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China is poised, after six years when its cotton consumption has tumbled by one-third, to revert to raising its demand for the fiber – although that will not prevent a further fall in international prices. Cotton demand in China, the top consumer of the fiber, in 2016-17 will grow by a million bales.
An increase would be the first since 2009-10, when it reached a record 50 million bales, before China's policy of providing guaranteed and elevated values for growers, in keeping domestic prices far above international ones, rendered its mills uncompetitive.
For several years, China’s cotton price support policy was a detriment to cotton consumption. However, the prospect of extra supplies hitting the market bodes will for prices, which will average 67 cents a pound next season. Weak world demand growth, and low prices of manmade fibers such as polyester, besides the pressure of China's surplus disposal policies are blamed for undermining cotton price prospects.
Fears of China opening up its stake reserves, which are estimated at 49 million bales, to hefty sales have been cited as a big reason behind the fall in New York cotton futures this week to the lowest since 2009. However, an end to the retreat in Chinese cotton imports is expected. These are projected to stabilise at five million bales in 2016-17.
A two-day Denimsandjeans.com Bangladesh show begins March 2, 2016, to promote denim fabric companies to the global denim brands and also to share knowledge with international producers to get acquainted with the latest technologies.
A total of 30 companies are participating in the event. Of them, ten are international companies from China, India, Pakistan, USA, Turkey, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Germany. The theme of the show “High Fashion Denim” is inspired from the shows happening around the world.
Denimsandjeans.com Bangladesh is an international denim trade show, which takes place twice a year. The exhibition is a comprehensive showcase of the entire denim value chain: fabric, finishes, washes, accessories.
The trade show celebrates and explores the world of denim. It’s an exclusive event only for authorized trade visitors. Selective vendors can network, build contacts and meet others involved in the denim industry. Companies involved in sustainable solutions will also be present providing advice for protecting people and the planet.
The show offers international fashion buyers a one-stop sourcing platform for all aspects of jeans wear. The show acts as a hub for players on the international denim scene to mingle with colleagues, make new contacts and broker deals.
The mega denim show is one of the most awaited exhibitions and has been attracting global attention ever since its inception.
Like the last edition, this time too at Dhaka, apart from traditional customs of exhibitions, Bangladesh fashion universities and others will be involved in a contest related to denim products for an international audience.
The third FASHIONIM, a global fashion event dedicated to the denim industry, will for the first time showcase designs of fashion students from different colleges in Bangladesh. Only designs of those designers would be showcased who were finalists at the Bangladesh Fashion Students’ Contest. The event to be held in Dhaka is being organised on the sidelines of the denim show.
At the last FASHIONIM event held in October 2015, denim collections from three countries were exhibited. These were Vincunha Textile from Brazil, Envoy from Bangladesh and Bhaskar Denim from India. Around 400 guests from reputed retailers, factories, buying houses and brands were part of the event last time. For people connected with the denim industry in Bangladesh, it is of great interest to come for the show to get an update on the latest trends in the industry. The main theme driving the show was eco-sustainability.
International brands and sourcing agents are working toward promoting sustainability in the textile sector of Pakistan. The issues being addressed include working conditions, enterprise improvement and improved communication. Policy dialogue on better labor governance, compliance with national labor laws and international labor standards, advisory and training services to improve working conditions for workers in the Pakistani textile value chain are the key activities.
Issues that impact the livelihoods of people working in the textile sector and in the value chain will be examined. Workers and employers will jointly work toward workplace compliance. It’s hoped this will ultimately reduce industrial conflicts and increase overall efficiency and productivity.
A platform will be provided to stakeholders to generate debate on issues prevailing in the sector including legislative and institutional reforms, enforcement and implementation mechanisms and recommendations to address them. Institutional capacity building and workplace improvement programs will be at the forefront.
