The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council

MARKET WATCH 15 SEPTEMBER, 2023

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

SRTEPC announces new name and logo for the council; MATEXIL

SRTEPC made this announcement during the Export Award Function, an event hosted by theml to honour its members who excel in exporting technical textiles. The Synthetic and Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) organised Export Award Function specially to felicitate its members exporting Technical Textiles. The Award Function was organised on September 12, 2023 in Mumbai – the financial capital of the country. The Council gave away around 24 awards to the companies who have excelled in exports under different segments of the technical textiles. Darshna Vikram Jardosh, Minister of State for Textiles and Railways graced the occasion as Chief Guest and gave away the Awards to the Award Winners. Senior Government officials from the Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, DGFT, and Customs also attended the export award function. All the champions and leaders of the technical textiles segment were present during the Event. During the function, new name & logo MATEXIL was announced replacing the old name of the council, SRTEPC. Bhadresh Dodhia, Chairman, MATEXIL (Manmade And Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council) informed, “The Ministry of Textiles has given the mandate to MATEXIL for export promotion of Technical Textiles also in addition to promotion of export of manmade fibre textiles”. He added, “This is an additional feather added in the cap of the Council. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting the council to promote exports of technical textiles. The council will certainly arrive at the expectations of the Government in promotion of technical textiles globally.” Dodhia also thanked Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Textiles, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution for his dynamic work ethics and continued support towards the manmade fibre and technical textiles segment. Dodhia also mentioned, “Technical Textiles segment has emerged as an essential component in every facet of modern life. Though India is currently at the developing stage of this segment, very soon we are going to see India as one of the leading manufacturing and exporting countries in the world.” Some of the leading names in the Indian Textile industry who received Awards were Reliance Industries, Arvind, Welspun, Loyal Textile Mills, Shriram Rayons, Bombay Dyeing, etc. In the sidelines of the Export Award Function, the Council also organised a Conference on “Growing Opportunities in Technical Textiles”. During the Conference, there were panel discussions wherein leaders of the Indian technical textiles segment and senior level government officials gave their views as panellists. The export award function would be encouraged many more companies engaged in technical textiles to do their best in exports. The Conference on “Growing Opportunities in Technical Textiles” came up with solid suggestions and recommendations as to how India can be a global leader in exports of technical textiles.

Source: Indian Textile Journal

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Countdown begins on EU carbon tax

October 1 is just two weeks away. Indian exporters were initially relieved as they only had to share emission data with the EU during the transition phase (October 1, 2023-December 31, 2025) without paying taxes. However, recently introduced EU rules, announced last month, have made the scheme more complex, even for the transition period. The “CBAM Implementing Regulation for the transitional phase and its Annexes” specifies the details of information required. The rules place significant data compliance requirements on Indian firms exporting steel and aluminium products to EU countries and also prescribe penalties. The EU CBAM legal and guidance documentation exceeds 800 pages of dense legal/technical texts. All Indian firms exporting products covered under CBAM to the EU will need to master every detail contained in these documents. Any neglect or misreporting will attract a penalty on the EU-based importer, who will promptly recover it from the Indian exporter. Indian firms crib about complexity of GST forms. Compared to CBAM, the GST documents look elementary in complexity and details.

The Emission reporting process The CBAM transitional period starts on October 1, 2023, and finishes at the end of 2025. Indian exporters will share specified emission data with the EU-based declarants during this period. Declarants will submit CBAM reports online to CBAM Transitional Registry set by the EU. The declarants will either be the importer of goods based in the EU or the indirect customs representative. The CBAM report will contain information as prescribed in Annex I of Implementing Regulation. The report is to be submitted every quarter one month after the end of that quarter. October-December 2023 is the first quarter. So first report will have to be submitted by January 31, 2024. The declarant can modify the submitted CBAM reports within two months of the end of the reporting quarter. For October-December 2023 quarter, the report may be corrected by the same declarant by February 29, 2024. Indian exporters should ideally share the required emission data for October-December 2023 quarter with their EU counterpart importers/declarants by the end of the first/second week of January 2024. This will enable the declarant to submit the CBAM report to the online registry by January 31, 2024. The EU will consider a CBAM report incomplete if data does not meet the requirements set by Annex I of Implementing Regulation. The EU will view the information as inaccurate if the submitted data needs to be corrected or fails to meet the requirements in Articles 3 to 7 and Annex III of implementing Regulation. The EU member country will assess the data extracted from CBAM Transitional Registry. It may initiate the correction procedure for incomplete or incorrect CBAM reports or failure to submit a CBAM report. It may seek additional information from the declarant. Or proceed to levy a penalty. The Regulation prescribes stiff penalties for non-submission or incorrect or incomplete submission of data, and hence Indian firms must master the detail of data sharing with the EU. The penalty will be between €10 and €50 per tonne of unreported emissions. It will be calculated based on the default values published by the Commission for the transitional period. Higher penalties shall be applied when more than two incomplete or incorrect reports have been submitted in a row or the duration of the failure to report exceeds six months. Here is a four-step guide to developing a firm’s emission reporting obligations. Indian exporters must refer to the Implementing Regulation for the CBAM transitional period and its detailed annexes for data requirements at each stage.

