TN Chief Minister MK Stalin, Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal jointly launched the park with an MoU signed between the State and the Centre India’s first PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks for the textile industry at E. Kumaralingapuram in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district was launched on Wednesday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal jointly launched the park with an MoU signed between the State and the Centre.
Source: The Hindu Business Line
The market for polyester-cotton yarn and poly spun yarn in India experienced thin trade due to muted demand. Prices in the Ludhiana market in North India remained steady, while Surat saw a recovery of ₹2-3 per kg after a fall in prices the previous week. Trade participants opted to adopt a wait-and-watch policy as they anticipated prices increasing next month. In Surat, Gujarat, prices improved by ₹2-3 per kg for polyester spun yarn after a previous downfall. The 30-count poly-spun yarn was traded at ₹139-140 per kg (GST extra), and the 40-count poly-spun yarn was traded at ₹154-155 per kg. A trader from Surat told Fibre2Fashion, "Last week, RIL had increased the prices of raw materials, which encouraged the value chain to raise prices. However, demand was still weak, and it is unlikely that there will be any improvement in prices this month." Polyester-cotton and polyester yarn sold steadily in the Ludhiana market, with demand from the downstream industry remaining weak due to weak sentiments in the entire value chain. A trader from the Ludhiana market told F2F, "Buyers preferred to wait for the next month, hoping for better demand from the downstream industry. Some brands may come for placing big orders for textile products." In Ludhiana, 30 count PC combed yarn (48/52) was sold steadily at ₹217-230 per kg (GST inclusive) in Ludhiana, while 30 count PC carded yarn (65/35) was steady at ₹202-212 per kg. 30 count poly-spun yarn was priced at ₹151-158 per kg and recycled polyester fibre (PET bottle fibre) was noted at ₹74-77 per kg. RIL decreased the prices of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and MELT but monoethylene glycol (MEG) was kept unchanged for the current week. The company fixed prices as PTA at ₹81.20 per kg (a decrease of ₹0.50), MEG at ₹57.10 per kg (no change) and ₹89.04 per kg (a decrease of ₹0.43). The company retained the price of ₹106 per kg for polyester staple fibre (PSF). Cotton prices in north India remained range-bound, easing by ₹20-30 per maund of 37.2 kg on Tuesday, but the prices later recovered to their previous levels. Trade sources said that the market did not see much activity. Around 80 per cent of the total estimated crop of 40-42 lakh bales of 170 kg each have already arrived in the market, with the rest expected to reach the market by the end of next month. Cotton arrivals were noted at 10,000 bales of 170 kg each in north India. The natural fibre was traded at ₹6,080-6,180 per maund in Punjab and Haryana, and ₹6,300-6,400 per maund in upper Rajasthan. Cotton was sold at ₹58,500-60,500 per candy of 356 kg each in lower Rajasthan.
