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Indo Rama Synthetics, India's second largest polyester manufacturer and supplier now aims to increase polyester supply to the fast growing garment sector of Bangladesh. The company also makes supplies polyester and chemicals not only in India, but in Indonesia, Thailand, US and some other countries in the world.
Indo Rama manufactures several types of polyester products including polyester staple fiber , draw texturised yarn, fully drawn yarn, polyester chips. In addition, the company is also supplying manufactured yarn. Founded in 1989, it has a strong footprint both in India and overseas. It produces 50,000 transformers from its single location plant.
Indo Rama also has several technical collaborations with various technology leaders in Japan, Germany and USA. It stands for high quality standards and innovative business practices. It has the country’s largest dedicated polyester manufacturing unit at a single location. The company has a polyester manufacturing capacity of six lakh tons per annum.
Polyester is the most important synthetic fiber accounting for 70 per cent of all man-made fiber consumption. Globally the industry is shifting to China and India, which are slated to be the two most important sourcing destinations for textiles.
www.indoramaindia.com/
Latest data from the Bangladesh embassy in Tokyo, reveals exports from Bangladesh to Japan are likely decrease owing to fall in net income of the Japanese people. Japan government has decided to impose a 10 per cent consumer tax on income of its citizens, which has led to decline in consumer spending. Also there has been a lot of fluctuation in the Japanese yen against the US dollar, which could also result in fall in exports.
However, experts feel that since Bangladeshi exporters have obtained duty-free access to the Japanese market, the negative impact of the above factors could be less. As per the trade councilor letter, Bangladeshi exports to Japan during July-October period this fiscal was less 0.81 percent or $2.40 million than the strategic target of $296.45 million. The net income of Japanese people fell by 16 percent in April in 2014 while Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s decision on whether to proceed with the next proposed sales tax hike in October 2015, to 10 percent from 8 percent. It said the Japanese consumer spending is 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product of the country.
Export Promotion Bureau’s recent data showed at end of FY2013-14, Bangladesh’s exports to Japan amounted to $540 million. In 2012-13 year it was $519 million.
www.epb.gov.bd
In order to produce high performance fabric, manufacturers either embed chemicals in yarn or go through a process of applying finishes or coatings after production. While these chemicals improve performance, there is a growing consensus that they pose hazards to not only environment but also to the wearer’s health. In addition to health concerns for consumers, who wear these treated textiles, many of the health risks can be higher for workers as well as the communities surrounding the manufacturing plants. Thus, the Eco-system showcase will return at Interfiliere Hong Kong this year with a new focus on ‘human’ by zooming in on working conditions and consumer safety.
The show will have an interactive zone for visitors to fully engage themselves and gain a comprehensive understanding of this global issue. Six topics will be discussed and revealed during the event including chemicals and textile globalisation, role of NGOs, REACH regulation, ethical associations and safety labels, collaborative initiatives from companies, case study of the Rana Plaza’s disaster and improvement on laws. Sustainability conference will also take place throughout the two days in order to deliver in-depth review and insight for the intimate apparel industry experts.
The forthcoming Interfiliere, to be held at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, on March 18 and 19, 2015, will unveil themes for the Autumn/Winter 2016-17, focusing on the two major areas of current global intimate activity. Three themes will be introduced under the ‘Day & Night’ concept: latest novelties for sport and everyday underwear; gorgeous sensual decorated fabrics; and prototypes for more dressy seductive nights.
www.interfiliere.com
Safexpress, India's largest supply chain & logistics firm servicing the apparel, fashion and textile industry in a big way, has inaugurated new ultra-modern warehousing facility at Udaipur. Spanning over an area of 4,500 sq. ft., this logistics park is a part of company’s strategy of developing 32 such parks at key industrial hubs in India.
Over the last couple of years, Safexpress has already launched several logistics parks across India. Earlier this year, the company launched two of its state-of-the art parks in Faridabad and Dhule. The Logistics Park in Udaipur is the company’s third successful launch this year.
Speaking about the new launch, Pawan Jain, CMD, Safexpress said, “Udaipur, also known as the 'Venice of East’, is a commercial hub of the world for handicrafts and marble mining. The important industrial minerals of the place are marble, emerald, lime stone and calcite, the transportation of which is very difficult. Udaipur holds vital importance due to its focal location.”
Highlighting the USP of this park at Udaipur, Jain said, “Our Logistics Park at Udaipur has a column-less span of over 90 feet and enables loading/unloading of several vehicles simultaneously. It has a floor load capacity of six metric tons per sq. mt. and a truck docking area width of over 40 ft. Moreover, to make it eco-friendly, we have introduced special go-green initiatives by investing in rainwater harvesting and developing special green zones.”
Safexpress offers a complete spectrum of supply chain and logistics services which include Express Distribution, 3PL, Consulting, SafeAir, Campus2Home, Easy2Move, Stock2Shelf, SafeReturns and Sainik Express.
As per a recent report on Cotton Incorporated's Global Lifestyle Monitor, the cotton prices so far maintained at a higher level by market forces inside and outside of China are now declining, which it predicts could lead to drop in fabric and garment prices. The report says, decline in cotton prices around the world is because of the Chinese cotton policy reforms and expectations of large harvests outside China.