The following steps will ensure that all critical data needed for reporting emissions is covered. Step 1: Define the installation’s production processes and routes for each good. This is needed to attribute emissions to specific goods produced. Step 2: Identify the direct and indirect emissions of the installation. Direct emissions are emissions from the production processes, including from the production of heating and cooling consumed during the production processes, irrespective of the location of the heating and cooling output. Indirect emissions occur during the production of the electricity an installation consumes for its production processes, regardless of whether this electricity was produced within the installation or bought from outside. Step 3: Get the following information for each of the goods: Goods Commodity code; description of goods; export quantity, total direct and indirect emissions; the emission factor used for electricity; sector-specific information as prescribed; and information on the data quality and methods used. Step 4: Firms must use an Excel file developed by the European Commission for reporting emissions. The Excel file allows the calculation of CBAM-embedded emissions, identifies data required by the reporting declarants to complete the CBAM report, provides guidance on the different measures performed and provides a summary sheet containing primary information on production processes and products to be communicated to the reporting declarant for their CBAM Reports. It ensures that every data point is noticed.

Action for govt, industry

The government must establish a dedicated task force with representatives from relevant ministries to guide small firms in preparing CBAM documentation. Failure by industry in proper data sharing will result in penalties and loss of exports for the country. Industry to ensure accurate reporting. Foster open communication with EU-based importers to ensure a smooth exchange of emissions data and reporting information. Ensure timely submission of CBAM reports to the EU importer, who has to submit these to CBAM Transitional Registry. Companies must invest in robust data collection systems to accurately track emissions throughout their production processes. The CBAM transitional period, lasting until the end of 2025, necessitates timely and accurate submission of CBAM reports, with penalties in place for non-compliance or inaccurate reporting. By taking proactive steps to understand and comply with CBAM requirements, Indian firms can safeguard their exports. The writer is the founder, Global Trade Research Initiative

Source: The Hindu business line

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Spinning success: India’s rising dominance in global textiles

As consumerism and disposable income surge, the retail sphere witnesses rapid growth with the influx of international players, informs M K Raajeshwar. The essence of a nation’s identity is intricately woven not only within its cultural heritage but also in the very fabrics it produces. India’s rich history, steeped in centuries-old textile craftsmanship, is a testament to this. Today, India’s influence in the global textile market extends far beyond hand-spun khadi and exquisite silks, embodying a comprehensive dominance. The Indian textile industry, a fusion of modern machinery and ancient techniques, ranks among the world’s largest. Anticipated to grow at a robust 10 per cent CAGR from 2019-20, the Indian textile and apparel sector aims to reach a staggering $ 190 billion by 2025-26. This industry employs around 7 per cent of India’s workforce, encompassing approximately 45 million individuals, including 3.52 million handloom workers. Contributing 2 per cent to India’s GDP, its significance cannot be overstated. The sector comprises organised segments like mills and unorganised segments, including handlooms and handicrafts, adding to its multifaceted nature. India’s diverse climatic conditions enable the production of a broad spectrum of fibres, including cotton, silk, wool, and jute, solidifying its status as a comprehensive textile producer. The nation is the second-largest producer and exporter of cotton, boasting over 5,000 ginning units and 3,000 textile mills.

The scope of India’s textile industry extends beyond apparel, encompassing: Home furnishings: Globally cherished tapestries, bed linens, curtains, and cushions proudly carry the Indian touch. Technical textiles: These materials excel in technical performance and functional properties, serving fields like automotive, medical, and geotextiles. Agro textiles: Vital for crop protection, offerings include shade nets, mulch mats, and fishing nets. Packaging textiles: From food grain sacks to jute bags, this sector plays a pivotal role.