Source: Fibre2fashion
The nation's first PM MITRA Park is set to be established in Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu, MoU for this signed between the Centre and State govts on Wednesday The nation's first PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park is set to be established in Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu, and employ an estimated 2 lakh people, the Memorandum of Understanding for which was signed between the Central and State governments here on Wednesday. Marking the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on his Twitter handle:"Today is a very special day for my sisters and brothers of Tamil Nadu!" "The aspirational district of Virudhunagar will be home to a PM MITRA mega textiles park. This will boost the local economy and will prove to be beneficial for the youngsters of the state #PragatiKaPMMitra," he said. Giving a big boost to the textile sector, the PM MITRA Parks, in all, would create huge employment opportunities and an estimated 20 lakh people would get 'new work' attracting about Rs 70,000 crore investment, Union Textiles Minister Piyush Goyal said here. The mega project would ensure south Tamil Nadu's economic growth, Chief Mininster M K Stalin said. In his address, after the MoU was signed and exchanged between the State and Central governments, Goyal said the States chosen to house this mega project were picked based on a transparent process. The MoU was exchanged between officials in the presence of Stalin, State Ministers Thangam Thennarasu, KKSSR Ramachandran, R Gandhi and Union Ministers L Murugan and Darshana Vikram Jardosh, apart from Goyal. Giving a background on the issues faced within the textile value chain, Goyal said various processes such as ginning, weaving, processing and shipping were being done at separate locations that were far away from each other, making the activity "inefficient and costly". The transportation of material also involved a high cost, he said. Considering this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came up with the "5F vision" of farm to fibre, fibre to factory, factory to fashion, and fashion to foreign, by which the entire textile value chain could have all the facilities in one place, the PM MITRA integrated textile park, he said. The amenities at the PM MITRA park in the state include plug-and-play infrastructure, an effluent treatment plant and testing facilities. Each of these parks are set to create huge opportunities for employment, "expand our export competitiveness" and earn precious foreign exchange, leading to an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', he added. The Minister said that Modi had a special affection for and desire to engage with the people of Tamil Nadu and "he is all the time telling us about the rich Tamil culture" which is recognised the world over. The State is the centre of India's art, culture and music as well as the pride of the nation when it comes to literature, he said, and pointed to initiatives such as the Kashi Tamil Sangamam and the proposed Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam aiding in fulfilling the concept of "Ek Bharat Shresta Bharat." In his address, Stalin highlighted the conducive environment for industries in the state and outlined his government's commitment to attract more investments. Speaking about the Virudhunagar PM MITRA project, he said infrastructure work at an estimated Rs 2,000 crore, which includes a Central subsidy of Rs 500 crore, will be taken up. Upon completion, the textile park will provide employment opportunities to 2 lakh people and would ensure the economic development of southern Tamil Nadu, he said. A total of 11 MoUs between State authorities and companies were also exchanged on investment commitments in the PM MITRA project in Tamil Nadu. The mega textile park is set to be built on a 1,052 acre site in E Kumaralingapuram in Virudhunagar District, close to the Chennai-Madurai-Kanyakumari national highway (NH-44), and is well connected to Thoothukudi seaport and Madurai airport. The proposed project site is owned by the State Industries Promotion Corporation (SIPCOT). Speaking about Tamil Nadu's close association with the textiles sector, Modi added, "The PM MITRA mega textiles park will enable the state to have a greater share in the ManMade Fibre and Technical Textiles market globally, thus boosting India's efforts to be a global hub for textiles. #PragatiKaPMMitra." Days ago, the Centre announced seven sites where PM MITRA Parks would be set up, in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The government has approved PM MITRA Parks in greenfield/brownfield sites with an outlay of Rs 4,445 crore for a period of seven years upto 2027-28. The PM MITRA Parks would help create world-class industrial infrastructure that would attract large-scale investment, including foreign direct investment (FDI), and encourage innovation and job creation within the textile sector. They signal a major step forward in realising the government's vision of making India a global hub for textile manufacturing and exports, the Union government had said. "It is expected that these parks will enhance the competitiveness of the textiles industry by helping it achieve economies of scale as well as attract global players to manufacture in India." The Union Ministry of Textiles issued a notification on October 21, 2021 for setting up the seven PM MITRA Parks, as announced in the Union Budget for 2021-22.
