FW
A parliamentary standing committee recently pulled up the Textile Ministry for spending just 39 per cent of the outlay approved for the 12th Plan period (2012-17) in the first three years, and sought a concrete plan of expenditure for the next two years. The committee sought to know why the ministry hasn’t been able to spend the allocated amount and asked if it would be able to utilise the remaining 63 per cent of the approved outlay in just two years. The ministry has blamed the step-wise procedures and time-lag in the implementation of schemes from concept stage to in-principle approvals to consultations with states, among others, for the delay. It said it had been able to firm up all the major schemes after due procedures at the end of the third year of the current plan and expenditure has been accelerated since 2014-15.
When the committee wished to be apprised of the concrete plan of action to optimally utilise the plan outlay in the next two years, the ministry said weekly monitoring was being done by the secretary (textile) in the presence of all senior officers, which has led to higher expenditure under most schemes.
The ministry also said for schemes which require proposals from states, regular interactions with chief secretaries of those states are being done. States have also been told to expedite fund transfer to the implementing agencies for various schemes, among other things.
Figures from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) show the number of taking Utilisation Declaration (UDs) that reflects the trend of production to be performed has increased in April compared to previous months. RMG product manufacturers have taken 2,704 UDs, which were 2,415 in March, BGMEA data revealed.
Bangladesh exports have been suffering because of political unrest and other issues that have had a negative impact on the country’s export orders. As per Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, in July-April period of the current fiscal, Bangladesh earned $20.56 billion by exporting clothes, which is 2.98 per cent higher compared to the same period in last financial year. Currently, RMG sector contributes over 81 per cent to the total export earnings. The government has also set an export target of over $26.89 billion for the apparel sector, which employes over 4.4m workers, mostly rural women.
Apparel apex body-BGMEA recently held a meeting with buyers' forum, where more than 40 representatives of top global apparel buyers, brands and retailers participated. The aim was to assure them of improvement in the situation and smooth supply of products. Even buyers expressed their willingness to increase sourcing from the country but players are now skeptical about fulfilling demand due to fall in production.
www.bgmea.com.bd
Chinese-made textiles have flooded the Nigerian market. Traders say cheap imports have been disastrous. Nigeria has a history of weaving and textile manufacturing dating back centuries. Factories have shut and trade in home-spun fabrics has dwindled, prompting calls for foreign investment within Nigeria rather than cheap, mass importation, as well as better regulation.
The Chinese have effectively edged Nigerian traders out of business, leaving them with nothing but huge debts and heaps of goods in their shops. After having taken over the import and distribution of textiles, the Chinese are now into retail trading. The troubles began a decade ago when Chinese textile merchants started massive imports of textiles in Nigeria after Africa’s most populous nation opened its doors to foreign trade.
The WTO deal gave the Chinese unfettered access to Nigeria’s textile market, although Nigerian laws prohibit foreigners from retail trading. There are rumors locals are being recruited to conduct business on behalf of the Chinese in return for a cut in profits. Hundreds of textile dyers staged street protests against what they view as a Chinese takeover of their trade. The dyers accuse the Chinese of faking their products and selling inferior cloth at a fraction of the price.
The way out is to regulate Chinese trading. That could include quotas, stricter enforcement of import regulations, duties and taxes as well as fuel subsidies to boost local manufacturing and help home-grown businesses.
The export of textile goods from Pakistan showed a marginal improvement of 2percent to $1.08billion in April, says recent data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. At the same time, value-added textile segment saw good growth, an impressive 11percent on year-on-year basis to $607million. This is mainly attributable to a 4percent yearly depreciation of the rupee and the country’s enhanced market access of the European Union region. The value-added sector benefitted from higher exports of knitwear, bedwear and garments.
During the month, garment exports rose 15percent to $174million due to a 16percent increase in realised prices, despite a 1percent reduction in volumes. Knitwear exports went up 9 percent to $190.7million as prices rose by 22.6percent. Bedwear exports jumped 11 percent to $177.5million, as a 9.6 percent reduction in prices corresponded with a 22.8 percent growth in sales volumes.
However, basic textile declined by 9 percent year-on-year to $341million, led by an 8 percent decline in cotton yarn exports. On a sequential basis, textile exports grew 5 percent in April, whereas value-added exports went up 10percent. However, basic textile exports decreased 3percent over the previous month.
www.pbs.gov.pk
Chinese-made textiles have flooded the Nigerian market. Traders say cheap imports have been disastrous. Nigeria has a history of weaving and textile manufacturing dating back centuries. Factories have shut and trade in home-spun fabrics has dwindled, prompting calls for foreign investment within Nigeria rather than cheap, mass importation, as well as better regulation.
The Chinese have effectively edged Nigerian traders out of business, leaving them with nothing but huge debts and heaps of goods in their shops. After having taken over the import and distribution of textiles, the Chinese are now into retail trading. The troubles began a decade ago when Chinese textile merchants started massive imports of textiles in Nigeria after Africa’s most populous nation opened its doors to foreign trade.
The WTO deal gave the Chinese unfettered access to Nigeria’s textile market, although Nigerian laws prohibit foreigners from retail trading. There are rumors locals are being recruited to conduct business on behalf of the Chinese in return for a cut in profits. Hundreds of textile dyers staged street protests against what they view as a Chinese takeover of their trade. The dyers accuse the Chinese of faking their products and selling inferior cloth at a fraction of the price.
