FW
With targeted reforms, Pakistan’s textile exports are likely to reach $100 billion by 2030, a level that could transform the country’s economic landscape, believe experts.
With its imports continuing to rise, Pakistan has emerged as the largest buyer of American cotton Ehsan-ul-Haq, Chairman, Pakistan Cotton Ginners Forum (PCGF), reveals, the country recently signed contracts for 72,000 cotton bales from the US in just one week. So far this year, Pakistan has imported over 3 million bales of American cotton—a significant increase driven by limited domestic cotton supply and the demand for high-quality fiber.
Cotton prices have also surged domestically, reaching Rs 18,200 per 40kg, a rise of Rs 200 from previous rates. The uptick in imports underscores Pakistan’s reliance on the US market to support its textile industry, a sector essential to the national economy.
In related developments, Kamran Arshad, Chairman. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in fiber recycling and renewable energy to support textile exports and create jobs. Speaking with representatives from Gherzi, a consulting firm, he emphasised the potential for a strategic partnership to fuel economic growth.
Looking to the future, Pakistan’s textile sector plans to establish 1,000 garment factories with a $7 billion investment. This expansion aims to boost exports to $50 billion, create employment for 700,000 people, and generate $20 million in annual garment production per plant.
Giuseppe Gherzi, Managing Partner, Gherzi, notes, garment production is likely to slowdown. He advised industry leaders to stay agile to maintain competitiveness amid 34 key trends reshaping the textile sector from production to consumer habits.
Playing a crucial role in Pakistan’s economy, the textile industry accounts for 60 per cent of its exports. Despite its importance, the industry faces significant challenges. Cotton yield has stagnated over the past three decades, with production stuck at 617 kg per hectare in 2020, while countries like China saw their yields rise by over 150 per cent to 2,027 kg per hectare during the same period. Rising energy costs and a lack of specialised leadership have further strained the industry.
ReHubs has announced a strategic partnership with AMI for the Textiles Recycling Expo, set to take place on June 4-5, 2025, in Brussels. The event will provide a dedicated platform for industry leaders and stakeholders to promote innovations in textile waste recycling.
The Textiles Recycling Expo will feature a high-level conference and industry-leading exhibitors, showcasing cutting-edge advancements in recycling technologies and sustainable practices. This event aims to address the growing issue of textile waste by uniting voices from across the sector to discuss recycled fibers, circular models, and sustainable solutions.
AMI, renowned for organizing global plastics events, is branching into textiles with this expo. The collaboration with ReHubs, an established hub focused on textile-to-textile recycling in Europe, leverages ReHubs, extensive network and commitment to accelerating recycling initiatives. ReHubs will play a pivotal role in shaping the conference agenda, ensuring it reflects pressing industry needs and trends.
ReHubs Chris Deloof expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with AMI, emphasizing that the expo presents a valuable opportunity for the textiles recycling ecosystem to come together, collaborate, and promote circular business models. AMI’s Zied Chetoui highlighted that working with ReHubs strengthens the industry’s progress toward achieving a circular future for textiles.
The AMI-ReHubs alliance aims to make the Textiles Recycling Expo a leading European event for advancing textile recycling through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The Global Sourcing Expo 2024 in Melbourne is set to highlight traceability as a critical factor in the fashion industry’s future. From November 19-21, industry leaders will gather to discuss the implications of new global regulations, including the EU’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) mandate, which will require all textile products sold in the EU to include detailed traceability by 2030.
Marie Kinsella, CEO of the International Expo Group, underscores the importance of transparency for brands, highlighting traceability as a vital business requirement. She notes that today’s consumers increasingly seek information about the lifecycle of the products they purchase, making it essential for brands to adopt traceability practices to remain competitive in the market.
At the expo, seminars will provide insights on sustainable sourcing, led by experts like Melinda Tually, Director of Ndless: The New Normal and an authority on ethical sourcing. Her seminar, ‘Tools to trace: Regulatory demands require real-time traceability. Are uou prepared?’ will offer guidance on implementing traceability systems and navigating upcoming legal obligations.
Tually’s session, which includes contributions from traceability tech leaders Retraced and Fibretrace, will cover implementing DPPs and managing compliance with various global laws, including France’s AGEC law and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR).
For Australian brands, complying with these evolving frameworks means mapping entire supply chains, beyond just the first tier, to comply with US forced labor laws, EU human rights and environmental due diligence standards, and rising carbon reporting obligations.
As traceability becomes crucial for compliance, Melinda Tually emphasizes the need for brands to adopt digital mapping beyond first-tier suppliers to fulfill carbon reporting and other regulatory requirements. Tually highlights that traceability is now essential for market access, with these frameworks pushing for a transparent supply chain that promotes equity and mitigates environmental risks.