Source: Business Standard
The power loom owners in Maharashtra are upset with the Union government’s decision to shift the textile commissioner’s headquarters from Mumbai to Noida, saying that most of the textile units are located in Maharashtra, and the decision is baffling. Power loom owners from Ichalkaranji said a similar attempt was made by the Centre two years ago, but it faced stiff opposition from the elected representatives. The owners’ association has decided to write to textile minister Piyush Goyal expressing their opposition to the plan to shift the office. The office of the textile commissioner has been in Mumbai for the past 80 years. Ichalkaranji, which was once called the Manchester of Maharashtra, has 9,000 power loom mills. “We are unable to understand the rationale behind the move, especially when the operations have been running smoothly from Mumbai over the past eight decades. Power loom owners do not hail just from Maharashtra. Many of them are from Gujarat and other southern states. They find it easier to travel to Mumbai for work,” Vinay Mahajan, president of the Ichalkaranji Powerloom Owners’ Association. According to Mahajan, around 55% of power looms in the country are based in Bhiwandi, Malegaon, Ichalkaranji and Solapur. “The textile commissioner’s office plays a key role in implementing many schemes and policies of the Union government. If the office is shifted out of Mumbai, we will be left at the mercy of elected representatives to meet the textile commissioner,” he said. At the other major textile hub in the state, in Malegaon, there are over four lakh power looms owned by over 6,000 businessmen. The president of Malegaon Powerloom Udyog Vikas Samiti, Sajid Ansari, said that shifting of the office of the textile commissioner from Mumbai to Delhi does not augur well for the textile sector of Maharashtra. “Maharashtra is the textile hub of the country. We would raise issues related to our sector through this office. Now that the office would cease to exist, we have to travel to Delhi to meet the officials about our problems, which is both time-consuming and involves money. It is injustice for the entire powerloom sector of the state,” added Ansari. The move also evoked strong political reactions. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole has said that the move is deliberate and is part of BJP's strategy to destroy Maharashtra. “BJP has been trying to reduce the importance of Mumbai and Maharashtra for the past few years. After the Shinde government came to power in the state, big projects moved out of Maharashtra... important offices and projects in Mumbai and the state have been shifted out of the state at the behest of Delhi. Since Mumbai cannot be taken to Gujarat, it is BJP’s plan to destroy it,” he alleged. NCP MLA Jayant Patil raised the issue on the floor of the house on Tuesday. “I want to point this out to the chief minster The office is in Mumbai for many years. Maharashtra and Gujarat have a large number of textile industry. They monitor the implementation of various schemes. I want to request the CM and the deputy CM to stop any plan that would reduce the importance of Mumbai and Maharashtra,” Patil said.
Source: Times of India
NEW DELHI: A delegation of about a dozen members of parliament has met finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman seeking the removal of anti-dumping duty on viscose fibre (VSF), a critical raw material for the textile industry. MPs belonging to Communist Party of India (Marxist), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Trinamool Congress, Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party also wrote to Sitharaman saying an anti-dumping duty of $0.512/kg was proposed on VSF, which would raise the import price of viscose fibre, causing stress to small manufacturers. The appeal comes amid an emphasis on quality textiles, especially for exports. Countries with which India is negotiating free trade agreements have all sought high standards of goods. In textiles, India is competing with countries such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka which can not only produce cheaply but also have duty-free access to the European Union and Canada. Viscose, known as poor people’s silk, is a biodegradable and cellulose-based man-made fibre extracted from wood pulp. The MPs said, “Viscose blended cotton is the future. It is a critical raw material for the spinning and weaving industry, with end-products used in apparel, accessories, and Technical Textile Applications." Due to its versatility and low cost, they said, India’s demand for this raw material is growing by roughly 12% annually. In thisfinancial year, the domestic VSF demand was 700,000 tonnes, and the availability was only 540,000 tonnes. A government official, on the condition of anonymity, said that low-quality imports of raw material coming into the country run counter to the government’s effort to improve quality. “Both QCOs (quality control order) and cheap imports cannot go hand in hand. Quality is a priority, and efforts are made in that direction. The industry has made a resentation regarding the duty imposed on VSF. This call will be taken by the finance inistry," the official added. Last year the union government introduced a quality control order on VSF to improve the quality of textile products. In January, the government extended the applicability of the order by 60 days after the textile industry sought more time to adapt to new norms. Queries sent to the ministries of commerce, finance and textiles remained answered at press time. “With only one major viscose supplier contributing to over 90% of the supply, India’s entire value chain is facing big risks. Many small spinners cannot access viscose as the supply is limited to select spinners," the letter further said. China is the biggest supplier of VSF globally. The MPs said the reintroduction of duties would increase raw material prices for downstream industries, because of which livelihoods and exports would suffer.In December, an anti-dumping duty of $0.512/kg was recommended by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies to be reintroduced on VSF imports from Indonesia. “This move could raise the import price of viscose fibre by as much as ₹40 per kg, leading to trade disruptions, reduced competitiveness, and economic losses in the textile industry, a crucial source of employment in the country, particularly for the rural poor and women," the MPs said in the letter to Sitharaman.
