A slew of international brands are lining up to grab a slice of the large and growing domestic consumer market. The increased appetite for branded goods, reflected in the success of brands such as Zara, H&M, Pepe Jeans and Levi, is now drawing significant interest from mid-segment fashion brands like Avva, Colin’s, Collezione and Mavi Jeans. Most of these brands are planning to enter through the joint venture or franchise route, though they could consider going on their own once they scale up. Gaurav Marya, chairman, Franchisee India Holdings (a retail solutions provider), said: “Now, it’s the turn of small and mid-sized brands as they look to cash in on the open retail policy and huge gap in the market for branded products.” As per estimates of Franchisee India, 250 to 300 brands are expected to enter India, bringing in investment of about $1 billion over the next two years. “Many international brands are lining up as the retail sector is growing and international brands like Zara and H&M have been really successful, with strong profits and revenue growth being reported in the country. Now, the slightly mid-level or smaller brands too want to explore the Indian market,” suggests Anurag Mathur, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

However, the focus of these brands will be the top few cities. Industry experts argue that the infrastructure of the country has to improve for these brands to penetrate beyond the tier I and tier II cities. The fashion brands seriously eyeing an entry into India include several from the less-developed markets. Avva, Colin’s, Collezione, Damat, Dufy, Kigili, Mavi, NetWork and Tugba Deri are some of the Turkish brands planning entry. Chinese brand Metersbonwe and French ready-to-wear brand Kiabi are among others eyeing the Indian market. “Brands from Turkey and Greece are much more value-centric than European brands, and are expected to perform well in the country,” says Marya.

Unlike the fashion segment, brands being drawn to the food & beverages segment in India are mostly from the developed markets. Italy-based Illycafe, which runs a chain of coffee shops, France-based fast food chain Lina’s Paris, and the Netherlands-based cafe chain Queen’s Chips are some of them looking to set up shops here. The government’s decision to allow 100% foreign ownership in business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce and food retail, for food products manufactured in India, is aiding interest. Rajat Wahi, partner, Deloitte, said: “With the government relaxing norms mainly in the food segment and with the implementation of the GST, there is a lot of ease in doing business and many international food and fashion brands are looking to enter the country.”

Source: Financial Express

Rupee slips from 2-week high as crude spurts

The rupee surrendered its early strong gains and ended marginally lower by 3 paise at 64.92 against the US currency due to fresh bouts of dollar demand from corporates amid global crude woes. Forex market sentiment suddenly turned nervous and volatile in late-afternoon deals and succumbed to heavy dollar pressure amid caution before the release of the Federal Reserve minutes later in the day. The domestic currency scaled a fresh two-week high of 64.71 in early trade before retreating.
Growing concerns about the impact of high oil prices on India's fiscal deficit further dampened the trading mood. However, weak dollar overseas as well as sustained capital inflows largely cushioned the fall. Global crude prices shot up over 1 per cent on the back of supply disruption of piped Canadian crude to the US also expectations of a prolonged OPEC-led production cut also offered support. Brent crude is trading at USD 62.98 a barrel in early Asian trade. Meanwhile, domestic equity markets extended their winning run for the fifth-straight day led by key frontline infrastructure, PSU and auto stocks and also supported firm Asian cues. In line with most Asian currencies, the local unit resumed higher at 64.79 from overnight close of 64.89 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (forex) market on sustained dollar selling by foreign banks amid firm local equities. It later rallied to hit an intra-day high of 64.71 before taking a strong reversal to trade a shorter term choppy range.
The home unit touched a low of 64.96 towards the fag-end trade before settling at 64.92, showing a small loss of 3 paise, or 0.05 per cent. The rupee had appreciated 22 paise on Tuesday. The RBI, meanwhile, fixed the reference rate for the dollar at 64.7453 and for the euro at 76.0757. In cross-currency trades, the Indian unit fell back against the Pound sterling to finish at 85.93 from 85.90 per pound and drifted against the Euro to end at 76.29 from 76.06. The local unit also declined against the Japanese yen to conclude at 57.94 per 100 yens from 57.66.