Attendees of the Global Sourcing Seminars will gain practical insights to adapt to these changes, ensuring they remain competitive in a market where transparency and sustainability are paramount.
Driven by an expected boost from a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea that is anticipated to take effect in the first quarter, apparel exports by the Phillipines are projected to reach $1 billion in 2025, shares Robert Young, President, Foreign Buyers Association of the Philippines (FOBAP).
The FTA is likely to attract South Korean companies to set up manufacturing facilities in Philippine ecozones, where they can benefit from tax holidays and other incentives provided under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act, explains Young. This act allows enterprises in ecozones to access benefits such as duty-free imports of capital equipment, raw materials, and accessories, he adds.
The zero-tariff status enabled by the FTA will facilitate greater market access for Philippine apparel exports to South Korea, potentially increasing revenues for local manufacturers, notes Young. While the Philippines has already ratified the FTA, it is awaiting South Korea's ratification to finalise the deal.
Currently, Philippine garment exporters to South Korea consist of a small network of factories and hand-knitters. In 2023, Philippine exports of knit or crocheted apparel to South Korea were valued at $15.6 million, according to United Nations Comtrade data.
However, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported a slight decline in apparel exports from Jan to Sep’24, totaling $520.42 million, a 3 per cent decline from $536.56 million during the same period last year. Imports of textiles, essential for producing apparel exports, also declined by 5.9 per cent to $958.06 million as of Sep’24. FOBAP expressed concern that declining textile imports could limit apparel export production.
To support growth in the garment sector, FOBAP emphasises on the need for stronger government support. Last year, Philippine apparel exports totaled $705.52 million, and with the FTA’s potential impact, the sector aims to significantly expand its reach in 2025.
Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), Former President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), highlights, many factories in Bangladesh are still struggling with limited work orders, despite an uptick in the country’s garment exports. Between July and Oct 2024, Bangladesh’s garment exports rose by 22.8 per cent to $12.81 billion, largely attributed to a quick recovery from shipment disruptions caused by recent student protests.
Data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) shows, knitwear exports from the country increased by 12.08 per cent to $7.2 billion, while woven garment exports rose 10.48 per cent to $5.6 billion. The country’s leather and leather goods sector also performed well, with exports increasing by 9.82 per cent to $372.24 million. Non-leather footwear exports expanded by 36.04 per cent to $167.11 million.
Meanwhile, home textile exports grew by 1.31 per cent to $254.94 million as international retailers and brands ramped up orders. However, exports of jute and jute goods lowered by 13.7 per cent to $264.81 million, a decline linked to anti-dumping duties imposed by India, the largest export market for Bangladeshi jute. Additionally, exports to Russia—a significant market for Bangladeshi jute products—have been affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
First company to test the new Cypheme-founded AI-driven technology to detect fake products, fashion brand Lacoste is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen its anti-counterfeiting efforts.
The new Cypheme technology identifies counterfeit items through visual analysis. It takes a photo of the specific product details, such as Lacoste’s iconic crocodile logo, to verify the product’s authenticity, allowing the brand to swiftly identify and remove fake items from the market.
The technology analyses details on a microscopic level, achieving a 99.7 per cent accuracy rate, according to the company. Lacoste also benefits from an anti-copy label equipped with advanced algorithms and an artificial neural network, enabling the brand to authenticate products and trace the origin of counterfeit goods.
The fashion industry continues to face significant challenges with counterfeiting. In 2023, US Customs and Border Protection reported that 26.2 per cent of all counterfeit seizures were apparel and accessories. Other affected categories include handbags (24 per cent), watches and jewelry (15.6 per cent), and footwear (11.6 per cent).
As per a study by the Michigan State University, nearly 70 per cent of consumers unintentionally purchased counterfeit items online at least once between 2022 and 2023. Saleem Alhabash. Professor, MSU notes, counterfeiters exploit vulnerabilities in the supply chain, which can lead to financial losses for retailers and, in some cases, risk consumer safety.
Marking the brand’s first showcase in the Middle East, luxury brand Brunello Cucinelli unveiled a special capsule collection of abayas in Dubai.
Crafted from fabrics like crepe silk and summer-weight wool, the collection combines the brand’s signature tailoring with elegant, fluid silhouettes. Each abaya in The abaya collection has been styled with a shayla, or veil, creating a harmonious addition to the brand’s overall spring 2025 line and resonating with the local cultural aesthetic.
Carolina Cucinelli, VIce President and Co-creative Director, emphasises on the brand’s close collaboration with a Middle Eastern stylist to ensure the collection respects regional traditions, focusing on cuts and comfort. Through this collection, the brand aims to foster a deeper connection with its clients in the Middle East, she explains.