Source: Live Mint
India may implement the Quality Control Order (QCO) on viscose staple fibre (VSF) starting from March 29, 2023. Despite earlier extensions, no further relief from the government is expected. According to industry sources, foreign plants producing viscose fibre are yet to receive certification, which can potentially disrupt the imported supply. However, the domestic supply is expected to remain unaffected as the leading producer, Grasim Industries Limited, has received certifications for its plants within the country. The ministry of textiles (MoT) had issued the viscose QCO 2022 notification on December 29 last year with a one-month implementation deadline. However, the government granted extensions to allow the industry to prepare for compliance. Industry experts believe that the extension will help Indian manufacturers fulfil their prior supply commitments. Industry bodies had urged the government for the extension, citing India's import dependency on VSF, to give the industry more time to comply with the QCO procedures and ensure that already-shipped VSF orders are not affected. Regarding domestic supply, market sources claim that Grasim Industries Limited, the leading producer of the fibre, is prepared to implement the order from March 29, 2023. The company has received certification for its domestic plants, although it has yet to obtain certification for plants in other countries. Currently, it imports nonwoven viscose staple fibre from its overseas plant. However, it plans to set up new plants in India to produce nonwoven VSF to meet domestic demand. In terms of the possible price increase after the QCO implementation, industry experts say that there is no likelihood of a drastic increase in the cost of production, which should not lead to price hikes. However, industry experts warn of potential disruptions in the supply of vegetable-based fibre, which could lead to price hikes. “The market still feels that the government will extend the implementation date. No foreign producer has received the certification yet,” an importer and trader from Mumbai, Mahesh Sharma, told Fibre2Fashion. Therefore, imported supplies may be disrupted. Sharma said that Indian textile raw material should not be monopolised and that more suppliers will help the industry develop. Market sources argue that global companies supplying viscose will also need to comply with the QCO, which involves a lengthy procedure that could delay the import of the material. It was initially thought that the QCO would restrict cheaper viscose fibre. However, market sources said that it will ensure quality standards without being detrimental to imports. While not all imported supplies are of low quality, it is more economical to balance the market prices of viscose.
Source: Fibre 2 Fashion
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal highlighted that the journey from India@75 to India@100 needs an efficient logistics ecosystem to drive us through Amrit Kaal to become Atmanirbhar Bharat. The efforts of infrastructure development through several inisitatives such as Bharatmala, Sagarmala, Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and the revolutionary PM GatiShakti Initiative, will bring down India's Logistics cost from double digit to single digit. He suggested taking note of India's geography, terrain, size and complexities, trade volume and value etc while calculating the logistics cost. He shared that in the last 9 years, from being the 10th largest country in terms of GDP, India has now become 5th largest country in the world. India will become the 3rd largest country in the coming 2-3 years, through the impactful infrastructure projects that are going to be implemented from April 2023 to March 2024. He further added that Ecommerce, smarter FTAs, adopting international quality standards, good manufacturing practices, leveraging on our successful startups ecosystem, utilizing National Education Policy 2020, drone technology, artificial intelligence, strong PPP collaborations and Centre-State partnerships will work towards catalyzing India's development. Logistics in India as a policy tool will help achieve 'Serve the world from India' and 'Make in India for the world.'