On the global front, the greenback turned negative as as upbeat housing sector data failed to offset concerns over the long-term growth story of the US economy amid a flattening yield curve amid ongoing uncertainty over the fate of a major US tax overhaul. The dollar index, which measures the greenback's value against a basket of six major currencies, was down at 93.79 in early trade. Elsewhere, Europe's common currency euro traded slightly higher against the US dollar as strong fundamentals overweigh the political uncertainty in Germany. British pound regained some lost ground largely supported by positive headlines from the Brexit talks, where the 'divorce bill' and a potential UK-EU trade deal remain in centre-stage amid fading UK political turmoil. In forward market today, premium for dollar continued to fall due to sustained receiving from exporters.
Source: Economic Times

CAI estimates 2017-18 cotton crop at 375 lakh bales

In its first estimate of the cotton crop for the 2017-18 season beginning from October 1, 2017, the Cotton Association of India (CAI) has projected 375 lakh bales of 170 kg each. The CAI has retained its estimate for the previous crop year ended September 30, 2017, at 337.25 lakh bales. So, current season’s cotton crop is likely to be 37.75 lakh bales more.

The increase in crop estimated for the 2017-18 crop year is on account of the higher acreage under cotton than compared to the previous crop year. The acreage under cotton during 2017-18 is estimated to be more by about 19 per cent than that of the previous season. However, the CAI estimates the yields to be lower by about 9 per cent this year owing to the damage caused by pink boll worms.

The projected Balance Sheet drawn by the CAI estimates the total cotton supply for the cotton season 2017-18 at 422.00 lakh bales including the opening stock of 30 lakh bales at the beginning of the year and the imports which are estimated to be 17 lakh bales. The domestic consumption is estimated at 320 lakh bales while the exports are expected to be about 63 lakh bales.

Of the estimated 375 lakh bales in the ongoing season, 212 lakh bales of cotton are expected from the Central region comprising Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. North and South zones are projected to contribute 55 lakh bales and 103 lakh bales, respectively, with the remaining coming from Orissa and other parts of the country. (RKS)

Source: Fibre2Fashion

Pink bollworm tears into the very fibre of Maharashtra’s cotton growers

The colour pink is associated with love, beauty and fashion.. But in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, pink has become synonymous with death and destruction. Pink bollworm (PBW) has ravaged the cotton crop in the district, where farmer suicide has been rampant.

The pink bollworm eat away the cotton fibre and the bolls, causing economic loss to the farmer. This reporter travelled across Yavatmal and saw lush cotton fields with tall shrubs, but the bolls eaten away by the worms.

Huge crop losses

According to first advanced estimate for 2017-18, the cotton acreage in Maharashtra will be 4.2 million hectares, compared with 3.8 million hectares last year. Of the total area under the fibre, about 1.3 million hectares are suspected to be infected with the PBW.

Agriculture experts and farmers fear crop loss ranging from 50 to 80 per cent in the district, which is a part of the larger Vidarbha region. The devastation is especially acute in Umarkhed taluk.

Farmers are angry, particularly with the large companies that sold them genetically-modified seeds, which were supposed to protect their cotton crop from just this pest — the pink bollworm.

28-year-old Rehan Ullah Khan, whose 5-acre farm is located in Baldi village close to Umarkhed town, is in deep distress. Khan says he was expecting at least 100 quintals, but due to the pest attack, he could collect barely 30 quintals.

Production hit

Khan is not even confident of recovering the Rs. 1 lakh input cost, forget the Rs. 4 lakh he had hoped earn selling his cotton produce.

“In early October, I realised that the bolls are long past their time to ripen and burst open to reveal the cotton fibre. Today, due to the attack, I have no alternative but to uproot the cotton shrubs,” he said. He said that though the State government is promising monetary assistance to the farmers, it will require a lot of supporting documents, which farmers do not have. Farmers rarely keep records of their purchases or empty seed packs.

Coming after last year’s demonetisation troubles, caused massive problems to the farmers. This year it is pink bollworms. The problems of farmers continue in Yavatmal. Amol Patingrao, a cotton farmer from Krishnapur village in Umarkhed taluk, too, has a similar tale to share. Patingrao has a 10-acre farm on whichhe had planted cotton (8 acres) and turmeric (2 acres).