Describing the design process as highly collaborative, Cuccinelli notes, she and her sister work together on each collection to maintain brand alignment. The brand’s sartorial DNA aims to create pieces that can be worn worldwide, she states.
Drawing parallels between Italian and Arab values, Cuccinelli says, both the countries share a passion for family, honoring tradition, and celebrating life’s moments.
The Uttar Pradesh Government plans to set up 11 private textile parks across the state with the first of these parks to be launched in Shamli district with an investment of Rs 726 crore.
The park will help boost local production, reduce dependency on other states and China for raw materials, and strengthen the textile sector within Uttar Pradesh. Of the proposed 11, six will be developed in Gorakhpur, Mau, Bhadohi, Aligarh, Baghpat, and Shamli. Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary of Handloom and Textiles, highlights, these parks will support local manufacturing and cut reliance on imported materials. Additionally, the government will also develop a large-scale PM Mitra Park on 1,000 acre in Lucknow.
The Shamli textile park will be developed by Lonex Textile Park with an investment of Rs 600 crore. The park will be developed by state’s Approval Committee under the Uttar Pradesh Textile and Garmenting Policy-2022. Slated to be operational by Dec’25, the park will create approximately 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Located on 26.75 acre in Jhinjhana village, Kairana tehsil, the Shamli textile park will host 17 production units dedicated to weaving, dyeing, printing, and garmenting. The site will include an administrative building, bank/ATM, training and testing center, rest house, canteen, and first aid facilities. Additionally, the park will feature sustainable infrastructure, including a zero liquid discharge system, a combined effluent treatment plant (CETP), boiler, water and steam distribution, power systems, and a weighbridge.
The newly released USDA’s Nov’24 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report indicates, cotton production, exports, and global trade are likely to decline during the month, reflecting a tightening supply.
For the US, the cotton balance sheet for 2024/25 reveals, cotton production and exports are likely to decline slightly alongside increased ending stocks. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) lowered US the cotton production estimates by 10,000 bales to just under 14.2 million bales. This change includes a 200,000-bale increase in Georgia’s crop, which is balanced by a similar decrease in Texas, while the national yield estimate remains steady at 789 pounds per harvested acre.
With reduced global cotton demand and imports, US cotton exports are also are also decline by 200,000 bales to 11.3 million, while ending stocks may rise by 200,000 bales to 4.3 million, resulting in a stocks-to-use ratio of around 33 per cent. The season average upland cotton price remains at 66 cents per pound. The USDA has made no adjustments to the 2023/24 U.S. cotton balance sheet.
Globally, the 2024/25 balance sheet reflects lower production, consumption, trade, and stocks. Production is reduced by 460,000 bales, with Pakistan and Turkmenistan experiencing the largest cuts. Global consumption is down by 515,000 bales, driven by declines in Turkey and Pakistan. Ending stocks are also lower by 574,000 bales, with significant reductions in India, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan, which are only partially offset by increases in the U.S. and Uzbekistan.
Global cotton trade is likely to decline by 295,000 bales due to decreased imports by Turkey, although imports by Uzbekistan and Egypt are likely to increase. The report also includes historical revisions to the 2023/24 global balance sheet, resulting in lower ending stocks due to revised production estimates.
In an MoU signed with the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), Better Cotton aims to promote India-grown cotton globally, focusing on quality and sustainability.
Last year, TEXPROCIL launched ‘Kasturi Cotton’ in collaboration with the Government of India and the Ministry of Textiles, to establish the country’s first branded cotton standard to emphasise the high-quality of the 0fiber.
This partnership combines the strengths of both organisations, with Better Cotton advancing sustainable practices and Kasturi Cotton symbolising premium fiber quality. The collaboration aims to position Indian cotton as both sustainable and high quality, potentially allowing companies to secure better prices by meeting both Better Cotton and Kasturi Cotton standards.
The collaboration of Better Cotton with TEXPROCIL highlights the impressive qualities of Indian cotton, and offers businesses an opportunity to elevate cotton pricing by adhering to these standards, says, Jyoti Narain Kapoor, Director, Better Cotton- India Program.
Dr Siddhartha Rajagopal, Executive Director, TEXPROCI, adds, this initiative links two critical aspects—sustainability and quality—marking a positive shift for India’s cotton industry.
As part of the MoU, TEXPROCIL will provide training for Better Cotton Member gins interested in aligning with the Kasturi Cotton standard and promote Better Cotton’s mission across its network of 2,000 companies in India. Better Cotton plans to engage more Indian cotton gins, raising awareness of sustainable sourcing benefits and supporting supply chain integration across the country.
The partnership also includes joint workshops for cotton gins across India, focusing on sustainable cotton production and the advantages of aligning with both initiatives.