Source: Business Standard
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Patna, in coordination with the art, culture and youth affairs department, is conducting a three-day textile exhibition and workshop on its campus from Wednesday to Friday. This is the first time NIFT Patna is organising an aspect of Bihar Diwas on its campus with the guidance and keen interest of director, Col Rahul Sharma. The key theme of the celebration is centred on a ‘Craft Village’, where traditional demonstrations, live workshops and exhibition-cum-sales of handcrafted and handwoven products will be organised. A rustic villagecentric ambience with artisans holding live demonstrations and workshops and the ‘Tree of Life’ and ‘Yarn to Fabric’ installations will create a beautiful and lively experience, celebrating textiles, traditions, culture and crafts. National award winners for Vegetable Dyeing and Block Printing, Tie and Dye and Leheria Crafts of Rajasthan, Batik Dyeing and Printing from West Bengal and Indigo Dyeing from Gujarat will add to the ever-growing repertoire of the crafts vocabulary. They will come together at NIFT Patna to ignite young minds.
Source: Times of India
The government is taking number of steps such as organising workshops, awareness programmes, providing designing and packaging skills for artisans and weavers to promote their products under the ODOP initiative, a senior official said on Tuesday. The One District One Product (ODOP) is not a scheme but an initiative aimed at fostering balanced regional development across all districts of the country, Joint Secretary in the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) Manmeet Nanda told reporters here. Under the initiative, 1,068 products have been identified from 761 districts. These goods are from different sectors such as agriculture, textiles, handicrafts and engineering.
Source: PTI News
Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, the recipient of Padma Bhushan this year, is the fourth in the extended Birla family to be conferred the nation’s highest civilian honours. Birla (55), was conferred the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian award by President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday. His great grandfather GD Birla was a recipient of Padma Vibhushan in 1957 and his mother Rajashree Birla was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2011. GP Birla, cousin of Kumar Mangalam Birla’s grandfather BK Birla, was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2006. Kumar Mangalam Birla (KM Birla) has been at the helm for 28 years of the diversified Aditya Birla group with its presence ranging from metals, pulp and fibre, chemicals, textiles, carbon black, telecom, cement, financial services, fashion retail and renewable energy. He transformed the group into an Indian multinational with operations in 36 countries across six continents and increased the group’s turnover by over 30 times to USD 60 billion. “The spirit of nation-building and trusteeship has guided my family across generations. And so, to receive this national honour is indeed humbling,” he said in a statement on being conferred the award. Thanking President Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “prestigious honour”, KM Birla accepted the award on behalf of his 1.4 lakh colleagues from 36 countries. “This award is a recognition of the longitudinal impact of the Aditya Birla Group – in enriching lives and in demonstrating through actions that business is a force for good,” he added. In this year’s Padma awards, late Areez Khambatta, founder of popular soft drink brand Rasna, has been awarded the Padma Shri posthumously along with billionaire stock market investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, who passed away last year, from the ‘trade and industry’ field.
Source: The Print
India and the European Union (EU) on Saturday concluded the fourth round of talks for a comprehensive free trade agreement in Brussels, a move aimed at further strengthening economic ties between the two sides. The next round of the talks is planned for 12-16 June here. India and the European Union (EU) on Saturday concluded the fourth round of talks for a comprehensive free trade agreement in Brussels, a move aimed at further strengthening economic ties between the two sides. The next round of the talks is planned for 12-16 June here. India and the 27- nation bloc resumed negotiations on June 17 last year after a gap of over eight years on the proposed agreements on trade, investments and geographical indications (GI). India had started negotiations for a trade pact with the EU in 2007 but the talks stalled in 2013 as both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including customs duties on automobiles and spirits and the movement of professionals. India's merchandise exports to EU member countries stood at about USD 65 billion in 2021-22, while imports aggregated USD 51.4 billion. A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory. Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin.