“This year, rain was also irregular which led to multiple pests attacks. But bollworm caused the maximum damage. Even the increased dosage of insecticides did not help as the PBW infests the main cotton boll, which is closed from all sides. Once a worm enters the boll, it seals the entry hole but continues to devour the fibre from inside,”

Patingrao hoped to harvest 80 quintals of the fibre but has managed only 20 quintals. His turmeric crop was also damaged by the irregular rain and attack by the white grub pest. “The failure of the two crops has destroyed my life,” Patingrao laments.

Government aid

Maharshtra’s Minister for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot has announced that cotton farmers will be compensated for losses incurred becasue of the PBW attack. Surveys of the affected area are under way, but the methods of providing the compensation are yet to be worked out.

Veteran farm leader and Chairman of Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavalamban Mission Kishor Tiwari told BusinessLine that the government is in a state of a shock given the devastation brought about by the PBW. By initial estimates, the State’s cotton economy has lost about Rs. 10,000 crore.

This is an unprecedented situation as over 50 per cent of the cotton crop has now been lost to the bollworm. The pink bollworm attack should have been repulsed by the genetically-modified seeds. But that did not happen, he rues.

This is the seventh in a series of Farm Distress. The first report appeared on November 16. The previous article in the series appeared on November 22, on the borrowing model of Gujarat farmers.

Source: Business Line

BTC authority in Assam assists Patanjali to build textile unit

The Bodoland Territorial Autonomous Council (BTC) authority in Assam has lent out help to assist Patanjali, an Indian FMCG company,to set up its textile unit in Assam valley to produce large number of varieties of textile fabric. It was announced by Patanjali’s promoter Ramdev at Kokrajhar in western Assam where he inaugurated a three-day yoga therapy and meditation camp in the presence of hundreds of participants.

Ramdev said that Patanjali is planning to set up a few residential and day-boarding schools in the state to provide succour to children from economically backward section of society. Patanjali Ayurved Ltd has started commercial production at its newly-set up factory at Balipara in Sonitpur district of Assam earlier this year.

The land for the manufacturing unit was provided by the Assam government on lease to Patanjali at a cost of Rs 13.82 crore. The factory was completed within five months since laying of the foundation. There is plan to set up about 75 units with an investment of Rs 6,000 crore. The manufacturing area is spread across 450 bighas.

Patanjali’s venture in the Bodoland areas will facilitate development and creation of employment opportunities in the area. It is expected that direct employment opportunities will be created for over 5,000 people in the industrial units while capacity production target worth Rs 1 lakh crore will be achieved within next five years. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had laid the foundation stone of the Rs 1,300-crore Patanjali Food and Herbal Park on November 6, 2016.

Source: YarnsandFibers

India's largest textile machinery show in 2017 from Dec 7

The largest exhibition in India for the year 2017, ITMACH India, will be held in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat state, from December 7 to 10. The exhibition, spread over 40,000 square metres of area, will host over 350 exhibitors from 10 countries showcasing excellence and innovation in textile machinery and technology.

Machinery from each segment of the textile industry, including spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, printing and processing, will be displayed during the show days. Participating companies include Saurer, LMW, Premier, Amsler, Rotorcraft, Jingwei, Pacific, Picanol, Itema, Staubli, Haijia, Rifa, A.T.E., Fong’s, Perfect, Rimtex, Palod Himson, SPGPrints, Embee, Premier Evolvics and several others.

Serving as an accredited B2B platform for the textile industry that supports adoption of technology; enhance investment, building capacity and knowledge sharing, the four-day fair will see participants from several countries. Along with a strong contingent of Indian exhibitors, companies from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Netherland, Turkey, China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan will present their latest technological innovations to visitors.

“Visitors will get to learn about the latest trends, developments and opportunities to share their knowledge and fine-tune their ideas. In short, the mega event will ensure that a plethora of business ideas are discussed, and dynamic business networking is facilitated,” the organisers K and D ITMACH Expositions LLP said in a statement.

ITMACH India would present an ideal opportunity for investors and machinery marketers to interact for new investments within the country, the statement added.

