FW
Earlier, over 200 printing and dyeing units were in operation in Keqiao, is an important textile cluster in China which is was famously called ‘China Textile City’ — unfortunately,the traditional printing and dyeing industry faces serious environmental issues, including high energy-consuming, high-emission low-end equipment (80 per cent of which are more than 10-years old), however, since the last four years, there are only about 100 left in operation and here their production has fallen from 20 billion meters to 16 billion meters per year.
While relocating the industry, Keqiao worked out the negative list for equipment renovation and in 2016 alone, 2,023 sets of outdated printing and dyeing equipment were replaced.
By relocating to clusters and utilising technologically advanced equipment, the industry has risen from the ashes like the fabled Phoenix. Currently, as construction of the first- and second-Phase of the printing and dyeing cluster have been completed, 40 projects have been put into production, while 17 projects in the third Phase are under construction. In the first three quarters of this year, the local printing and dyeing industry recorded a 19.2 per cent growth in industrial output, 19.2per cent growth in sales, 27.8per cent growth in total profits and 23.7per cent growth in taxes.
Under the banner 'green, high-end and leading the world’, Keqiao is now building the Lanyin Fashion Town (industrial park), targeted at improving economic performance by introducing innovative technology, advanced equipment and effective management within a planned area of 3.5 square kilometers, Lanyin Fashion Town will be based on sustainable printing and dyeing; this will be supported by fashion culture tourism.
The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) held a meeting on Thursday where representatives of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) were present to discuss the issue of increasing the cotton crop in the country and improving the quality of cottonseed.
Shorter Pakistani crop during the period 2017 – 2018, than earlier expected, has seen domestic prices rise to higher levels.Traders said in Karachi that Pakistan may harvest a crop of 11.5 million bales (155 Kgs) during the current season 2017/2018.
The rise in International cotton prices in America is said to have gone beyond 79 cents per pound this week.Indian prices for the natural fibre has also sharply risen following the fatal pink bollworm attack on the crop in Maharashtra.
Yarn prices have also shown increase in recent months while the large spinning units are said to be faring much better. If the cotton demand continues to increase, local lint prices may rise.
There are several issues which could topple the global economy including a feared property and banking bubble in China, the missile crisis in North Korea and the inconclusive Brexit talks.
Cotton export is estimated to extend by 15 per cent to 67 lakh bales (of 170 kg every) within 12 months in 2017-18, which began in October, due to the rise within the output of the commodity. This assessment was made by the Cotton Advisory Board.
The crop manufacturing is estimated to extend to 377 lakh bales through the 2017-18 interval, from 345 lakh bales.
As for larger manufacturing value within the textile business, he additionally mentioned, cotton costs present that compared to the earlier 12 months, common costs have decreased by 48 per cent for numerous cotton varieties.
In a separate reply, the minister mentioned the federal government is taking a number of measures to advertise procurement of cotton from farmers on minimal assist costs by Cotton Company of India (CCIL).
"The recently concluded 56th Dornbirn Man-Made Fibers Congress highlighted innovation is key for the industry and all producers have to work together in partnership along the whole supply chain in a world that is becoming increasingly digital and driven by the ‘millennial’ generation of consumers. The message was loud and clear to push European textile manufacturing ahead and not restrict itself by negative reports. The event hosted more than 100 lectures having the best concoction of industry and academic research."
The recently concluded 56th Dornbirn Man-Made Fibers Congress highlighted innovation is key for the industry and all producers have to work together in partnership along the whole supply chain in a world that is becoming increasingly digital and driven by the ‘millennial’ generation of consumers. The message was loud and clear to push European textile manufacturing ahead and not restrict itself by negative reports. The event hosted more than 100 lectures having the best concoction of industry and academic research. The key themes included fibre innovations, and fibres, textiles and nonwovens for healthcare and hygiene, protective applications, and sports and leisure wear. It attracted more than 700 participants from over 30 countries, including a 30-strong delegation from China. The three-day event also included several panel discussions and a young scientists’ forum, as well as a recycling workshop.
Aiming towards productivity
In his opening remarks, Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer, Lenzing and President, Austrian Fibers Institute, noted the global fibre market is growing by 3-4 per cent a year, with the highest growth in Asia, especially China. Further, the technical textiles market is predicted to reach 42 million tonne by 2020, where functionality is being applied to a range of new applications, such as architecture, automotive and sportswear. But there is a dark side to the industry: after petroleum, the fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting industrial sectors. According to Changing Markets Foundation, the manufacture of viscose, for instance, could be sustainable, but is often not, owing to its prevalent production methods. Kerkhof said, leaders have to raise the bar, state priorities, and show the brands and retailers that it is possible to produce fibres responsibly and sustainably.