In light of escalating awareness about sustainability, the Indian textile industry faces scrutiny due to environmental concerns related to dyeing and printing units. Strict adherence to regulations is now paramount. Eco-mark label: Introduced by the Indian government to endorse environmentally friendly products. The handloom mark: Ensures the authenticity of handwoven products. Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD): Mandated in certain states for textile industries to prevent liquid discharge. India’s textile prowess reverberates across the global market, accounting for approximately 5 per cent of the international trade in textiles and apparel. The country’s competitive edge extends beyond manufacturing, encompassing raw materials and the value chain. While the traditional export destinations include the US, EU, and Canada, recent years have witnessed penetration into newer markets in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

Empowering the textile industry: The role of air compressors Behind the scenes of the textile industry’s grandeur lies a powerhouse of machinery. ELGi air compressors play a pivotal role in this sector’s operations. Air compressors tailored for industries serve as a linchpin for the textile sector. Compressed air is indispensable in spinning, weaving, dyeing, and printing processes. ELGi’s industrial air compressors, renowned for reliability and energy efficiency, are engineered to meet the textile industry’s demands. These compressors ensure seamless operations, enhancing product quality and reducing production downtime. ELGi’s air compressors find extensive use in the textile industry, collaborating with engineering teams to offer a streamlined pneumatic operational experience. Spinning: Pneumatic systems regulate air pressure in spinning machines. Weaving: Compressed air propels weft yarn across the shed in air-jet weaving. Dyeing: Pneumatic systems maintain consistent pressure and flow during dyeing. With cutting-edge technology, our air compressors ensure the smooth functioning of these applications. India’s textile industry is revered for its quality, versatility, and adaptability. Anchored in rigorous compliance, evolving applications, and seamless technology integration, it continues to weave tales of success.

Onward journey The horizon of India’s textiles industry shines brightly, buoyed by robust domestic consumption and export demand. Key players in the sector embrace sustainability through textiles crafted from recyclable materials. As consumerism and disposable income surge, the retail sphere witnesses rapid growth with the influx of international players. Pioneering companies like ELGi, armed with world-class industrial solutions, fortify the industry’s position, proving that the convergence of tradition and technology commands global attention.

Source: Indian Textile Journal

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6 medical textile items to be BIS certified soon

Six medical textile items sanitary pads, diapers, dental bib/napkins, shoe covers, bedsheet and pillow cover are likely to be soon brought under the mandatory ambit of the BIS certification keeping in view protection and safety of human health and for ensuring optimum quality of product. This is for the first time medical textile products will come under BIS cover. However, since self-help groups (SHGs) are mostly manufacturing these products particularly diapers and sanitary pads, the move might have an impact on these multiple small players manufacturing sectors. The Ministry of Textiles is working with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on regulatory aspects of different medical textiles. We will soon be notifying Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for 6 medical textile items including sanitary pads and diapers, among others, Rajeev Saxena, joint secretary, Union Textiles Ministry revealed at an event in Mumbai on Thursday. He said that these QCOs will strive to provide best value to users and end consumers, fostering Indian product quality that is comparable to global standards. Saxena highlighted on the vitality of medical textiles due to its direct correlation with quality of life, despite low share compared to Packtech and Mobiltech in India. “The market share of medical textiles is growing strongly in India on the back of profound R&D and skilling in the area. Further, there’s a need for repositioning of product focus in medical textiles in terms of global market and domestic market,” he further emphasized. The official stressed on wider innovation and research in the medical textiles, especially focusing on novel technologies and indigenizing the highly-imported medical textile items such as sanitary pads, diapers and other surgical sutures, among others. Commenting on the move, Rajiv Nath , Forum Coordinator, AiMeD said, “Medical devices are already regulated under the Drug Act and Medical Devices Rules. Hygiene products that are not necessarily medical devices are not regulated currently under the Drugs Act but yes their quality needs to be controlled so it’s understandable for the government to come out with QCOs based on BIS Standards as done in many sectors. “The government can also encourage quality based criteria in public procurement by seeking institutional buyers to seek Quality Council of India’s voluntary ICMED ( Indian certification for Medical Devices) from manufacturers certified by NABCB accredited certification bodies which is based on ISO global standards. “ Nath, however, felt that “To use CDSCO for regulation of non drug/ non medical devices will be incorrect and may end up as over regulation and needless harassment of the medical textile based hygiene product manufacturers considering lack of technical expertise and competence. “ The Government has already announced the launch of two QCOs for 31 items consisting of 19 Geo Textiles and 12 Protective Textiles including protective clothing for firefighters and welders in the first phase, a move aimed to prevent "dumping".