Source: Fibre2fashion

Global Crude oil price of Indian Basket was US$ 61.54 per bbl on 22.11.2017

The international crude oil price of Indian Basket as computed/published today by Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was US$ 61.54 per barrel (bbl) on 22.11.2017. This was higher than the price of US$ 60.95 per bbl on previous publishing day of 21.11.2017.

In rupee terms, the price of Indian Basket increased to Rs 3984.75 per bbl on 22.11.2017 as compared to Rs. 3963.91 per bbl on 21.11.2017. Rupee closed stronger at Rs. 64.75 per US$ on 22.11.2017 as compared to 65.04 per US$ on 21.11.2017. The table below gives details in this regard:

Particulars	Unit	Price on November 22, 2017 (Previous trading day i.e. 21.11.2017)
Crude Oil (Indian Basket)	($/bbl)	61.54 (60.95)
Crude Oil (Indian Basket)	(Rs/bbl)	3984.75 (3963.91)
Exchange Rate	(Rs/$)	64.75 (65.04)

AD/SA Daily Crude Oil Price

GSBS 2017 forum to discuss new textile business models

The Times Of India Global Sports Business Show (GSBS)2017 organized to discuss new business models of textile value chain. The largest convergence of the sporting industry in India, on its 2nd day focused on ISPO academy and the textile value chain.

Talking about the sustainability development goals 2030 and their implementation with the textile value chain, Mr. Reiner Hengstmann, Go4More, Stuttgart, Germany highlighted the 17 goals structured by the UN.

He added that Sustainability and business must work hand in hand. It is the need of the hour that companies and brands look for sustainable solutions and for consumers to be more aware about what and how of the making of the product. They need to move from linear business model to circular model where the motto is make-take-recycle.

Mr. Anton Schuman, Ghezri Textile Organization, Zurich, Switzerland addressed the options and risks of digitalization for the textile industry. He said that traditional value chain is changing due to digitalization; the driver being the consumer; digitalization has enabled the industry to create realities that were unthinkable at some point. He advised the delegates to innovate, adapt digitalization, change the point of view and do it with passion and write history.

Navdeep Sondhi, Gherzi Textile Organization said that according to a survey the global textile, apparel consumption was 90 million tons in 2016. The future of textile apparel consumption market will be India and China due to rapid growth in disposable income and younger population.

In a fire chat session Harit Mehta, MD, Haren Textiles, discussed the challenges that Indian companies faces, the need for digitization and working with the supply chain.

Source: YarnsandFibers

Sino-Pak moot focuses on cotton production

MULTAN - Experts from the US, China and Malaysia attended the first session of Sino-Pak International Conference on Innovations in Cotton Breeding and Biotechnology held at Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture.

It was held with the collaboration of Biotechnology Research Institute Beijing. On the occasion, Chinese cotton expert Dr Zhang Rui pointed out on Wednesday Pakistan and China were faced with same problems in the field of cotton production . He added that China introduced over 200 BT cotton varieties which were highly pest resistant. Addressing. He added that China used Genetics Engineering and Functional Genetics technologies to develop new varieties. He declared that China was ready to share technology with Pakistan besides extending all out support to boost cotton production.

Speaking on this occasion, MNSUA Vice Chancellor Dr Rao Asif Ali said that China was time-tested friend of Pakistan which played key role in development of our country. He said that Pakistan needed to get benefit from new technology and boost its through genetically developed seeds. He disclosed that cotton contributed 1.5 per cent to national GDP besides seven per cent of value added agricultural goods. He said that the motive behind holding the moot was to benefit from the expertise of Chinese scientists. Cotton production

Vice Chancellor of Bahauddin Zakariya University Prof. Tahir Ameen said in his speech that the three basic goals of any university included promoting knowledge, holding international conferences and introducing new ideas. “The MNSUA is discharging all of these responsibilities in well manner which is laudable,” he added.

MPA Mazhar Abbas Raan said that the government took revolutionary steps which resulted in record increase in cotton production . Giving details, he said that the government offered subsidies on electricity rates for the tube-wells and fertilisers as well as imparted training to the cotton pickers for promoting clean cotton.

The first session of the conference was also addressed by Dr Noorul Salaam, MPA Mazhar Abbas Raan and Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad Rajwana while experts from the US, China, Malaysia and many other countries participated.