Delusions and rectifications
Heinz Meierkord, President, CIRFS, the European Man-made Fibres Association, and CEO, Advansa, noted manmade fibres accounted for 68 per cent of global fiber production in 2016, followed by cotton with 24 per cent. Further, manmade fibers are more durable than natural fibers, the shelf life of synthetic fabrics is longer, washing can take place at lower temperatures, and they dry quickly, without the need for ironing. In many industrial applications, manmade fibers can also provide properties of light weight, high strength and protection from weather, as well as being used in geotextiles, medical textiles and filtration.
Awarding excellence
Paul Schlack/Wilhelm Albrecht Prize 2017 was awarded to two researchers working on the development of polyethylene-based carbon fibres as part of their doctorates at the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) at RWTH Aachen, Germany. Gisa Wortberg focussed on the development of polyethylene-based carbon fibres for thermochemical stabilisation, while Andreas De Palmenaer worked on the conversion of the polyethylene-based precursors. The researchers demonstrated the technical feasibility of using polyethylene as an alternative precursor material for carbon fibre, as well as the ability to control the process chain and its economic potential. Meanwhile, the Paul Schlack Honorary Prize 2017 was awarded to ITA’s Markus Beckers for the development and analysis of a new manufacturing process for polymer optical fibers.
Sustainable Routes
A recycling workshop was held a day prior to the congress. This was chaired by Syngroup Management Consulting of Austria, and focussed on the ‘Circular Economy: Textile and Nonwovens Waste – a threat or opportunity?’ Ikea and adidas were among some of the brands present during the workshop. It was jointly organized by Dornbirn-MFC in cooperation with CIRFS, EDANA (the international association serving the nonwovens and related industries) and the International Solid Waste Association.
In a panel discussion moderated by Giuseppe Gherzi, of Gherzi Consulting, Switzerland, on sustainability and performance in the sports and leisure wear industry, the key message was brands/retailers should work with the entire value chain. However, the question remains as to who should drive sustainability. Ranil Vitarana of MAS Holding, Sri Lanka, noted that the textile industry is extremely fragmented, but sustainability should be driven by Europe. However, there needs to be a cohesive plan to implement it faster.
Next edition of the newly rebranded 57th Global Fiber Congress Dornbirn will be held on September 12-14, 2018. The main topics, include : fibre innovations; transport and mobility; recycling; energy storage; surface modification and additives; and additive technologies.
The allocation of Uzbekistan visited South Korea to discuss the implementation of the project to create a textile Techno Park in the city of Tashkent. The company plans to expand the geography of exports to the countries of Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, as well as North and Latin America.
The parties agreed that the Korean side will start supplying technological and laboratory equipment, and the Uzbek side will begin customs clearance of the equipment supplied.
The installation of the equipment is expected to begin in March 2018. Construction and installation work will be completed by mid-2018 and the Techno Park will be commissioned in September 2018.At present, Uzbekistan continues to attract foreign investments for construction of textile enterprises in the country.
Until mid-February 2018 the Korean decided for training in parallel with the installation of the equipment.
Main objective of the techno park construction works in the sphere of material science, dyeing and finishing production, fabric design as well as development of alternative energy sources. It is aimed at development and implementation of international training and research programs as well as exchange of experience to develop textile industry.
Group of buildings with the territory of more than 10,000 square meters is expected to be constructed within the framework of the project.
The establishment of the Techno Park is expected to raise the Uzbek light industry to a qualitatively new level of development and improve the training system for the sector.
Textile industry of Uzbekistan is considered to be one of the most dynamic and socially important sectors and ranks high among export-oriented industries of the country’s economy. The Uzbek textile industry is mainly focused on cotton, silk and wool.
Annually, Uzbekistangrows about 3.5 million tons of raw cotton, produces 1.1 million tons of cotton fiber.One of the policy priorities of Uzbekistan, the world’s fifth-largest cotton exporter, is further development of its textile industry.
Uzbekistan takes consistent steps to increase the volume of cotton fiber processing. In particular, it is planned to create 112 modern, high-tech industrial factories, expand, modernize and technologically upgrade 20 operating capacities. All this will increase the export potential of the industry up to $2.5 billion a year and create more than 25,000 jobs.
According to the General Organization for Export & Import Control report Turkey has topped the nations importing Egyptian textile, capturing 38.3percent of the total exports recording $230.27 million.
The report noted that Egypt's textile exports have increased by 5 percent during the first 11 months of 2017 recoding $749 million compared $716 million during the same period in 2016.