Source: Daily pioneer

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Fitch retains India’s FY24 growth forecast at 6.3 pc, flags inflation risks

Fitch Ratings on Thursday retained India’s growth forecast for the current fiscal at 6.3 per cent citing economic resilience despite tighter monetary policy and exports weakness, but upped year-end inflation projection on El Nino threat. The Indian economy grew 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter of current fiscal on strong services sector activity and robust demand.“The Indian economy continues to show resilience despite tighter monetary policy and weakness in exports, with growth outpacing other countries in the region,” Fitch said, while projecting 6.3 per cent growth for current fiscal (April-March), and 6.5 per cent for next fiscal. In its September update of the Global Economic Outlook Fitch, however, said that high-frequency indicators suggest that the pace of growth in the July-September quarter is likely to moderate. Growth in the July-September quarter is likely to moderate as exports continue to weaken, credit growth flatlines and the Reserve Bank of India’s latest bimonthly consumer confidence survey shows consumers becoming a little more pessimistic on income and employment prospects, Fitch said. On the price front, it said that the temporary increases in inflation, in particular rising food inflation, in coming months could curb households’ discretionary spending power. “The inflation impact on consumers may be temporary but other more fundamental factors are weighing on the economy. “India will not be immune to the global economic slowdown and the domestic economy will be affected by the lagged impact of the RBI’s 250 bps of hikes in the past year, while a poor monsoon season could complicate the RBI’s control of inflation,” Fitch said. Consumer price index based retail inflation was 6.8 per cent in August after 7.4 per cent in July and 4.9 per cent in June. “The increase in inflation in recent months has been driven largely by a sharp increase in the price of tomatoes and other food products,” Fitch said. Notwithstanding the risk of higher food prices, Fitch maintained its 6.5 per cent forecast for RBI’s benchmark interest rate till 2023 end.The government has reacted by importing greater quantities of food (especially tomatoes), temporarily scrapping the import duty on wheat and restricting sugar exports, it said. The RBI expects annual CPI inflation to moderate in coming months given the short-term nature of vegetable price shocks. “Nevertheless, the threat of El Niño means that inflation could exceed our forecasts, although the impact on consumers and the economy is likely to be temporary,” Fitch said, adding it expects 2023-end retail inflation at 5.5 per cent, higher than our previous forecast of 5 per cent. On global growth, Fitch said the world economy is now likely to grow a bit faster in 2023 than projected in June, but the deepening slump in China’s property market is casting a shadow over global growth prospects, just as monetary tightening increasingly weighs on the demand outlook in the US and Europe. Fitch raised its 2023 world growth forecast by 0.1 percentage point to 2.5 per cent reflecting surprising resilience so far this year in the US, Japan and emerging markets excluding China. “The deepening slump in China’s property market – once described as the ‘most important sector in the world’ – is a new threat to global growth prospects, just as the impacts of rate hikes in the US and Europe are starting to be felt more significantly,” Fitch Ratings Chief Economist Brian Coulton said.

Source: Financial express

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High power costs: MSME unit owners stage hunger protest

Over 3,000 owners of Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSME) units in Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode districts went on a hunger protest at Karanampettai in Tiruppur district on Thursday, September 7, to draw the attention of the Tamil Nadu Government to the impact of high power cost. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Electricity Consumers Federation had called for the protest to highlight the plight of MSME units in Tamil Nadu because of the hike in power costs last September. Jayabal, president of Recycle Textile Federation, said members of nearly 90 textile associations took part in the protest that began at about 9.30 a.m. Representatives of some of the MSME industrial associations in Madurai, Tiruchi, and Salem had also extended support to the protest. The protestors said while they accepted revision of power consumption charges, the introduction of peak hour charges for MSMEs, steep hike in demand charges, and collection of electricity tariff under LT III A 1 instead of LT III B for those with less than 12 KW connection had made these units uncompetitive. According to J. James, president of Tamil Nadu Association of Cottage and Tiny Enterprises, the Federation has decided that since the protest on Thursday had not reached the government’s attention, all MSME units in the State will send individual letters listing their electricity-related demands through email, speed post and courier to the Chief Minister from September 11 to 24 and hoist black flags at the units for a day on September 25.