Source: The Nation

USA : Cotton herbicide gets nod from state Plant Board

A committee of the state Plant Board on Tuesday recommended that a new herbicide by Dow Agrosciences for use on cotton tolerant of 2,4-D be allowed in Arkansas next season. The 3-1 vote moves the matter to the full Plant Board when it next meets on Dec. 12. The board's approval would then send the issue to a 30-day public comment period and to a public hearing.

Danny Finch, a Jonesboro farmer appointed by the governor to represent cotton growers, voted against issuing the label, calling 2,4-D a threat to other varieties of cotton that are not genetically modified to be tolerant of the chemical.

Finch compared the potential threat with damage reported this year to soybeans and other crops caused by dicamba. "We're in the fields and we're seeing the product move off target," Finch said. "We don't want to go through this like we did with dicamba." The state received nearly 1,000 dicamba complaints this summer.

Dow recently gained approval from the federal Environmental Protection Agency for Enlist One, a herbicide for the company's Enlist cotton system. The 34 cotton-growing states where the herbicide has been approved are allowed by federal law to make their state labels more restrictive.

Dow representatives told members of the board's pesticide committee that its studies show Enlist One is less susceptible to physical drift and to "volatilizing," or vaporizing off sprayed plants and moving to distant fields.

Weed scientists with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, who said they've studied the herbicide for four or five years, agreed. "We haven't seen any unexplained movement," said Jason Norsworthy, a UA weed scientist.

A colleague, Tom Barber, said the herbicide also has proved to be an effective weedkiller, especially weeds that have grown tolerant to glyphosate and other chemicals.

Of the 500,000 acres of cotton planted in Arkansas this year, about 15,000 acres were of the Dow Enlist variety. The company expects to have 80,000 Enlist cotton acres in Arkansas next year.

Finch said wider use of the cottonseed will result in more spraying and a higher risk to other cotton varieties. "My phone starts ringing when you talk about 2,4-D coming near cotton," Finch said. "We get calls when it's used on golf courses. We get calls when it's used on cemeteries. You better be really careful when you bring that to town."

Farmers who sign contracts with Dow to plant 2,4-D tolerant cotton will see those contracts pulled by the company if they use illegal 2,4-D products, Jonathan Siebert, a Dow representative, told the board.

Fines of up to $25,000 for egregious violations of Arkansas pesticide law will be in place next year. Siebert said the company also gave farmers a $4.50-an-acre rebate this year to encourage purchase and use of Enlist Duo, a blend of 2,4-D choline and glyphosate that was allowed in Arkansas this year. Enlist One is a single-ingredient herbicide that can be mixed with other chemicals, including glufosinate and glyphosate.

The committee later took no action on Dow's effort to get a new rice herbicide, Loyant, into the Arkansas market next year after Denny Stokes, a Plant Board member representing aerial applicators, noted problems in the label approved by the EPA.

The label, Stokes said, wasn't consistent with Dow's own research. Approving the label in Arkansas would be "laying a trap" for aerial applicators and setting them up for violations of Arkansas pesticide regulations, he said.

Siebert and other Dow representatives agreed and said they'd contact the EPA to make changes. Siebert also said no regulators from other states that have already approved the herbicide had noticed the problems in the label found by Stokes.

Source: Stephen Steed, Arkansas Online

Zimbabwe : Farmers appeal for more cotton inputs

Cotton farmers have appealed to Government to increase inputs support extended under the Presidential Input Support Scheme to boost production of the crop that has potential to earn the country millions of dollars in hard currency. The appeal comes as Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made has already ordered the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco) to give each household inputs package enough to cover a hectare.

Cotton Producers and Marketers Association chairman Mr Steward Mubonderi yesterday said farmers wanted Government to reward productive farmers. He said most farmers, especially in major cotton growing areas such as Chiredzi, Gokwe and Checheche, were prepared to double the total hectarage under cotton in the current farming season.

“We are undertaking a nationwide tour in which we are meeting our members whom we continue to urge to fully utilise inputs which they received from Government,” said Mr Mubonderi. “However, in all this joy, farmers are appealing to Government to increase the inputs support so that they can get enough to cover more than the current maximum of a hectare. Most of these farmers are now expert cotton farmers and know that a bigger hectarage translates to higher returns.”