Reasons for price decline
Analytical approaches developed and implemented by Cotton Incorporated to forecast increases in sourcing costs following the cotton price spike in 2010-11 provides insight about future sourcing costs decreases. One approach, based on the fact that cotton garments are primarily composed of cotton fiber, utilizes garment weight. Publicly available data describing the count, weight, and value of apparel imports can be used to produce weight-based estimates of the effect of lower cotton prices. Multiplying a garment’s average weight by the change in cotton prices quantified in cents/lb produces a calculated per unit benefit from price decreases. These data suggest that the decrease in per unit costs could be larger for heavier goods, like denim jeans.
Calculated sourcing cost savings figures show the estimated effects due to fiber price changes alone. The percentage changes were derived as the relative difference between average import prices in 2013 and the estimated change in sourcing costs based on average product weights. Results from the analysis indicate that sourcing costs could decrease by 6 to 7 percent. In reality, upward pressure on costs from rising wages and other non-fiber costs like dyestuffs may partially offset decreases in sourcing costs made possible by lower cotton prices.
Over the last 10 years, there have been three instances when cotton prices declined more than 20 cents/lb within a six month period: following the financial crisis during the fall of 2009, after the wake of the 2010-11 price spike, and between the spring and fall of 2014. Average prices for cotton-dominant imports dropped after each of these periods when cotton prices decreased significantly. Examination of data about the relationship between fiber prices and cotton-dominant import prices reveals that the strongest statistical relationship between fiber prices and apparel import prices is seven months. Given a seven month lag between shifts in fiber prices and apparel import prices, analysis suggests that cotton import shipments arriving in late spring/summer 2015 should fully incorporate the effects of recent decreases in fiber prices.
China's cotton stockpiling policy and its effects
Changes in China’s cotton policies have paved the way for full decrease in prices that could have been expected with the massive accumulation of global stocks that followed the 2010-11 spike in prices. Current estimates suggest that China holds more than 60 per cent of global warehoused supply and Chinese cotton stocks are nearly six times larger than before the establishment of the government’s price guarantee policy. Due to reforms in Chinese government cotton policies, the reserve system will no longer function as such a dominant force of demand.
Going forward, the world market can view China’s reserve system as a source of supply since it will no longer be making purchases and could be expected to sell eventually from its accumulated supplies.
Also increases in projected forecasts for cotton harvest in other major cotton producing countries, notably India and the US, may further impact prices. The current forecast indicate that India’s production will match its own record of 31.0 million bales in 20140-15 and that the country will surpass China as the world’s largest cotton grower – a title that China has held since the 1980s. Improved rainfall conditions in cotton growing regions within the US, specifically West Texas, have led to higher production forecasts and expectations that have helped push NY Futures and A Index cotton prices lower. Higher production forecasts in exporting countries like the US and India imply that more cotton supply will be available to the world market at lower prices. Lifestylemonitor.cottoninc.com
With the change in the political scenario, Myanmar is establishing itself as a leading manufacturing hub. The ongoing quest for low cost production has drawn manufacturers’ attention to the clothing industry in Myanmar. The country has a long history of making yarn, fabric and garment. Currently, there are over 200 garment factories in Myanmar, reached employing about 20,000 people. Most of these factories are privately held.
Myanmar recently opened up its market for import of goods including textiles. Total import of man-made fibre by Myanmar in 2013 was around $690 m of which $539.84 m was fabrics, $83.91 m was yarn, $57.20 m was Made-ups, and $8.96 m was fibre. Export of Indian MMF textiles to Myanmar during 2013 was $0.63 , accounting for 0.09 per cent of total import of textiles by Myanmar.
Countries Myanmar imported MMF textiles from were China, Republic of Korea, Japan, Taipei, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. Due to cost advantage, Myanmar has attracted significant foreign investments in the textiles industry. Currently, there are 19 foreign companies in the garment industry. Recently, Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) gave approval to several foreign businesses to invest in the country’s garment manufacturing sector.
Myanmar, offers huge opportunities to India, being the largest man-made fibre producing and exporting neighbour. Moreover, the long friendly political relationship that both countries share will be an additional advantage for doing business.
Bangladesh has emerged as one of the largest apparel exporting countries in the world. Being India’s neighbour, India has various comparative advantages due to geographical proximity including logistical advantage, to export of textiles. Bangladesh is a growing market for man-made fibres. In 2013-14 Bangladesh emerged as the fifth largest market for Indian man-made fibres.
Bangladesh imported around $3 billion of man-made fibre textiles from the world during 2013 of which India’s share was around 8 per cent ($0.23 billion). Since, India’s share in Bangladesh’s total import of manmade fibre textiles was only 8 per cent, there is huge scope for increasing exports from India. Exports of these textiles from India to Bangladesh have steadily grown to reach $230 million during 2013-14 recording a growth of 32 per cent compared to the previous year.