Source: The Hindu

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Tata Power Solar and SIDBI sign MoU to offer services to MSMEs

The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr Bhagwat Karad, Union Minister of State for Finance at the Global SME Finance Forum 2023. Tata Power Solar Systems (TPSSL), one of India’s largest integrated solar companies and a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to offer an easy financing option for MSMEs. Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL) is a subsidiary of Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power utility. MSMEs that are willing to opt for Rooftop Solar PV Plant or associated services from Tata Power or its authorised Channel Partners across India will be financially supported by SIDBI under the scheme. Dr Bhagwat Karad, Union Minister of State for Finance, graced the MoU exchange ceremony at the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 in Mumbai. Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO&MD, Tata Power and Sivasubramanian Ramann, Chairman & Managing Director, SIDBI exchanged the MoU. Under this strategic partnership, TPSSL and SIDBI will encourage solar energy adoption among Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises by offering customised & innovative financing solutions through SIDBI’s 4E (End to End Energy Efficiency) Scheme. The 4E solar financing scheme offers TPSSL’s customers an array of compelling benefits, including the most competitive interest rates and loan limit to meet the requirement of the MSME sector. TPSSL and SIDBI has also announced the launch of The Big Solar Festat the Global SME Finance Forum 2023 to offer zero processing fees for the upcoming festival season to encourage the widespread adoption of solar energy among MSMEs. The Big Solar Festwill spread awareness on the most competitive financing offerings with zero percent processing fees for the upcoming festival season. This additional incentive will serve to expedite the green journey of the MSME sector, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth and clean energy solutions. Dr Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD of Tata Power, said, “MSMEs are the backbone of India’s economy. They operate across industrial segments and are major consumers of electricity. Our strategic collaboration with SIDBI will facilitate the ‘ease of opting’ renewable energy in the MSME sector and power its quest to become more efficient and globally competitive. I urge them to make the most of ‘THE BIG SOLAR FEST’ and play a pivotal role in building a greener and sustainable business ecosystem in the country.” An online application process has also been set up to help MSME consumers avail this scheme and contribute to the advancements of the country’s national solar mission. Ramann, Chairman & Managing Director, SIDBI, said, “SIDBI has prioritised digitisation of credit access and green/climate financing. SIDBI leverages partnerships to reach the last mile. We are confident that our partnership with Tata Power Solar will result in MSMEs getting better quality products & services, which will help in MSMEs growth and decarbonisation journey. We envision working towards developing innovative and costeffective financing options, especially for MSME customers. We are optimistic that this partnership and within that ‘The BIG SOLAR FEST’ will go a long way in accelerating the adoption of renewable energy, especially among the MSME sector.” The MoU builds upon the resounding success and positive feedback received from the collateral-free solar financing initiative introduced by TPSSL and SIDBI in 2021. TPSSL plays a pivotal role in empowering diverse industries and businesses to embrace non-conventional energy sources, reduce their CO2 footprints, and contribute to India’s clean energy goals. The company offers an extensive portfolio of solar energy solutions, spanning from installations to operational maintenance. It serves as a one-stop solution for consumers, catering to their comprehensive end-to-end energy requirements. The Company’s solar EPC portfolio is more than 11.5 GWp of ground-mount utility-scale, over 1.7 GW of rooftop and distributed groundmounted systems, and over 1,00,000 solar water pumps. SIDBI is the principal financial institution for the promotion, financing and development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector and for co-ordination of the functions of the institutions engaged in similar activities.

Source: Indian Textile Journal

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INTERNATIONAL

Clean Recycling Initiative Is Holding The 2nd Annual International Sustainability Marketing Competition (ISMC)

Montreal, Canada based non-profit organization, Clean Recycling Initiative  will be running the second iteration of the International Sustainability Marketing Competition (ISMC) during September and October of 2023. The competition is once again open to students from prestigious universities around the world, with many students already registered. “With the success of last year’s competition, we were excited to organize it again this year,” said Anna Belford, the Sustainable Development Specialist at Clean Recycling Initiative™. “We have already managed to have even more participation, with 250 schools from over 55 countries already involved,” Anna continued. “Education is one of the key elements of this competition. The participating students will have an opportunity to learn about important environmental issues originated from textile goods we use everyday and how we can effectively address it. This is the reason why we are organizing the information sessions and making it mandatory for the students to attend at least one of them”, said Sae Chang, CEO of Clean Recycling Initiative™. “The competition has grown to become the largest one of its kind in just two years, thanks to the keen interest on the subject by the public all around the globe and the great effort made by the team of organizers, judges and ambassadors who have graciously accepted to play important roles”, Sae continued. As Sae mentioned, multiple information sessions with the same educational contents in all of them will be conveniently scheduled for different time zones to accommodate as many students as possible. Attending at least one information session is a mandatory requirement to participate in the competition. The schedules of the information sessions as well as more information about the competition can be found at the Clean Recycling Initiative.