Source: Economic Times
Stakeholders are keen to improve incomes and mainstream gender Workers in the textile and apparel industry in Kenya have received renewed hope after leaders in the industry in the country gathered to stimulate procedures to improve their welfare in the sector. IDH Kenya recently convened a meeting in Mombasa to propose and implement ways of promoting better jobs and high income. Gender mainstreaming took centre stage in the discourse that forms part of the Netherlands-headquartered institute’s mandate in the country. The meeting brought together participants from 20 organisations in the sector. These include manufacturers, domestic and export promoters, designers, institutions of higher training, employer partners, representatives of foreign buyers, employee representatives and the national and county governments. IDH is implementing a project in conjunction with Generation Programme Kenya to further this agenda, its country director Jenny Löfbom told the gathering. “We are on a journey to maximise productivity and uphold workplace satisfaction in the textiles and apparel industry workers through our project, ‘Better Jobs in Sustainable Textile and Apparel Parks (Instep),” she said. She said the textile and apparel sector in Kenya is largely controlled by global brands that are increasingly enshrining sustainability at the core of their businesses. This includes stringent social standards targeting workers. “The sector in Kenya has continued to grow and absorb more employees in the last few years,” she said. “The growth in the sector has been triggered by the American Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as well as other internal factors and a shift in supply patterns from Asia driving global brands to increase sourcing from Africa.” Corrine Ngurukie-Yamo from Generation Programme Kenya said the sector is poised for further growth in the coming years owing to a favourable business environment and goodwill from the government. “As the sector expands, we need to ensure that workers are well taken care of, including advancing employee support in the socioeconomic, psychological, work environment, safety and health and general well-being,” she said. The Kenya Association of Manufacturers, which was represented by trade and policy manager Abel Kamau, supported the initiative, saying productivity in the sector is dependent on worker wellness. “We are delighted that IDH has become a pacesetter with Instep, which is a clear representation of the need for more investment in this sector,” he said. “We are looking at a future of more investment in this field by different players and consequently having a fair share in the social departments,” Kamau said. Instep programme manager Caroline Ngumba emphasised initiatives that promote gender mainstreaming in the sector. “As we promote better jobs and better income, we shall also be supporting interventions that among other things enhance the gender aspect in the industry,” she said. “This calls for training, policy formulation and strategic partnerships.” Despite Kenya’s Economic Survey report of 2022 by KEBS showing that the number of local employees engaged in Export Processing Zone enterprises went up by 17 per cent in 2021, the country is still facing a critical shortage of skilled apparel workers to take up the expanding opportunities. Heavy workload is among the challenges workers in this industry face. Under Instep, IDH is undertaking an assessment of labour rights in industrial parks, and their findings will be used to improve existing curriculums. This includes emphasising aspects of social sustainability, for instance by dealing with sexual harassment and industrial rights of workers. It also covers sustainable environmental practices, such as water and energy conservation. Other aspects are proper handling of chemicals and supporting the inclusion of a career development component in entry and intermediate-level employee training, with emphasis on young and female workers.
Source: The Star
Textile and garment businesses in Vietnam are taking steps to switch to green production to meet partners’ demand and achieve sustainable development, the Cong Thuong (Industry & Trade) newspaper reported. Greening textile and garment production chains is currently a global trend that are compulsory for businesses to achieve sustainability. It is also a requirement placed on manufacturers as the EU, which imports over 4 billion USD worth of textiles and garments from Vietnam annually, has proposed the imposition of some eco-regulations on imports. Major fashion brands in the world are also prioritising green enterprises to place their orders or requesting suppliers to adopt green practices. Facing challenges and strict requirements from the market, many Vietnamese businesses are making changes towards green manufacturing, including upgrading factories and using recycled fabric and green energy. Among them, the Hanoi Textile & Garment Joint Stock Corporation (Hanosimex) and the Hansae group of the Republic of Korea are implementing a recycled fabric production project in Vietnam. Hansae Deputy General Director K. Kim said the two enterprises will be the first in Vietnam’s textile and garment industry to make a historic turning point with the formation of a complete supply chain, from yarn making, weaving, dying to sewing, particularly for recycled products. They will produce yarn and fabric from recycled fibre in Vietnam, and all of those products will be used to produce garment for export. About 4,000 tonnes of recycled fabric will be manufactured for the EU market in the coming time, he noted. Le Tien Truong, Chairman of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) said developing a circular economy and environmentally friendly products is now a trend in the global textile and garment market. From now to 2050, the EU will issue new rules on textile and garment products, with a focus on green ones. He held that the strategic cooperation between Hanosimex and Hansae will help the two sides increase the proportion of recycled, green, and eco-friendly items. Vinatex has invested in new technology to reduce 30% of wastewater discharged from the dying process and reuse 30% of treated wastewater. It also aims to use reneable energy for 10% of its power consumption. In the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, the Danish-invested Spectre garment factory, which specialises in producing outdoor sport clothing for export, will be partly fueled by renewable energy. The 17 million USD factory, the third plant of Spectre in Vietnam, has been granted the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. With a modern design and the use of solar power, it is able to reduce some 1,600 tonnes of CO2 emitted each year.