The textile exports have witnessed a growth of 9 percent during November 2017 registering $72 million comparing to $66 million during the same month in 2016. 10 countries have seized 70 percent of the textile exports between January and November 2017 posting $526 million.
Within 11 months the United Kingdom has come next in the list of the top Egyptian textile importers at $144 million followed by Saudi Arabia at $29 million, then Tunisia and Germany at $24 million and $19 million.
Vietnam’s textile and garment exports to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) have exceeded trigger levels, or the total amount subject to preferential tariffs allowed into EAEU markets for this year.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Department of Domestic Market Protection of the Eurasian Economic Commission has announced that 173.3 tons of underwear and 112.7 tons of children’s clothes from Vietnam had been shipped to EAEU in the year to end-October, exceeding the trigger levels for this year in accordance with a free trade agreement between Vietnam and EAEU.
The agreement also stipulates that the union can slap safeguard duties on products beyond trigger levels within six months upon the shipment. In case the trigger levels are breached, Vietnamese underwear and children’s clothes will not be entitled to preferential tax and will be imposed Most Favored Nation (MFN) import duties.For each product, a trigger will apply each year if the volume of any products imported into the EAEU exceed the trigger for that year, the EAEU will immediately announce it to Vietnam by written document.
Reliance Industries is interested mainly in the polyester yarn business of Alok Industries. Alok faces claims to the tune of Rs 29,519 crores from financial creditors and Rs 624 crores from operational creditors. Alok is a fully integrated textile unit with four core divisions — cotton yarn, apparel fabric, home textile and polyester yarn.
Lenders had attempted to revive the company through a strategic debt restructuring scheme. This allows them to convert part of their debt into equity and sell it to a new promoter. This got stuck following an order by the Bombay High Court that stayed the sale of assets and a change in the company's equity structure.
The court issued the order following a petition filed by HSBC on behalf of a few unsecured lenders to settle dues amounting to 55 million dollars. The account was classified as non-performing in the books of the bank by November 2016. The company posted a loss of Rs 3,502 crores on revenue of Rs 8,326 crores in the year ended March 2017.
Alok was the only company among the 12 listed by the Reserve Bank of India to be referred to bankruptcy that did not receive any bids when the insolvency professional invited expressions of interest.
Overtaking China, India is now the most dynamic market with a rapidly expanding economy and a consumption boom.
Conditions for retailers in India are favorable and will continue to provide strong fundamentals. GDP is forecast to grow 7.6 per cent in 2018, helping organised retail to double in size by 2020.
Relaxed rules for foreign direct investment in key sectors have improved the ease of doing business in India. Efforts to boost cashless payments and reform indirect taxation with a nationwide goods and services tax are also expected to accelerate adoption of modern retail. These are the findings of the Global Retail Development Index report.
In 2016, consumers showed increased interest in brands. Prominent international retailers entered the market including Armani Exchange, Cole Haan, Heatwave, Muji, Massimo Dutti, Kate Spade, and Neil Barrett.
Online retail is projected to grow 30 per cent annually, driven by high promotional activity and payment solutions such as cash on delivery. Lifestyle retailers such as Shoppers Stop are investing in omni-channel offerings. Two of the nation’s largest online retailers, Flipkart and Snapdeal, are considering a merger as investors look to lock in returns, cut losses, and focus on sustainable growth.
H&M opened 15 stores within two years of entering the market and German sports goods makers Puma and Adidas are looking for approval to operate fully owned retail stores and online portals.
According to the Egyptian Home Textiles Export Council (HTEC) compared to $443 million during the corresponding period of 2016 exports of home textiles rose 4.8 percent, reaching $664 million in the January-November 2017 period.
HTEC announced its intention to participate with 40 Egyptian companies in the Heimtextil International Trade Fair for home textiles which is set to be held in Frankfurt, Germany during January 9 to 12, 2018.
Chairman of HTEC mentioned that Egypt will also participate in the Carpet Domotex International exhibition, which is scheduled to be held in Hanover from January 13 to 17, 2018.
During the period of January-November 2017 Egyptian non-petroleum exports increased by 10 percent, registering $20 billion, against $18 billion in the same period of 2016.
Industry and Trade Minister, Tarek Kabil, stated that the exports could rise from $2 billion to $3 billion in 2017 year-on-year and that his ministry was aiming to cover 50 percent of the trade balance deficit by 2020, with more focus on raising exports.
Kabil assigned in November Egyptian export councils to prepare sectoral plans that will include ways to increase Egypt’s exports globally.