Source: Textile world

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Textile Waste Management market to grow US $ 2.07 billion by 2027

The textile industry waste management market is poised to expand by US $ 2.07 billion between 2022 and 2027, with a growth rate of 12 per cent throughout the forecast period, according to a report by market research and advisory company, Technavio. The report states that the market is driven by the growing awareness of sustainability and environmental protection, leading to increased adoption of eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and bamboo, which consume less water and energy during production. Additionally, the adoption of green manufacturing processes, exemplified by innovations like Adidas’ DryDye technology, utilising pressurised carbon dioxide for dyeing instead of water, further propels the textile industry waste management market during the forecast period. Key players in this market include Aditya Birla Management Corp. Pvt. Ltd., BLS Ecotech Ltd., Boer Group, Evrnu Inc., FABSCRAP, Fibershed, Genomatica Inc., Hyosung Corp., Infinited Fiber Co., Lenzing AG, Martex Fiber, Pistoni Srl, Pure Waste Textiles Oy, Re NewCell AB, RE TEXTIL Deutschland GmbH, Recover Textile Systems S.L, TEXAID Textilverwertungs AG, Veolia Environnement SA, SAAHAS WASTE MANAGEMENT Pvt Ltd., and Worn Again Technologies. The market exhibits a fragmented nature, with an expected 11.56 per cent year-on-year growth in 2023. Addressing challenges, the report notes that the lack of proper disposal facilities hinders the growth of the textile industry waste management market. The textile industry generates substantial waste, and effective waste removal processes are lacking, posing significant challenges.

Source: Apparel resources

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Inditex soars to 40.1 per cent profit surge in H1

Inditex, the Spanish fashion powerhouse, has announced a 40.1 per cent surge in net profit for the first half of the year, totaling a substantial € € 2.5 billion, surpassing initial projections. This performance was underpinned by its brands such as Zara, Massimo Dutti, and Pull & Bear, which collectively generated a revenue of € 16.9 billion in the first half, marking a substantial 13.5 per cent increase from the same period in the previous year. The company attributes this achievement to a “very satisfactory development” both in its physical stores and online platforms. Zara, as the flagship brand within the group, notably achieved a sales boost of 13.1 per cent, reaching € 12.36 billion in revenue. Other brands, including Oysho and Massimo Dutti, also delivered impressive results with growth rates of 18.3 per cent and 16.8 per cent, respectively. Inditex’s CEO, Óscar García Maceiras, expressed pride in these H1 2023 results, highlighting the continued talent and dedication of their teams in enhancing the performance of their business model. Maceiras also noted the positive reception of their spring/summer collections among customers. Furthermore, Inditex effectively managed its inventory by capitalising on operational performance and improved supply chain conditions, resulting in inventory levels that were 6.9 per cent lower compared to the same period in 2022, as of 31st July 2023. In more recent trading, the company projected strong performance for its autumn/winter collections, with sales, both in physical stores and online, up by 14 per cent year-on-year between 1st August and 11th September 2023.

Source: Apparel resources

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Deadline Approaching For Textile Research Grants

The deadline is approaching for new textile research grants from the AATCC Foundation Student Research Support Program. The grants support undergraduate and graduate student research on textile-related projects. Applications must be submitted prior to October 15, 2023, at 5:00 PM CST to be considered. Awarded research grants will be announced December 2023. The AATCC Foundation Student Research Review Board awards grants to all textile-related projects. Grant awards range from $500 to $4000. Recipients can request an additional $500 to reimburse travel and/or registration expenses to present their research at a technical conference. Reimbursement will be determined based on the project and the event. Priority will be given to presentations at the AATCC Textile Discovery Summit or other AATCC programs. The application is a simple three-page form including a description of the proposed project and the student’s resume. An advisor’s letter of support is encouraged but not required. Applicants can submit grant proposals electronically to Dr. Yiqi Yang, Chair, AATCC Foundation Student Research Support Program. Additional guidelines, application, and submission details are available on the AATCC Foundation webpage www.aatcc.org/grants. Funding decisions are made by a panel of academic and industry professionals from across the textile industry.

Source: Textile world

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