FW
China is offering the United States a package of trade concessions and increased purchases of American goods aimed at cutting the trade deficit with China. The package includes elimination of Chinese tariffs already in place on US farm products including fruit, nuts, pork, wine and sorghum.
US aircraft maker Boeing would be a major beneficiary of the Chinese offer if Trump were to accept it. Boeing is the largest US exporter and already sells about a quarter of its commercial aircraft to Chinese customers.
China wants the US to set aside threats of tariffs on Chinese goods and US investment restrictions on Chinese companies. China also wants a relaxation of US export controls that ban American firms from selling certain high-technology products to China.
But getting to a reduction of the US China trade deficit on a sustainable basis would require a massive change in the composition of trade between the two countries. The United States’ two biggest exports to China are cars, aircraft and soybeans.
Agreeing to a deal focused primarily on reducing the trade deficit could also weaken America’s original tariff goal of pressuring China to end policies that it says are aimed at misappropriating US technology.
The 4th edition of Intex South Asia, the region’s apparel sourcing show will be held from November, 14-16, 2018 at BMICH in Sri Lanka.
The show provides a one-stop comprehensive sourcing and trading platform for global apparel manufactures, international sourcing and buying offices, buying houses, apparel brands and retailers, etc.
Intex South Asia is focused on transforming the South Asia region into a textiles and garments powerhouse. With Sri Lanka regaining GSP Plus, countries can make use of ‘regional cumulation’ to benefit from Rules of Origin (ROOs) when local sourcing for product input is not possible. Regional cumulation creates stronger regional co-operation between countries which are members of an EU recognised regional grouping like SAARC and countries which are GSP beneficiaries.
In 2017, over 200 exhibitors from 15 countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, Australia and USA exhibited their 2018-19 Spring/Summer collections.
Buyers from more than 21 countries comprising India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Dubai, UK, Italy, Australia, Austria, Spain, Germany, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Uganda and Nigeria converged in Colombo for the show.
The show is endorsed and supported by leading trade bodies of the region.
The Indian textile and clothing industry registered a 5.37 per cent export growth during 2017 as against the global export growth of 3.94 per cent.
Countries like Germany, Vietnam, Spain and India are capturing the export space vacated by China.
During 2017, India was the largest cotton yarn exporting country, registering a 25 per cent global market share. Yarn export increased by 7.21 per cent during this year when compared to 2016.
The Indian spinning sector’s long pending demand for extending the MEIS benefit for cotton yarn export is yet to be considered. If considered, this would enable the Indian spinning segment to have a level playing field and utilize the surplus spinning capacity and also convert the 60 lakh to 70 lakh bales of raw cotton being exported into value added yarn and thereby create new jobs for several thousands of people and increase forex earnings.
The yarn market has gained momentum in recent times. The unsold yarn stock level is one of the lowest in recent years. Taking advantage of increased fabric demand, yarn prices increased to a certain extent during May 2018 when compared to the previous month.
The demand for coarse and medium counts especially open end yarn both in the domestic market and export market has increased considerably and several mills have got advance bookings.
"The 2018 edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles has collaborated with international forecasting firm NellyRodiTM Agency to form a trend committee with different fields of expertise in order to gain latest comprehension of international lifestyle forecasts. ‘Future’ is the keyword of the season and three themes have been developed to illustrate this keyword. The three themes are: Caring Future: A greener, more moral and socially oriented creation that draws inspiration from new eco-gestures and good altruist sense with a new credo – take care of nature and man."
Jointly hosted by Messe Frankfurt, The Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT and China Home Textile Association, Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles is Asia’s foremost home textiles fairs. Reputed as an ultimate destination for the burgeoning Asia’s home textiles market, the fair is a great trade platform for home textiles and accessories for suppliers and buyers from across the globe.
Forecasting future lifestyles
The 2018 edition of Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles has collaborated with international forecasting firm NellyRodiTM Agency to form a trend committee with different fields of expertise in order to gain latest comprehension of international lifestyle forecasts. ‘Future’ is the keyword of the season and three themes have been developed to illustrate this keyword. The three themes are: Caring Future: A greener, more moral and socially oriented creation that draws inspiration from new eco-gestures and good altruist sense with a new credo – take care of nature and man.
Crazy Future: Plays on whimsical surrealism and petulance, the master of light-hearted insouciance. It plants a seed of madness in creation. Emo Future:
Is new nostalgia for the origin of things and reconnects us to the essential. Neo-mysticism consecrates the elements and celebrates spiritual, benevolent nature. It inspires the perpetuation of traditions and rituals our ancestors practiced, in all their wisdom and humanism, to glorify nature
The three themes will be demonstrated and discussed throughout the four-day fair in a series of events, while exhibitors’ products that resonate with the themes will be displayed in the Trend Area. Trend Forum tours will also take place, allowing show attendants to learn and discuss with designers and trend experts about lifestyle trends.