Pakistan’s textile exports to the EU market have risen by 21 per cent. The country will hold an expo exclusively for textile products from April 7 to 10, 2016. This will be an open forum for Pakistani manufacturers and producers to exhibit their products and directly interact with foreign investors.
Trade between Bangladesh and the United States rose 8.5 per cent in 2015. Exports from Bangladesh accounted for $6 billion of the total, and 90 per cent of this was clothing. The United States accounted for a quarter of all Bangladesh's exports.
US investment in Bangladesh rose to about $2 billion in 2015 from $1.5 billion the year before. Bangladesh’s exports include textile and clothing products, shrimps, tea and golf club shafts, while it imports raw cotton, chemicals, machinery and equipment and pharmaceuticals.
Designated as a least developed country, Bangladesh received trade benefits under the US Generalized System of Preferences but the facility has been suspended since June 2013, following the death of more than 1,100 garment workers the Rana Plaza collapse in Dhaka.
The Bangladesh readymade garment industry has grown over the space of a few short decades to become the second largest in the world. The sector has become a key driver of the Bangladesh economy and the nation’s development. The readymade garment sector accounts for over 80 per cent of the nation’s export earnings and employs some 4.2 million workers, an estimated 60 per cent of whom are women.
EuroFibers BV has signed a distribution agreement with Gruschwitz GmbH. The agreement is EuroFibers’ first direct distribution agreement in Prisma Shielded Dyneema. Both companies are well acquainted premium distributors of DSM Dyneema in Europe. Gruschwitz, located in South Germany, serves the German speaking countries and Eastern Europe as its sales area because of its market knowledge and dense network, Gruschwitz is the partner of choice for EuroFibers to sell and brand Prisma Shielded Dyneema in these areas.
EuroFibers has a dedicated mission in offering smart fiber solutions that enhance features of High Performance Fibers like Dyneema, Twaron, Technora, Vectran and Zylon. According to Marcel Alberts, Managing Director, appointing Gruschwitz as distributor of Prisma Shielded Dyneema forms part of the company’s strategy to focus on innovation and further build the Prisma brand in and outside Europe. EuroFibers will continue to provide extensive technical support to all direct and indirect customers through its network of experts.
Ditmar Schultschik, Managing Director of Gruschwitz, is very excited about the agreement and said that they have been premium distribution partner for uncoated Dyneema® in the German speaking and Eastern Europe countries for almost 5 years now. With the addition of Prisma shielded Dyneema to our current product range, we can now serve our customers even better.
The National Cotton Council’s (NCC) Cotton Economic Outlook 2016 says, this year will also be challenging for US cotton industry. Export markets continue as the primary outlet for US raw cotton fiber. China, traditionally US cotton’s largest export market, is importing considerably less in the 2015 marketing year - US sales to China are about 80 per cent less than this time last year.
The NCC sees total US exports at 9.5 million bales for the current marketing year, down 15.5 per cent from 2014. This estimate may prove to be optimistic as the weekly pace will need to increase throughout the remainder of the 2015 marketing year to reach 9.5 million bales. NCC’s estimate reflects the situation in China where massive cotton stockpiles and expectations for limited quota mean that raw cotton imports by China are expected to fall further in 2016 to 4.75 million bales, down from 5.5 million in 2015. China’s mill use also is projected to decline in 2016. As per the NCC projection, a 2016 U.S. crop of 14 million bales, with 13.4 million upland bales and 595,000 extra-long staple bales produced on 9.1 million acres. NCC - projected U.S. off take of 13.8 million bales in 2016 still would result in an increase in ending stocks of 193,000 bales.
Sluggish cotton demand, smaller imports by China, weakness in other commodity markets and a stronger dollar are prevalent factors in the current price climate.
The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers' and Exporters' Association (PRGMEA) has sought early discharge of export relating statements made by the government in recent past. It has also sought a direct intervention from the prime minister in this regard.