Mr Mubonderi said some farmers had invested a lot of money in modern cotton farming equipment, enhancing their capacity to grow cotton on bigger hectarage. “Some farmers have invested in equipment that has already transformed them into large scale cotton producers. It would be better if cotton farmers are vetted and those with capacity can be supported to grow cotton on five hectares or more,” he said.

Government this season set aside $60 million to support about 400 000 cotton growers countrywide under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme in the 2017-18 farming season. Zimbabwe has the potential to produce 600 000 tonnes of cotton per annum, but output of the crop has been declining over the years.

Last season, cotton production increased by nearly 286 percent mainly because of support extended to communal farmers under the Presidential Inputs Support Scheme. Preliminary reports indicate that about 270 000 farmers have since registered to grow cotton in the 2017 /18 agricultural season.

Source: Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi, The Herald

Nigeria : Bumper cotton harvest in Katsina, price rises in markets

Cotton farmers in Katsina State have recorded bumper harvest this season. They are also having better prices for their produce compared to last year. Previously, poor quality seeds, which result in low yield as well as poor market prices have made many farmers to abandon cotton cultivation in the state leaving only a few in the business.

Alhaji Kamilu Kankara, a large scale farmer and cotton dealer, told Daily Trust that cotton farming has significantly declined in recent years due to what farmers term as poor seeds as the crop was not giving them high yield as expected. “God so kind, the few that cultivated the crop this year have a different story to tell as they recorded a bumper harvest. For example, in a farmland of a little over a hectare, I harvested 53 bags of cotton in the first pick, which I sold at N165,000 per ton,” he said.

He added that the price of cotton began to appreciate from last year with a ton of the produce rising to N80,000 and peaked at N300,000, adding that the price started at N120,000 per ton this year and is still rising. Alhaji Kamilu said cotton has given him the highest income; more than maize this year.

“Many are of the belief that it is more profitable to cultivate maize than cotton but not this year. I harvested two tons of cotton from a farm that used to give me 40 bags of maize; and with the market price of maize at N8,000 per bag, I would have earned only N320,000 instead of N330,000 that I got from the two tons of cotton,” he explained.

A cotton farmer at Yar-goje, Malam Sani Abdullahi, expressed optimism that cotton farming has high prospect in the near future as the price was fast improving. “The fact is that many of us have completely lost faith in cotton farming, that is why its production keeps slimming every year but with the recent significant improvement in its market price, the production of the crop has high prospects.

“Farming nowadays is profit-driven, even among subsistence farmers, and when farmers realized that they can earn more from cotton than maize, sorghum or soybeans, certainly many will shift to its cultivation,” he added. He added that revival of the local textile industries was the cornerstone of cotton production in the country as farmers cannot rely on international market alone to sell their produce.

Alhaji Sagir Malumfashi, a cotton dealer, told this reporter that international companies were yet to fully start buying the produce but due to its high price last year, many local entrepreneurs have now flooded the market to hoard the produce.

“There is likelihood of cotton scarcity in the state this year as only few farmers produce it. Because of this, entrepreneurs are rushing to stockpile the produce even before the international companies start buying,” he said.

Source: Idris Mahmud, The daily Trust

Survey: Apparel The Big Black Friday Draw This Year

Americans are looking to fill their closets this year.

Clothing appears to be the in-demand item for Black Friday and even Cyber Monday, according to a variety of web polls. Pollfish.com conducted a survey of 1,000 American shoppers and found that respondents chose clothing 60 percent of the time for the most coveted Black Friday deals. This was followed by movies, video games and music at 57 percent. In California, blackfriday.com found that shoppers were looking for clothing the most with a plurality of 17 percent, followed by toys at 16 percent. At the national level, entertainment equipment like televisions and tablets will be what consumers are looking for the most, according to blackfriday.com.

Pollfish.com asked respondents what clothing brand they were looking for and Victoria’s Secret came in at the top with 54 percent, followed by JCPenney with 46 percent. Retailers seem to be responding to the apparent demand as a Wallethub.com survey of the 35 biggest retailers shows that apparel and accessories received the biggest share of discounts with 28.1 percent of all Black Friday deals.