Wide spectrum of products
As the leading home textillle trade fair in Asia, participants can expect to see latest items and discover the forthcoming market direction. To fulfill this, more than 1,000 suppliers from China and across the world will showcase a wide variety of products covering the whole spectrum of home furnishing, while trend forecast, which is being introduced during the show, will provide both exhibitors and buyers with insight and guidance to stay ahead of the market.
"With the evolution of the fashion industry, Yarn Expo’s position and importance in the market has evolved. As Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) elaborates, “Fashion brands are more experienced nowadays in yarn and fibre selection, and are having more impact on the look and function of fabrics, which is flowing through to the final outcome of the garment. The need for brands to stay ahead of latest fashion trends and textile innovations in a competitive environment makes it vital for them to source at a comprehensive event with innovative and quality suppliers. This has propelled Yarn Expo to become one of the most influential fairs on the textile calendar.”
Yarn Expo 2018, to be held from October 15-17, 2018 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai, is expected to attract over 500 exhibitors. The expo has, for long, been the leading choice of fabric manufacturers and has attracted numerous brand buyers.
An influential event
With the evolution of the fashion industry, Yarn Expo’s position and importance in the market has evolved. As Wendy Wen, Senior General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) elaborates, “Fashion brands are more experienced nowadays in yarn and fibre selection, and are having more impact on the look and function of fabrics, which is flowing through to the final outcome of the garment. The need for brands to stay ahead of latest fashion trends and textile innovations in a competitive environment makes it vital for them to source at a comprehensive event with innovative and quality suppliers. This has propelled Yarn Expo to become one of the most influential fairs on the textile calendar.”
Widening buyer profile
She says, another trend at Yarn Expo is the strong demand for emerging products such as fancy and specialty yarns, and synthetic fibres. “During last
year’s autumn edition, 55 per cent more buyers attended the show as compared to 2016, 40 per cent more for specialty yarns and over 30 per cent for synthetic fibres,” explains Wen. This growth is also reflected in the number of trade buyers choosing Yarn Expo as their sourcing platform in recent years: from 7,375 in the 2015 autumn edition to 17,185 from 84 countries and regions last year. This in turn is attracting more exhibitors to utilise Yarn Expo as their business platform, with 258 exhibitors in 2015 growing to 493 from 13 countries and regions last year.
A connecting bridge
Yarn Expo’s buyer profile ensures the fair provides relevant business opportunities for all exhibitors. As Nadeem Akhtar, Marketing Manager, Hussain Mills says, “The main reason to attend Yarn Expo is to increase our customer base, and we’ve achieved this through the fair. Yarn Expo is the key bridge for us to keep connected with Chinese and Asian buyers – it’s the best show that we cannot miss.”
Mohammad Saad, Director, Abtex International, a supplier of cotton, melange and other yarns has been attending the Yarn Expo for more than 10 years. “This is the best platform for anyone dealing in yarns. You have buyers from all over the world, so Yarn Expo is the best fair in Asia for worldwide exposure,” he says.
Chemtax Industrial from Hong Kong a well-known agent of fancy and polyester yarn, and textile machinery is a regular and as Ricky Chan, Sales Manager states, “Yarn Expo is a strong platform to enhance our presence in this market and to interact with buyers. We saw many of our existing clients and potential business partners this edition.”
Singapore-based Texvista International, a supplier of a wide range of yarns is exploring the Chinese market but is glad that customers from Europe and America visited its booth. “This is a highly effective fair to meet Chinese buyers to learn first-hand what the market needs,” explains Rahul Gupta, Marketing Manager.
A long-term platform
Birla Cellulose, an Aditya Birla Group company, has been utlilising the fair’s prominent position since 2013 by successfully promoting its brand and products to leading Chinese and global players. The company’s initial experience proved successful and they now organise a Birla Pavilion at both the spring and autumn editions to showcase their own and their partner mills’ capabilities.
Sachin Malik, Senior Vice President (Sales & Marketing) shared the company’s experiences at the fair. “Yarn Expo is an important long-term platform for Birla, to be visible to the wider textile industry, and to connect to our customers and their customers through the entire value chain. Each edition, we see more and more buyers and more customers in the industry recognise the importance of this fair. With China being the largest market in the industry, Yarn Expo has developed into a premium event in the global textile industry calendar.”