PRGMEA leadership, including the Senior Vice Chairman Sohail A Sheikh and Chief Co-ordinator Ijaz A Khokhar, has demanded zero-rating regime announced by the Prime Minister forthwith and not from July 2016 besides issuance of bonds for the exporters as per the federal finance minister. PRGMEA says the government should honour commitment and restore exporters' confidence. The government had assured of releasing bonds within one week but nothing has happened despite lapsing a considerable period. A trust deficit has hampered the liaison between the government and business community, which is needs to be removed, suggested Khokhar.
PRGMEA’s senior vice chairman said no one from the government is serious about stopping freefall of exports amidst GSP Plus status from the EU. He urged the PM to intervene and take appropriate steps to save the export-oriented sectors. Apart from the sales tax refunds, billions of rupees under the textile policy initiatives like DLTL are still held up for which funds should be released immediately, added Sheikh.
The Zimbabwe Textile Manufacturers’ Association (ZTMA) has embarked on a survey to assess the performance of the sector while mobilising funds to help expand the industry. ZTMA vice chairman Freedom Dube recently said his organisation was conducting site tours of companies across the country following the end of the annual shut down. The site tours of members will access who has re-opened after the annual shutdown and also establish what’s happening in their operations.
Dube says, due to operational constraints like stiff competition from imports, liquidity challenges and obsolete plant machinery, local textile firms closed 2015 operating at around 34 per cent capacity utilization. In terms of funding, textile companies need a combined $20 million working capital and capitalization.
Among a host of measures, players in the clothing and textile sector want the government to consider extending the rebate on textiles by another year to allow recovery. At its peak the clothing sector employed over 40,000 people compared to about 8,000 as of last year.
The country’s textile and clothing sub-sectors consist of three components namely: production and ginning of cotton, transformation of lint into yarn and fabric, and the conversion of fabric and yarn into garments.
Exporters in Tirupur want additional specialty fabrics to be included under customs duty free import. Most specialty fabrics are synthetic. Among specialty fabrics are nylon, burlap, oil cloth, anti-tarnish silver cloth, silver polishing cloth, huck toweling, cheese cloth, heat resistant fabrics, mosquito netting, crib liners, cotton voile, organic cotton fabrics and organic bamboo fabrics.
These fabrics are used for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. The end-uses for these fabrics include pool covers, hydraulic covers, aprons, golf bags and golf wear, cold weather garments, dust covers.
As the potential to increase readymade garment exports depended on the export of synthetic garments which have a market throughout the year globally, exporters say the additional inclusion of more specialty fabrics will be helpful in enhancing their growth and competitiveness and help them employ additional workers.
Already imports of specified fabrics (for manufacture of textile garments having an export value equivalent to one per cent of FOB value of exports in the preceding financial year) have been exempted from payment of basic customs duty. The industry wants some 20 items widely used by Tirupur knitwear garment exporters for manufacturing exportable value added garments to be included for exemption.
South Korea has developed a fabric that is superbug resistant by using pigment from bacteria. This anti-bacterial fabric was developed using a natural bacterial pigment called Violacein, a violet pigment naturally made by bacteria found in nature, and is reported to have antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal and anticancer effects.
Violacein, an indole derivative, is a violet pigment made by naturally occurring bacteria such as those belonging to the genus chromobacterium. Violacein has been reported to have antimicrobial and antiparasital properties in microbiology literature.
The bacterial pigment was coated to the fabric. The coated fabrics inhibit the growth of super bugs by 99.9 per cent. The work could be first of its kind to effectively utilise bacterial pigment as a coating agent on fabrics to impart antimicrobial properties.
The Korean team has developed prototype face masks and they are currently being put to use in a local hospital. This widespread use of antibiotics has resulted in the ongoing and ever-increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria also known as superbugs. Every year lakhs of patients die from a drug-resistant superbug.
This is the first case where an antibacterial fabric was produced using violacein. This fabric has the possibility to reduce the impact of super-bacterial infections.
