Union minister of state for textiles Darshanaben Jardosh launched a special drive to resolve pending subsidy claims under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS in Surat on Monday. The two-day special drive was organised at Manmade Textiles Research Association (MANTRA). Officials from the Textile Commissionerate looked into the pending subsidy claims of textile units and approved the eligible claims on the spot. "The special drive aims to resolve the pending subsidy claims made under the TUF scheme. I am confident that the subsidy applicants will make the most of the drive and get their issues addressed," the minister said at the inauguration of the drive. She also clarified that the subsidy claims were pending in cases where the industrial unit had not submitted the requisite documents or had not shown interest in the inspection of their units. Prior to the inauguration, the minister visited the various machinery and equipment available at MANTRA, especially those related to technical textiles, and appreciated the organisation for its contribution to research and development in the textile industry. She urged MANTRA President Rajnikant Bachkaniwala (/topic/rajnikant-bachkaniwala), Vice President Jayvadan Bodawala, and council members to publicise the organisation's work so that more people could benefit from it. Deputy director-general Ushaben Pol and additional textile commissioner SP Verma accompanied her. Separately, deputy director-general Ushaben Pol and additional textile commissioner SP Verma visited the Powerloom Service Centre (PSC) in Pandesara, Surat, on Wednesday and interacted with 20 students enrolled in a study course in technical textiles. They spoke about the immense opportunities in the field of technical textiles. MANTRA's 2- month course covers all 12 segments of technical textiles and non-woven technology, coating and lamination technology, among others. The course commenced on April 11. The students got the opportunity to visit leading technical textiles manufacturers in Dahej, Vapi, Valsad, Pardi, Kosamba, and elsewhere as a part of industry exposure.
Source: ANI News
Amid reports of new business gains, sustained improvements in demand and looser Covid-19 restrictions, manufacturers continued to scale up production in May. Manufacturing growth steadied in May, as export orders hit an 11-year high and companies could secure fresh deals, despite hiking selling prices at the fastest pace in over eight-and-a-half years to pass on the spike in input cost burdens to clients. The seasonally-adjusted S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) eased just a tad to 54.6 in May from 54.7 in the previous month. But it still remained well over the trend average, pointing to a “sustained recovery across the sector”, according to a release by S&P Global. An index reading of 50 or above suggests expansion and below it points at contraction. With this, the index has remained in the expansionary zone for the 11th straight month. Elevated PMI augurs well for a rebound in manufacturing in the June quarter after the latest GDP data showed a 0.2% year-on-year decline in the sector in the three months to March, albeit on an inconducive base. “Although softer than in April, the rate of inflation remained historically elevated,” said the release. “Business sentiment was dampened by inflation concerns in May, with the overall level of confidence the second-lowest in just over two years.” Input costs rose for 22 months in a row in May, with companies reporting higher prices for electronic components, energy, freight, foodstuff, metals and textiles. However, thanks to strong sales, jobs in the manufacturing sector rose further in May. Although only slight, the rate of employment growth inched up to its strongest since January 2020.
Demand showed signs of resilience in May, improving further in spite of another uptick in selling prices. Companies reported a marked increase in total new orders that was broadly similar to April. Amid reports of new business gains, sustained improvements in demand and looser Covid-19 restrictions, manufacturers continued to scale up production in May. Pollyanna De Lima, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “While firms appear to be focusing on the now, the survey’s gauge of business optimism shows a sense of unease among manufacturers. The overall level of sentiment was the second-lowest seen for two years, with panelists generally expecting growth prospects to be harmed by acute price pressures.” Capacity pressures among goods producers remained mild in May, as reflected in a marginal increase in outstanding business volumes.