The same survey found that Kohl’s and JCPenney have the largest average discounts at more than 66 percent. Overall, the website found that the overall average discount on items is 37 percent, and suggests shoppers should look for discounts at least that high. In the Central Valley, bargain hunters will have a second-hand option in Neighborhood Thrift, which is offering a $10 bag sale. Shoppers buy a bag for $10 and can cram over 20 items into it, according to a press release from the organization.

“We’re able to create equitable transactions for families that need to stretch the value of their dollar,” said Anthony Armour, executive director of Neighborhood Industries. “Essentially someone can stuff a bag with over 20 items, providing clothing for the entire family for $10 a bag.” Neighborhood Thrift will be holding their event from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday in Fresno.

Wallethub.com ranked both online and brick-and-mortar retailers in terms of the average savings their stores will offer to shoppers:

-Kohl’s 66.32%

-JCPenney 66.30%

-Belk 62.75%

-Stage 60.82%

-Shopko 55.93%

-Bealls Florida 52.78%

-Sears 50.09%

-Macy’s 45.58%

-Fred Meyer 43.88%

-AAFES 37.25%

Offers.com’s use of an Ipsos poll found the top retailers for shoppers.

-Amazon 67%

-Walmart 60%

-Target 45%

-Kohl’s 29%

-Best Buy 26%

Online sales are forecast to snatch up most of the year-over-year growth across the nation. In terms of what people are looking for on Cyber Monday, Californians will be shopping for toys while nationwide, web-surfers will be still be looking for snazzy new threads, according to blackfriday.com. Cyber Monday will continue to grow this year, with 71 percent of respondents saying they’ll shop the Monday following the Friday rush. Only 69 percent of those surveyed said they’d join the crowds in the stores on Friday.

Source: Edward Smith, Business Journal

Chinese textile industry to turn from crude oil to biomass fibre

Hismer Bio-Tech, based in Ningyang county, Tai'an city in East China's Shandong province, is making biomass fiber from a very unusual source: shrimp and crab shells. According to Hu Guangmin, Hismer’s chair, the biomass fiber can wean textile companies’ off their reliance on crude oil. As textile companies have long been dependent on crude oil when making common synthetic materials such as nylon or polyester but with the biomass fibers the companies could soon change, by turning to biomass fibers. Hu said that innovation has saved the textile company from going bankrupt. The factory had trouble in business due to rising cost at home and stagnant export market. The company of 800 employees had to lay off some 200 people when the business was bad.

Five years ago, the textile producer placed its bet on developing the production technology and equipment for making the biomass material. Hismer collects 10,000 metric tons of the shell waste from seafood processing companies in China's ports of Qingdao, Yantai, Dalian and Ningbo a year for the production of some 6,000 tons of biomass fiber. It has become the world's largest marine renewable producer. In the backyard of the company's workshop, piles of shrimp and crab shells permeate the air with their strong odor. But after going through the company's processing machine, the shells are turned from food waste to chitosan fiber, basically indistinguishable from other synthetic fibers.

The fibre is then used by a variety of garment producers. When fashion lovers buy a stylish anti-bacterial underwear from lingerie producer Embry Form, they could hardly link it to shrimp and crab shells. The fabric is not only used for making socks, underwear, bedding but also medical products such as masks and sanitary pads as well as special cloth used in aerospace planes.

Source: YanrsandFibres

International textile and garment exhibition opens in HCM City

A wide range of machinery and business solutions for textile and garment manufacturing chains are on display at the 17^thVietnam International Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition (VTG 2017), which opened on November 22 in HCM City.

Held simultaneously with the Vietnam International Textile and Apparel Accessories Exhibition, the two expos feature 450 booths set up by 400 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Việt Nam.

Covering 12,000sq.m at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre until November 25, the event features complete value chains for the textile and garment sector, including textile and apparel processing machines, sewing machines, digital printing machines and fabric dyeing machines, as well as accessories, fibers, filaments, yarn and fabrics.

A number of seminars will be held on the sidelines of the expos to share advice on a several issues, including Việt Nam’s preparation for free trade agreements, the garment industry’s ability to handle fast fashion, and sourcing in the “Age of Trump”.

