concepts, which will showcased at the forthcoming ITMA 2015 exhibition to be held in Milan, Italy. The super flush washer can handle sensitive woven fabrics from voiles to lycra. The flush master caters to requirements of pile fabric processing and print washing of tension-sensitive synthetic home furnishing fabrics with high twist yarns.
Both washers consume very little water. In the super flush washer, the combined washing effect of both horizontal as well as vertical washing produces a penetrative, diffusive and turbulent effect. The distance between the two fabric guiding rollers is very short. The tension control is through the load cell. The company opened in 1996. Kusters Calico currently exports around 70 per cent of its production to other countries.
The company is also expanding its business in coating and lamination technology. It is currently initiating factory expansion with a dust proof assembly shop to meet the growing demand and quality expectations of customers. This new expansion will help it deliver in shorter lead times and meet customer deadlines.
Kusters Calico, based in Gujarat, is a subsidiary of the German-based Jagenberg Group. Jagenberg caters to European markets and the OEM requirements of European machine manufacturers.
www.kuesters-calico.com
The government intends to rationalise various dole-out-based schemes; in light of that it plans to tweak the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) in the textile sector and may end interest subsidy provided to mills against investments made by them.
The government may offer only capital subsidy or a similar form of support for investments under the new scheme, while details are being worked out in consultations with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Under the TUFS, the government, at present provides interest subsidy up to 6 per cent, capital subsidy up to 30 per cent in the form of a grant and support under the margin money scheme (another form of capital subsidy). Budget allocation for subsidy payment has already been cut back to Rs 1,521 crores for 2015/16, compared with Rs 1,864 crores a year before.
The government wants to remove various interest subsidies across sectors to curb their distorting effect on the interest rate market. Replacing interest subsidy with other forms of support such as viability gap funding and upfront capital subsidy, aimed at ensuring better transmission of the monetary policy, is the government’s aim.
Farmers and exporters have been the biggest beneficiaries of interest subsidies so far. The government’s major interest subsidy outgo, including for subventions on short-term credit to farmers and export promotion, is budgeted at Rs 14,903.42 crores for 2015/16, compared to Rs 11,147.17 crores in 2014. However, this amount doesn’t include the subsidy payment under the TUFS.
India is the biggest importer of worn clothing and textiles in the world. In 2013 India’s total imports of used clothes were 4.3 per cent of total global imports. India was followed by Russia and Pakistan; both these countries accounted for 3.9 per cent of global imports of used clothes. The top three exporting countries in the year were USA, UK and Germany.
There are two categories under which used clothes are imported in India, wearable and mutilated. The import of wearable clothes requires a license from the government, with the condition of 100 per cent re-export. This segment constitutes about 30 per cent of used clothes imports. Import of mutilated clothes does not require government approval and accounts for nearly 60 per cent of worn clothing imports. The yarn extracted from mutilated rags and woolens is used to make blankets.
While new imported garments attract an import duty of 15 per cent, used clothes can be imported at a much cheaper rate. Between 2010 and 2013, India’s imports of used clothes and textiles increased by more than 200 per cent. Panipat is the home to the world’s largest shoddy wool industry, which supplies, low-quality blankets across India, south Asia and east Africa to the poor, while slightly better versions are commissioned by institutions such as railways, prisons and the army.