Source: Financial Express
S&P Global India Manufacturing PMI stays flat even as other major exporting economies see a decline India’s manufacturing activity grew at a higher-than-expected clip but remained flat in May compared with the previous month, even as other major exporting economies saw a decline. Factory orders continued to rise in India despite sellers passing on additional costs to buyers. The selling price rose to its highest in more than eight-and-a-half years as cost increases were passed on to clients, in turn impacting overall business sentiment. The S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) came in at 54.6 points in May compared with 54.7 points in April, but remained steady as sales increased because of a sharp rise in international orders, the strongest in more than 11 years. The 50-point mark separates expansion from contraction in PMI, a monthly indicator of factory activity. Released separately, S&P Global’s final manufacturing PMI, the first to be released among major exporting economies, is considered a bellwether for global trade. The survey-based India report said demand improved despite another uptick in selling price, but businesses were wary of the momentum continuing because of inflationary pressures. “While firms appear to be focusing on the now, the survey’s gauge of business optimism shows a sense of unease among manufacturers. The overall level of sentiment was the second-lowest seen for two years, with panellists generally expecting growth prospects to be harmed by acute price pressures," said Pollyanna De Lima, economics associate director at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Input costs rose for the twenty-second successive month in May, with companies reporting higher prices for electronic components, energy, freight, foodstuff, metals, and textiles. The rate of inflation remained historically elevated, though it was softer than in April. Demand remained resilient, encouraging companies to continue with their efforts to rebuild stocks and hire more workers. Factory jobs rose further in May and the rate of employment picked up to the strongest since January 2020. Producers stepped up input buying in May, taking the current sequence of expansion to 11 months.
Source: Economic Times
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments are top priority for all business stakeholders. Companies have been presented with clear and rising expectations from these stakeholders – from investors to customers – to be proactive while managing ESG risks and opportunities as part of their overall business strategy. In fact, this interest has reached a tipping point with the stakeholders demanding that business leaders improve sustainability practices that benefit not only the bottomline but also generate a wider societal impact. These demands are supported by studies that suggest stakeholders view ESG achievements as a critical part of corporate performance. Businesses with better ESG delivery are also likely to have performed better on traditional parameters. This is why ESG efforts are being ramped up, with sustainability working into all stages of the supply chain, from eco-friendly raw materials and waste recycling to educating suppliers. This is a reality across all sectors, and the textile industry is no exception. The textile industry has long been known as a major polluter, which is what has sparked the urgency to become sustainable, improve worker safety and ensure the right of consumers to make informed choices. The textile supply chain spans across sourcing, manufacturing, processing, fabric care & packaging that produce dangerous effluents. All of this must be kept in mind while designing and implementing mitigation plans. To that end, the launch of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme was a significant step forward. Under the policy, producers are given a significant responsibility – financial and physical, for the collection & disposal of post-consumer wastes and it has raised the ESG standards across the industries. This has taught us that ESG innovation is key to solving the world’s sustainability challenges.
A SOCIAL AGENDA It’s not just regulatory, but also cultural factors that are motivating companies to advance an agenda that places sustainability, social good and inclusion on the same pedestal as profitability and growth. Key to this approach is the need to use corporate capabilities to solve real problems on the ground. At the post-consumer stage, again, the EPR plays a significant role. It’s a commitment made by the producer to facilitate a reverse collection mechanism and recycling of end-of-life, post-consumer waste. The environment benefits through the recovery of resources embedded in the waste with them circling back into the system. It also ensures against greenwashing – an unfortunately common practice through which a company projects itself as environmentally conscious purely for marketing purposes but without making any real impact through its sustainability efforts.
THE CARBON EMERGENCY The textile industry has taken the lead in delivering real impact, focusing on reducing or balancing its carbon footprint. A critical part of the ESG initiatives is responsible sourcing and farming. This spans regenerative organic farming to eco-friendly textiles creation and packaging. Textile industries should emulate the manufacturing process that follows the harvest including recycled water, sustainable energy and efficient operations to produce ecofriendly textiles, and lastly the packaging including recycled plastic. The efforts stretch well beyond sustainable production and recycling of materials. There is also a marked shift from traditional power sources to renewable energy. Every industry must have a long-term ESG vision. In fact, the very future of the textile industry depends on how it will use resources, recycle products, minimise waste and deliver community impact. How the industry responds to this imperative will determine its shape and nature in the years to come.