Source: Vietnam Net
The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) recently approved three more manufacturing investment projects with Chinese backing, with a total registered capital of around $16 million. The projects are expected to create 3,054 jobs. The three companies are Dazhengxuan (Cambodia) Industrial Co Ltd, Xin Yuan Cheng Factory Co Ltd and Xu Wei Garment (Cambodia) Co Ltd. Xin Yuan Cheng’s $5.1-million shoe components factory in Ang Snuol in Kandal province will generate 318 jobs. Xu Wei’s $5.1-million garment factory in Por Sen Chey district in Phnom Penh will create 995 jobs. Dazhengxuan’s $6-million factory in Dangkor district in Phnom Penh will churn out umbrellas, raincoats, curtains, tablecloths and similar items, a Cambodian newspaper reported. CDC has already approved 27 new private investment projects this year, including 19 in textile-related sectors—worth $198.2 million. The country’s international merchandise trade volume was worth $52.425 billion last year, rising by 9.19 per cent over the 2021 figure, according to customs data. Of that, imports and exports were worth $29.942 billion and $22.483 billion respectively—up by 4.32 per cent and 16.44 per cent year on year. That narrowed the trade deficit by 20.60 per cent on a yearly basis to $7.459 billion.
Source: Fibre 2 Fashion
Japan’s clothing and accessories imports increased by 4.2 per cent to 221,056 million yen (approximately $1,683.14 million) in February 2023, accounting for 2.6 per cent of the total imports of 8,552,391 million yen during the period under review, according to the provisional trade statistics released by the Far Eastern country's ministry of finance. The imports of textile yarn and fabric were valued at 74,645 million yen in February 2023, a 2.5 per cent decline from the same period last year. Yarn and fabric imports accounted for 0.9 per cent of the total imports by Japan. The imports of textile yarn and fabric from China were 37,664 million yen in February 2023, which was 9.1 per cent lower than the corresponding period in 2022. The imports accounted for 2.5 per cent of Japan's total imports from China, as per the data. During February 2023, Japan exported textile yarn and fabric worth 59,730 million yen, a 3 per cent year-on-year increase. The country's exports of textile machinery were valued at 27,151 million yen, a 9.7 per cent increase from the exports in February 2022, contributing 0.4 per cent to the total exports. In 2022, Japan's clothing imports were 3,494,110 million yen, a 23.2 per cent increase from the imports in 2021. The imports of textile yarn and fabric were valued at 1,261,222 million yen in 2022, a 25.7 per cent increase. Japan had exported textile yarn and fabric worth 772,688 million yen in 2022, a 15.2 per cent increase year-on-year. Its exports of textile machinery increased by 26 per cent to 301,414 million yen in 2022.