There will also be presentations on an overview of the industry, from fiber to textile, in Việt Nam and the impact of China’s One Belt One Road initiative on Việt Nam’s textile and apparel industry.

The events were organised by the Việt Nam National Trade Fair & Advertising Joint Stock Company (VINEXAD) and Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co. Ltd, and co-organized by Guangdong Sewing Equipment Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong Apparel Machinery Association, and Paper Communication Exhibition Services.

Garments and textiles are one of the country’s main export items. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Việt Nam earned US$21.43 billion from garment and textile exports in the first 10 months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 9 per cent, with exports to the US, Japan and South Korea enjoying good growth. Exports are expected to reach $31 billion for the entire year, up 10 per cent over last year.

Source: Viet Nam News

Global waterproof breathable textile market likely to grow

Global waterproof breathable textile market is expected to grow at CAGR of 6.30% during the period 2017-2021. Waterproof breathable textiles which are used in garments to prevent the absorption of water and provide protection from adverse weather conditions. They allow gases and vapours to escape from the garments and prevent water from penetrating into the material, according to Technavio's report, Global Waterproof Breathable Textile Market 2017-2021.

The textiles are made up of wax, vegetable oil, animal fat, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). There are different types of breathable fabrics based on biomimetics, smart breathable fabrics, hydrophilic membranes coating, microporous membranes coating, and a combination of microporous and hydrophilic membranes coating.

The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas, APAC, and EMEA. The report answers some key questions, including estimating the market size and the growth rate, main market trends, growth drivers, challenges, and identifying the key vendors in this market space.

One of the main market trends identified by the report is technological advances for greater comfort, whilst the biggest challenge to market growth has been toxins in waterproof and breathable textiles.

The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global waterproof breathable textile market for 2017-2021. The report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.

The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

These include: Dow Corning, Helly Hansen, Marmot Mountain, Patagonia, and W.L.Gore & Associates, as well as Columbia Sportswear, eVent Fabrics, Heartland Textile, Jack Wolfskin Retail, Lowe Alpine, Toray Industries, Mitsui, Nike, P2i, and Polartec.

Source: YarnsandFibers

Pakistan textile, clothing exports post 7.72% growth

Pakistan’s exports of textile and clothing recorded a growth of 7.72% year-on-year in July-October, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported yesterday.

The increase was mainly led by the exports of value-added products, data showed. The Ministry of Commerce claims the revival of growth in the export sector is due to a cash subsidy offered to exporters under the prime minister’s incentives package and the payment of sales tax refunds.

Data shows exports from the sector increased to $4.4bn in July-October against $4.07bn over the corresponding period last year. The share of the textile and clothing sector in overall export proceeds stood at 62.4% during the period under review. Exports of readymade garments edged up 14.8% in the first four months in value and 12% in quantity. Similarly, exports of knitwear increased 10.6% in value and 11pc in quantity during the period under review. A similar trend was recorded in exports of bed-wear, which went up 5.5% in value. However, these exports fell 0.87% in quantity during the period under review. Exports of towels posted a negative growth of 0.08% in value.

In the category of primary commodities, exports of cotton yarn witnessed a year-on-year increase of 5.04%. There was a decline of 100% in the exports of yarn other than cotton. Exports of made-up articles, excluding towels, increased 8.8% while those of art, silk and synthetic textile grew 60.6%. However, exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin dipped 34%. Exports of raw cotton also recorded a year-on-year increase of 46.69%.
The import bill of machinery, oil and eatables increased 18% to $10.29bn in July-October year-on-year. The import bill of food products rose 20.2% to $2.19bn mainly because of the increased arrival of eatable products, including tea, spices, sugar, palm oil and soybean oil. Imports of the petroleum group went up 39.46% to $4.43bn in July-October. A surge in imports of raw and petroleum products was witnessed during the period under review. At the same time, growth also took place in liquefied natural gas imports.
The import bill of machinery fell 1.38% to $3.67bn. The decline was mainly led by a drop in imports of power-generating machinery, office machinery and construction and mining machinery. In contrast, a surge in imports of mobile phones and apparatus was recorded during the period under review. Imports of textile machinery and agriculture machinery also witnessed a growth in the first four months of the current fiscal year.

Source: Gulf Times