Source: Times of India
On his last day in Gabon, Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu, visited Special Economic Zone’s (SEZ) wooden showrooms that have 10-12 Indian companies. The SEZ brings together 144 companies from 19 countries operating in 22 industrial sectors, including a cluster dedicated to wood processing which brings together 84 companies. GSEZ is a PPP between ARISE IIP and the government of Gabon. Launched in 2010, Special Economic Zone is a multi-sectoral industrial park located 27 kms from Libreville. Indian businessmen, residing in Gabon, said there are lots of natural resources available in Gabon which makes the nation hotspot for good quality wood. Speaking to ANI, a businessman said, “We can find a very fine quality of wood here. We are exporting wood furniture to the middle east and USA. After the visit of the Vice President, we are hoping that our business/trade will get a boost”. “I am in the textile business and living here for a long period of time. I am exporting my textile products to many countries. After VP’s visit to Gabon, our morale is very much high, another businessman involved in the textile business said. As part of his three nations tour, Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu arrived in Gabon on May 30 on his first-ever high-level bilateral official visit from 30 May to 1 June 2022. Apart from discussing active economic engagement and identifying new areas for cooperation, particularly in agriculture, green energy, mining, health and pharma, ICT, defence, and maritime security, Vice President also had a joint meeting with the President of the National Assembly and President of Senate where both sides appreciated the leadership in upholding democratic values and traditions and agreed to have regular Parliamentary exchanges. The Vice-President addressed a business forum even in Gabon.
Source: The Print
The majority of powerloom units in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts, which had halted production in protest of the rise in cotton yarn price, resumed operation on Wednesday, considering the welfare of job work weavers. “Job work weavers who depend on beams supplied by powerloom units are badly affected by the stoppage in production. They are struggling to make ends meet,” K Sakthivel, coordinator of Coimbatore and Tirupur Districts Textile Manufacturers Federation, said. “We are checking the feasibility of switching over to artificial yarn like polyester and rayon instead of cotton to keep the business afloat. Units may start using cotton yarn again when the price dips,” Sakthivel said. As of Wednesday, there were no changes in the price per kilogram of yarn on all counts and remained same as the price announced in May, said sources. On the other hand, G Venkatesan, vice-president of the South India Spinners Association, said spinning mills are continuing their protest by cutting the production. “Spinning mills have reduced their production substantially. To keep the spindles in good condition, mills are operating at 40% of their total capacity.
Source: Times of India
The Union government in December 2021 amended the flag code stating the national flag made of polyester or machine-made flags have been allowed The Indian national flag or Tricolour can now be made of polyester and with the help of machines, according to revised Flag Code of India. The Union government in December 2021 amended the flag code stating the national flag made of polyester or machine-made flags have been allowed. "Now, the National Flag shall be made of hand-spun and hand-woven or machine-made, cotton/polyester/wool/silk khadi bunting," the notification of the amendment by the Ministry of Home Affairs said. Before this, only hand-woven and hand-spun flags made of cotton, silk, wool or Khadi were allowed. The hoisting, use and display of the flag is governed by the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and the Flag Code of India, 2002. According to The Hindu report, the Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha, which runs the lone BIS-approved flag-making unit, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah saying that the amendment will affect the whole of the khadi sector. The development has been made so that enough flags are available for government's Har Ghar Tiranga (tricolour at every door) programme that proposes to cover government buildings, private offices and residences. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced the tricolour plan as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav campaign launched by the government in the run-up to the 75 years of Independence. The programme was launched on April 12 to encourage Indians to hoist the national flag at their homes. “The idea behind this initiative is to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of citizens and promote awareness about our national flag," the culture ministry in a letter to government departments said on May 20. On May 13, the Cabinet Secretary had chaired a meeting of a committee of secretaries on Har Ghar Tiranga, where it was decided that employees and families of ministries, departments, public sector undertakings, self-help groups, civil society organisations should have “active participation” in the programme.
Source: Business Standard
Increasing inflationary pressures and supply chain bottlenecks remain a cause of concern for the manufacturing sector, which saw a contraction of 0.2% on an annual basis in May. Data shows that business sentiment was dampened by inflation concerns in May, with the overall level of confidence the second-lowest in just over two years. Increasing inflationary pressures and supply chain bottlenecks remain a cause of concern for the manufacturing sector, which saw a contraction of 0.2% on an annual basis in Q4FY22. GDP data showed that India’s economy grew by a modest 4.1% in Q4FY22, down from 5.4% in the previous quarter. Indian economy’s pace of recovery slowed down owing to global supply bottlenecks caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and higher input costs. While the overall industrial activity in the fourth quarter registered a growth, the manufacturing sector remained the sole laggard. "The contraction in the manufacturing sector - that struggled with supply bottlenecks and high input prices- in the last quarter of FY22 is a cause of concern,” Rajani Sinha, Chief Economist, CareEdge said. Sinha added that high input prices will continue to negatively impact manufacturing sector. The S&P Global India Manufacturing PMI data on Wednesday pointed to a sustained recovery across the sector. However, input costs rose for the twenty-second successive month in May, with companies reporting higher prices for electronic components, energy, freight, foodstuff, metals, and textiles. Data shows that business sentiment was dampened by inflation concerns in May, with the overall level of confidence the second-lowest in just over two years. “While firms appear to be focusing on the now, the survey's gauge of business optimism shows a sense of unease among manufacturers. The overall level of sentiment was the second-lowest seen for two years, with panellists generally expecting growth prospects to be harmed by acute price pressures,” Pollyanna De Lima, Economics Associate Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said.