Source: Fibre 2 Fashion
The European Central Bank (ECB) announced a significant rate hike of 50 basis points last week, demonstrating its willingness to provide liquidity to banks in the face of recent turbulence within the banking sector. This decision was long anticipated, as inflation across the 20-member region has remained well above the targeted level. Preliminary data from February showed headline inflation at 8.5 per cent, a significant increase from the central bank's target of 2 per cent. Given the projected persistence of high inflation, the Governing Council has raised the three key ECB interest rates by 50 basis points, bringing the main rate to 3 per cent. Prior to July of last year, this rate had been in negative territory. Additionally, the ECB has revised its inflation expectations, now projecting an average of 5.3 per cent for this year and 2.9 per cent for 2024. In comparison, December projections showed a 6.3 per cent inflation figure for 2023 and a 3.4 per cent rate for 2024. ECB has made the commitment to reducing inflation and announced plans for further rate hikes of 25 basis points in May and June. The prevailing consensus is that interest rates will indeed increase, which may have a negative impact on textile and apparel manufacturers' income. This is due to the current state of the retail market, which does not suggest a significant turnaround in the near future. A prevailing trend in the retail industry is the reduction in the number of stores, resulting in fewer opportunities for manufacturers. This development could worsen the situation as retailers are hesitant to raise prices to cover increased interest rates, fearing consumer resistance. As a result, manufacturers may face tighter cash-flow positions, further compounded by continual hikes in the minimum wage. This may force companies to operate on a smaller scale to meet their heightened operating expenses. Furthermore, a surge in borrowing costs due to an increase in interest rates could have a significant impact on employment levels. This situation is likely to cause considerable concern for textile and apparel manufacturers, given the additional challenges posed by the prevailing retail environment. Countries such as India, China, and Vietnam have already experienced a fall in their textile and apparel exports to the euro area due to reduced demand as consumers have cut back on their expenditures. Since textiles are considered non-high priority items, any upsurge in the prices of goods is making consumers prioritise their spending towards necessities such as food, energy, and housing. Generally, when interest rates rise, demand weakens, which can lead to a downturn in the global textile industry.
Source: Fibre2 Fashion
The nonwovens industry will meet in Geneva again from April 18th to 21st. At booth 1641 Trützschler Nonwovens, Trützschler Card Clothing and Voith present efficient manufacturing of fiber-based nonwovens. We will demonstrate latest developments in pulp-based CP (Carded-Pulp) and WLS (Wet-Laid/Spunlaced) technologies, TSUPREMA needle-punching solutions combined with T-ONE, our digital working environment to boost nonwovens production in terms of productivity, quality and ease of use. Trützschler Nonwovens and Voith displays new opportunities of paper-grade pulp as raw material for hydroentangled, biodegradable, single-use nonwovens. Since energy efficiency manufacturing is on everybody’s agenda, find out about our solutions for reducing energy and other resource consumption. Our cooperation partner Voith and its subsidiary Toscotec will be available for in-depth talks about wet-laying machinery. Voith provides highly innovative solutions for manufacturing textiles and nonwovens that offer economic and ecological benefits. As a full-line supplier, Voith achieves optimal finetuning of nonwoven products by focusing on long-term partnerships. Trützschler roller cards for CP, spunlacing, needle-punching and thermobonding processes are all equipped with high performing Trützschler card clothings. At the booth Trützschler Card Clothing will present latest innovations and the extensive, worldwide avaiiable service offers that secure continuous high running performance. With T-SUPREMA, needle-punching becomes as easy as never before. Trützschler Nonwovens’ key partnership with Texnology s.r.l. already proved our concept. We show solutions for both durable nonwovens used in technical end uses and disposable nonwovens for hygiene purposes. An integral part of all T-SUPREMA lines is the T-ONE software package. This working environment integrates AI-based algorithms to simulate line behavior for easily optimizing line efficiency, resource consumption or nonwoven quality. Moreover, the software digitalizes major production-related working processes such as quality control or recipe management and constantly monitors product data, machine parameters and line performance. Meet Trützschler Nonwovens, Trützschler Card Clothing and Voith at booth 1641, the focal point for all parties interested in carded and wet-laid nonwovens production. We are looking forward to meeting you!
Source: Indian Textile Magazine