Bangladesh is importing its required textiles including man-made fibre textiles from China, India, Thailand, South Korea, Indoia, etc. However, the strong and growing ready-made garment industry is not supported adequately by local textiles and there is a huge demand-supply gap, which has been covered through imports.
Bangladesh manufactures for international brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Gap, Calvin Klein, H&M, etc, and retailers like Target and Walmart have sourcing offices in Dhaka. Exports of apparel from Bangladesh have recorded a growth of 12 per cent during 2013 as compared to the previous year.
Enhanced trade ties in textiles between India and Bangladesh will be beneficial for both countries. Moreover, with imports of Indian MMF textiles Bangladesh can cut costs and Indian MMF textiles complements Bangladesh garmenting industry rather than compete with it. The government of India has taken pro-active initiatives to facilitate bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh. This will help in increasing exports of Indian MMF textiles to Bangladesh.
Pakistan's cotton output may be plunged considerably in the new season. Since farmers are not getting the right price it has compelled many of them to plant wheat instead. In November, cotton prices plunged to a three-year low on weak demand. Prices fell despite the government’s purchase of at least one million bales at higher prices from farmers in an effort to support them.
One reason for the thin trading at Karachi’s cotton market is the offshoot of a tug of war over prices between ginners and mills. Rising imports from India of cheaper fine count yarn have triggered confrontation between the value added and spinning sectors. The latter is demanding 15 per cent regulatory duty on Indian yarn to protect 30 spinning factories, mostly located in Punjab, from going out of business. But the value added textile sector opposes any new curbs and wants the cheaper yarn imports to continue.
The spinning industry is finding it hard to survive. Indian yarn is not the only threat. The Chinese have drastically cut yarn imports from Pakistan. The sudden withdrawal of China from the market has caused a slump in cotton prices the world over and Pakistan is no exception.
Europa, a leader for over 40 years in high quality and technologically advanced stretch and super stretch denims, presents ES, a collection of ‘smart’ stretch denims that make use of Roica™ EF by Asahi Kasei Fibers Corporation, a next-generation yarn with elevated technological characteristics. The fibre is GRS* and OEKo-Tex Standard 100* certified, and is produced using a highly innovative process that results in considerable savings of raw materials and energy as well as the reduction of CO2 emissions. ES has been showcased in the S/S 2016 collection through three different products: a basic, a denim stretch and a denim super stretch. These are the flagship products of the Europa collection, available in a new smart version. ES is unique and offers added sustainability values alongside high quality and technical standards, excellent fit and recovery and Made in Italy heritage.
The company is also presenting its distinctive interpretations of denim, stretch, bi-stretch and comfort fabrics that focus this season on softness and lightness by playing with different mixes of fabrics such as cotton and Tencel or cotton and modal, and creating singular weaves, with a ‘jersey look’, that provide a soft, plush-like texture.
Unique fabric interpretations are also found in Europa’s casual and sportswear lines where patterns and high tech treatments take centre stage: embroidery enhances stretch and bistretch fabrics, seersucker patterns grace yarn-dyed and solid fabrics, lamé fabrics come in copper and platinum hues. The predominant colours are a mix of natural tones, from beige- browns to fresh yellows, limes and cobalts to intense reds and blues.
All these incredible and numerous variations in denim and stretch fabrics, that also guarantee excellent fit and performance, are made possible through the use of the best technological processes patented in Europe: 3twist®, the exclusive twisting system that gives the Europa stretch fabrics their unbeatable ‘permanent wearability;” Pro.care®, a special finishing process which ennobles the fabric by making it softer as well as more delicate and durable; and Relax finishing, which relaxes the fabric and naturally preserves its purity and integrity.
With its Epson SureColor F7070 and SureColor F6070 Printers showcased at an event just before New York Fashion Week, Epson, one of the largest manufacturers of printers worldwide, has shown to the global textile printing market how their innovative systems can benefit it. As Agustin Chacon, VP of subsidiary sales and operations, Epson America points out the future is now and technology continues to push the fashion industry forward and inspire creativity and innovation. This technology gives entrepreneurs a way to produce their art in an efficient and affordable manner. It provides a whole new level of creative and functional versatility, he assured.
Epson SureColor F7070 printer produced a set of roses on a textile background, with the SureColor F6070 creating Jeffrey Fulvimari designed T-shirts, which utilised dye-sublimation technology that Epson has included in the SureColor printers. These two printers are aimed at fashion forward designers who want to be able to print directly onto fabric with high quality results. Both printers use UltraChrome DS ink from Epson that has been created to give fabrics of range of vivid colours. SureColor F7070 will retail at $9000 with the SureColor F6070 reaching a higher price point of $20,000, with these prices expected to be within the budgets of even designers that are just starting out in the fashion industry.
The Asia-Pacific textile printing market is currently the biggest globally, with an expected CAGR of over 4 per cent until 2020. The main reason for Asia becoming the market leader is because of rising population and strong economic growth in both India and China.
Key players in the global textile printing market, which is heavily dependent on consumer trends and the trends within the fashion industry, will face major challenges. It is important that companies in this market ensure they monitor developments in the fashion industry, so that new printers will meet changing industry needs.