Source: Economic Times
Requirements are growing as new applications emerge and manufacturers strive to increase comfort, improve safety and reduce weight. Demand for technical textiles in the automotive market is growing as new applications emerge and manufacturers strive to increase comfort, improve safety and reduce weight, according to Profiles of five major automotive technical textiles manufacturers, a 20-page report from the global business information company Textiles Intelligence. The average weight of textile materials now used in a mid-size car is 30kg, 50% more than the 20kg used in 2000. One driving force behind the rise has been a focus on lowering weight in order to achieve higher fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in response to government directives. Technical textiles offer significant opportunities for reducing weight. For example, the use of components made from Lineo’s FlaxPreg sandwich panel composites has been proven to achieve a weight reduction of 50% compared with traditional components made from glass fibre and polyurethane. Also, the composites offer a cost advantage of around 5%. The composites are designed for manufacturing a number of automotive interior components, including door panels, instrument panels, load floors, roof trim and seat backs. Similarly, the use of ELeather, an artificial leather material for automotive interior components, achieves a weight reduction of 40% compared with conventional leather. Also, the material boasts a number of high-performance attributes which provide customers with the benefit of a more efficient, less expensive and longer lasting material. Another driving force behind the rise in demand for technical textiles in automotive applications is a need for improved acoustic comfort as the popularity of new energy vehicles (NEVs) grows. In particular, sounds which were previously masked by the noise of the internal combustion engine (ICE) in standard ICE vehicles are clearly audible in NEVs—much to the discomfort of the user. To remedy this discomfort, Adler Pelzer Group (APG) provides full system engineering and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) packages to customers such as Tesla and, more recently, it has redefined its methods for developing NEV acoustics in a package which it calls EVO (evolution of automotive acoustics). In fact, APG believes that improving the acoustic comfort of automotive vehicles represents a significant opportunity, so much so that it has acquired the Acoustics business of STS Group and the Acoustics and Soft Trim (AST) business of Faurecia. Meanwhile, Autoliv and Global Safety Textiles (GST) have benefited from rising demand in the airbag sector and, in particular, rising demand for new innovative products. For example, Autoliv has developed an exterior airbag for autonomous vehicles which covers the front of the vehicle when inflated in order to protect vulnerable road users such as cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. Despite the promise shown by increasing demand for technical textiles in the automotive market, however, suppliers of technical textile products to the automotive industry were severely impacted in 2020 and 2021 by a slowdown in the market caused by the COVID19 pandemic. They were also impacted by supply chain issues, increased freight and transportation costs, higher energy prices, and shortages of supercapacitors. Furthermore, the ongoing military conflict following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to further price increases and supply chain disruptions in 2022 and, as a result, it seems unlikely that these suppliers will get back during the year to the performances they enjoyed in 2019.
Source: Home Textiles Today
Switzerland and China are closely discussing upgradation of their existing free trade agreement (FTA), according to the Chinese commerce ministry, which recently said both sides are actively promoting a joint study on upgrading the agreement and seeking areas where upgrades are possible. The negotiations are not stalled, a ministry spokesperson reiterated. The bilateral agreement was signed in July 2013 and entered into force in July 2014. The spokesperson said that the agreement is high-level, rich in content and mutually beneficial, as well as playing a positive role in strengthening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, an official news agency reported. China is now Switzerland's third-largest trading partner. In 2021, the bilateral trade volume hit $44.11 billion, soaring by 96.7 per cent year on year, according to the ministry.
Source: Fibre 2 Fashion
EURATEX, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, is organising a conference on the occasion of the EURATEX 2022 General Assembly (GA) on June 17, 2022, at Brussels. The one-day conference will focus on building a resilient European textile ecosystem. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis are bringing new perspectives to the global economic model, with unprecedented energy prices, increased focus on supply chain dependencies, increased environmental responsibilities and new job profiles. The conference will discuss how these fundamental changes will impact the resilience of the European textile ecosystem, EURATEX said. EURATEX is seeking participation from all members and stakeholders in the textiles ecosystem.