A drop in the currency and a smaller offering are driving the Australian wool market to a new record. Buyers scrambled for wool during last week’s sale.
Superfine wools also moved upwards while medium Merino wools continued to be the most sought-after category.
The emergence, or increasing importance of China as a consumer market, has reduced some of the seasonality of demand from past years. Adding to the mix is the trans-seasonal garments that make up the new consumer’s wardrobe. Chinese demand for medium Merino wools last August saw the fake-fur product in frenzy, creating a 100 per cent rise in 21-micron wool over two weeks, which then completely dissipated again over the following three weeks.
The current market is not being driven by any single product, other than an increased demand from Chinese mills.
The medium Merino wool segment is having a run at present but the largest users including suit fabric manufacturers are facing severe price pressures. Their maximum purchase price is nowhere near the current greasy market.
Fine wools were just moving in sympathy, not creating new highs.
Chinese mills’ key concern is the level of supply of Merino wool from Australia. Chinese mills now understand Australia’s dry seasonal conditions are holding back production increases.
In order to deal with the possible crisis brought by the fourth Industrial Revolution, Vietnamese firms proactively conduct training sessions in order to improve their human resources’ capacity.
Incentives are being given to encourage firms to invest in technological advances. Workers’ welfare is also of focus to boost productivity sustainably. Technology in many Vietnamese firms is outdated. So labourers have little chance to use high-tech machines.
Automation makes up only 20 per cent of the production chain. This is true especially of the garment and textile industry. Firms are coming up with measures to help labourers access the trend of Industrial Revolution 4.0.
The productivity of neighboring countries like Laos and Cambodia has exceeded that of Vietnam. In fact Vietnam’s productivity is only one tenth compared to Singapore’s.
Successfully addressing issues regarding the labor force may provide Vietnam a key to open the door to the world amid the fast-paced industrial revolution.
Vietnam has a target of 35 billion dollars in total textile and garment export value for this year. Enterprises have been asked to fully exploit the working capacity of their workers as well as restructure their management practices to improve labor productivity.
Besides maintaining and developing export markets, enterprises are focusing on developing new markets, including linkages with the distribution system in the local market.
Uzbekistan wants to collaborate with Indian textile companies.A formal agreement on collaboration in the area of cotton and textiles is likely.
Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest cotton exporters. The country grows long-staple quality of cotton - equivalent to Egyptian cotton that matches the requirements of luxury garment brands. It is taking steps to increase the volume of cotton fiber processing.
The country is land-locked and far from a port thereby making it difficult for bulk goods industries to trade. However the Central Asian country offers investment opportunities. Incentives are being offered to industry in the form of tax holidays, free land for joint ventures with Uzbek counterparts and a cheap and skilled workforce. Uzbekistan has a 100 per cent convertible currency. Banks are supportive and quick to respond to the needs of trade and industry. The biggest advantage is the access to a huge market of the former USSR or CIS countries, with whom Uzbekistan has a duty-free trade agreement.
Keqiao Textile Expo was held in China, May 6 to 8. More than 1,392 booths from 540 enterprises showcased fabrics such as silk, chiffon, leather works, printed fabrics, as well as miscellaneous home accessories and textiles with elaborate designs.
The exhibition aimed at showcasing and marketing the products of China’s flourishing textiles and fashion industry to both domestic and international buyers.
The expo aims to increase exports of exhibitors to the Southeast Asia, and number of international textile markets such as South America, US, Europe, Mexico.
The expo has been held for 20 years. With its mission of living up to the expectations of the enterprises and the industry, the expo seeks to create value by providing a platform for commerce and trade, information exchange and fashion promotion for both suppliers and buyers, as well as to showcase new innovations and new creative textile designs and methods in the textile making industry in China.
Leading flat knitting machine manufacturer Stoll will exhibit its latest developments at the upcoming Make it British Live! trade show that will be held from May 23-24, 2018 at the Truman Brewery in London.
The company will present its CMS 202 HP B machine. The two system CMS 202 HP B is similar in technical capability to Stoll’s entry level CMS 502 HP+ machine, which has a 45”/114cm needlebed. The CMS 202 HP B is fitted with 8 feeders with clamping and cutting on the right-hand side of the needlebed. The machine also comes with Stoll’s new belt takedown system and its EBO touch screen interface.
Last month, the company also launched a new addition to its ADF family of machines. The German machine builder has expanded its range of machines for coarse knit production and now offers the ADF 530-24 in addition to the ADF 530-16 for this sector.
With 24 independent yarn carriers and three systems in gauges E2,5.2, E5 and E7, the new model is designed to enable sophisticated colour and pattern designs, allowing more room for creativity and the chance to react quickly to trends.