The way out is to regulate Chinese trading. That could include quotas, stricter enforcement of import regulations, duties and taxes as well as fuel subsidies to boost local manufacturing and help home-grown businesses.
A parliamentary standing committee recently pulled up the Textile Ministry for spending just 39 per cent of the outlay approved for the 12th Plan period (2012-17) in the first three years, and sought a concrete plan of expenditure for the next two years. The committee sought to know why the ministry hasn’t been able to spend the allocated amount and asked if it would be able to utilise the remaining 63 per cent of the approved outlay in just two years. The ministry has blamed the step-wise procedures and time-lag in the implementation of schemes from concept stage to in-principle approvals to consultations with states, among others, for the delay. It said it had been able to firm up all the major schemes after due procedures at the end of the third year of the current plan and expenditure has been accelerated since 2014-15.
When the committee wished to be apprised of the concrete plan of action to optimally utilise the plan outlay in the next two years, the ministry said weekly monitoring was being done by the secretary (textile) in the presence of all senior officers, which has led to higher expenditure under most schemes.
The ministry also said for schemes which require proposals from states, regular interactions with chief secretaries of those states are being done. States have also been told to expedite fund transfer to the implementing agencies for various schemes, among other things.
Readymade garment workers in Bangladesh will soon benefit from the added security of insurance. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has directed its member factories to institute worker insurance or face export embargoes.
The country’s central garment sector organisation has also said it would cancel a facility’s membership for denying insurance. BGMEA is prioritising secure work environments and worker safety. Factories that are non-compliant with the direction would be spared from all kinds of facilities BGMEA provides. The organisation would be monitoring insurance implementation closely.
It isn’t uncommon for factory owners to forego insurance installments in favor of pocketing it for profit. Factories opting out of providing insurance won’t be able to export goods without the necessary documentation that only BGMEA can provide. Two of the major services BGMEA provides are issuance of utilisation declaration, a record of raw materials imported duty free, and utilisation permission, a written consent from customs mandatory for the sale of duty-free goods.
BGMEA is one of the largest trade associations in the country representing the readymade garment industry, particularly the woven garment, knitwear and sweater sub-sectors. Started in 1983, BGMEA takes care of an industry that is the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy. The association is dedicated to promoting and facilitating the apparel industry through policy advocacy to the government, services to members, ensuring workers’ rights and social compliance at factories.
Invista's Cordura was the sponsor of the second annual Struktur event in the US, May 7 to 8. Struktur is for active, outdoor, and urban design professionals. It’s for designers, those who work with designers, or aspire to be part of the outdoor design industry. The event exposes them to ground-breaking ideas, innovative techniques, and creative minds who are driving the industry. It is a forum for design leaders in the outdoor/active industry to share ideas, share experiences and walk away engaged and excited.
Cordura is dedicated to supporting designers. At Struktur, Cordura shared knowledge and insights of fabric technology advancements designed for outdoor, active and lifestyle products with participants. As a part of the sponsorship, Cordura collaborated with High Above, Carryology and Bellroy to create a limited edition bag designed exclusively for Struktur attendees.
In its second year, Struktur is a cross-disciplinary event, exploring the intersection of user experience, trend research, materials science, and their influence on design. Struktur is a chance to experience the breakthrough ideas of a new age of design.
This year’s conference explored themes like design leadership and design communication, including what it means to run a design-focused company, how to develop and sustain creative teams, how to succeed in the new selling environment, and more.
www.strukturevent.com/
Pakistan’s textile exports increased 2.94 per cent in April 2015 as against April 2014. Similarly, textile exports increased 4.6 per cent in April 2015 as against March 2015. Exports of textile group during the first 10 months of the year 2014-15 however, decreased by 1.21 per cent as compared to exports of the same period of last year.
Textile products that witnessed an increase in trade include cotton carded or combed export of which increased by 2.49 per cent. Exports of yarn other than cotton yarn increased by 5.40 per cent this year while exports of knitwear increased by 7.76 per cent. Exports of towels increased 3.2 per cent. Exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin went up by 73.26 per cent from July to April 2013-14 to July to April 2014-15. Exports of readymade garments increased 9.14 per cent.
Raw cotton exports declined 26.22 per cent. Exports of cotton yarn decreased by 7.5 per cent while exports of cotton cloth decreased by 10.98 per cent. Exports of bed wear showed a negative growth of 1.13 per cent while exports of art, silk and synthetic textiles decreased by 12.02 per cent.
British clothing sales have seen a rise in volumes in April by 1.2 per cent from March. Consumers took advantage of falling prices to buy new clothes. It is the biggest monthly increase since November. Annual sales growth picked up pace to 4.7 per cent. The pound jumped to its highest level in two months against the euro and strengthened by one per cent against the dollar.
Robust April reading is a great springboard to a strong second quarter gross domestic product outlook. Quarterly growth in the April to June period could accelerate to one per cent after slowing to 0.3 per cent in the first three months of 2015. Some of the sharp increase in sales was due to a surge in purchases of clothing, textiles and footwear, which jumped by 5.2 per cent in April from March, the biggest monthly rise in four years. The warmer than average weather led consumers to bring forward purchases of summer clothing.
The strong retail sales numbers suggest consumers are finally starting to respond to the boost in spending power brought by last year’s slump in oil prices and a recent tentative pick-up in wages. However, despite the strong headline volume growth figures, there are still tough times ahead on the high street.