Source: Fibre 2 Fashion
Vietnam’s consumer price index (CPI) in May this year increased by 0.38 per cent compared to the previous month’s figure, according to the general statistics office, which recently said that with this, the average CPI in the first five months of the year increased by 2.25 per cent compared to the same period last year, higher than the increase of 1.29 per cent in the first five months of 2021. Statisticians attribute the rise to the sharp increase in gasoline prices. According to economic analysts, in less than half a year, the average CPI has been 2.25 per cent, and while the uptrend is still continuing, the target threshold of 4 per cent requires close management efforts, according to Vietnamese media reports. Forecasts of international organizations also suggested that Vietnam's inflation in 2022 will be around 3.8-4 per cent. Specifically, according to May’s statistics, among 11 main groups of consumer goods and services, 10 groups of goods increased in price compared to the previous month whereas only one group of products was discounted. The country’s index of industrial production (IIP) in May was estimated to increase by 4 per cent month-on-month and by 10.4 per cent year on year. Notably, the industrial production index in the first 5 months of 2022 compared with the same period last year increased in 61 localities, showing a clear recovery trend of the economy. Localities with a large industrial scale have positive growth trends, such as the Southern Province of Binh Duong with an increase of 9 per cent, the Central Province of Ha Tinh increased by 6.9 per cent, Ho Chi Minh City increased by 6.5 per cent, the northern provinces of Hai Duong, Thai Nguyen and Quang Ninh increased by 3.6 per cent, 3 per cent and 2.3 per cent respectively, the Mekong Delta provinces of Vinh Long and Long An increased by 3.4 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively. In the first five months of this year, the industrial production index increased by 8.3 per cent over the same period last year.
Source: Fibre 2 Fashion
The LYCRA Company, a global leader in developing innovative fibre and technology solutions for the textile and apparel industry, has announced that it will join a panel discussion at the inaugural United Nations (UN) Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network annual meeting taking place at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on June 2. With its recent commercialisation of COOLMAX and THERMOLITE fibres made from 100 per cent textile waste, The LYCRA Company is uniquely positioned to participate in the discussion titled Responsible Consumption and Production: Designing for Our Times. Jean Hegedus, sustainability director, The LYCRA Company, will share her perspective on how the company is scaling recycling solutions to help address the challenge of textile waste, the company said in a press release. The meeting will welcome United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network advisory committee members and registered partnerships by industry stakeholders, media, governments and United Nations system entities to highlight actions, solutions, and progress from the fashion and lifestyle sectors to advance sector engagement in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations member states in 2015. Discussions will focus on confronting the climate crisis, achieving gender equality throughout the value chain, and ensuring a resilient post-pandemic recovery. “The LYCRA Company recognises that the journey towards a more sustainable future is a collective effort across the industry,” said Kerry Bannigan, executive director, Fashion Impact Fund. “We are thrilled to have them join our first annual meeting to discuss solutions that will accelerate the fashion and lifestyle sector’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.” As the apparel industry looks to rapidly develop solutions for a circular economy, The LYCRA Company is focused on a variety of fibre and fabric innovations that reduce or divert waste, keeping materials in use and out of landfills. The company’s EcoMade family of recycled offerings includes LYCRA, COOLMAX and THERMOLITE fibres made from both pre- and post-consumer waste. The LYCRA Company has invited the industry to keep in the Loop with LYCRA to learn about its latest sustainable innovations and circularity advancements, while also promoting collaboration. The United Nations Conscious Fashion and Lifestyle Network’s inaugural annual meeting is co-convened by the United Nations Office for partnerships and the Fashion Impact Fund. Hegedus has over 35 years of experience in the textile industry, working first with The DuPont Company, and then INVISTA, before moving to The LYCRA Company in 2019. Over the course of her career, she has held a variety of positions in public affairs, marketing, licensing and branding. She began working in the denim segment in 2007, bringing several important innovations to market, including LYCRA XFIT, LYCRA dualFX, LYCRA BEAUTY, and LYCRA EcoMade technologies. It was also her work within the denim segment that heightened her awareness of the need for more sustainable solutions, and in July of 2019, she was appointed sustainability director for The LYCRA Company. Hegedus has a master’s degree in communications from the University of Delaware.
Source: Fibre 2 Fashion
