Successive economic surveys have stressed on the need for policy reforms in these sectors. Exports from key manufacturing sectors, including textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery, have continued to show low growth in 2017-18. The Centre is banking on these sectors to create a large number of jobs. Even though such sectors have managed to recoup their losses from previous years, they continued to see a much lower export growth rate in a year when India's outbound trade managed to rise above the $300 billion target after two years, spurred by a rise in global demand, official data showed. Successive economic surveys have stressed on the need for policy reforms in these sectors. According to rating agency CRISIL, comparative advantage (RCA), or the competitiveness of these labour intensive sectors, has been on a sequential decline. A case in point, the RCA witnessed a significant decline for three of these sectors during 2006 to 2016.
The textile tangle
The $36 billion textile export sector, the third largest foreign exchange earner for the country after petroleum products and gems and jewellery, clocked only 0.75 per cent growth in 2017-18, after a contraction in the past two years. In the last financial year, apparel manufacturing, the largest segment within textiles, registered a decline for the 11th straight month till March 2018. These figures indicate an ongoing shrinkage in the industry, which is a cause for concern. The sector currently employs 12.9 million workers, and the ongoing slide has hit several clusters. While India is struggling with the problem of stagnation in exports, countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam are showing growth in apparel exports," said HKL Magu, chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council. Unresolved issues, including the reduction in duty drawback after the imposition of GST and capital blockage due to slow refunds have affected growth estimates, experts said.The labour-intensive apparel segment is doing quite badly. This is a very disturbing feature because despite the contraction in the sector, India‘s exports have grown. Currency has also been a big issue. The rupee was trading at around 68 per US dollar in March and then it came down to sub-64 levels,‖ said Sanjay Jain, chairman, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry.
In fact, GST aftershocks have been felt across sectors. The $23 billion transport equipment segment saw its growth rate plunging from more than 8 per cent in 2016-17 to 1.31 per cent in 2017-18. According to industry insiders, smaller firms reduced output to avoid defaulting on their loans, which hit the sector. The GST has also affected the leather sector, where informal business chains have traditionally relied on cash transactions. Also, the crackdown on the cattle trade in Uttar Pradesh, the epicentre of the leather industry, has hit the sector hard.
Source: Business Standard
AHMEDABAD: The Union minister of commerce and industry, Suresh Prabhu, will inaugurate a textile exhibition, Farm to Fashion: Indian Global Textile Summit 2018, on Friday. The three-day exhibition, organized by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Maskati Cloth Merchants Association, will have 3,000 participants from the textile and apparel fraternity. The exhibition is supported by the ministry of textiles and the state government. At the end of the summit, a white paper on the roadmap for Indian textiles will be submitted to the government, so a single textile policy for the country can be prepared.
Source: Times of India
NEW DELHI — A two-day meeting of port officers organized by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) of the Department of Commerce ended today in New Delhi. The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation Mr. Suresh Prabhu addressed the regional officers from different parts of the country and urged them to reorient their thinking to be a facilitator and not a regulator. The Minister added that the regional officers have to take their job as a challenge and an opportunity as foreign trade is now a strategic issue for India as it not only benefits the domestic economy but also links the country with global trade. The Minister asked for greater engagement of regional officers with the state governments in order to boost exports. He urged DGFT to set up a committee headed by the chief secretary of states on all export promotion issues including logistics. The Minister further added that officers of DGFT in the regions should identify districts with potential to export unique products and those officers who are able to fulfil their targets will be rewarded. He urged DGFT to organize regular orientation programmes for employees at all levels so that they are aligned to the mission of DGFT to serve exporters of the country. During the two days’ deliberations the regional authorities of DGFT discussed various administrative issues being faced by them and measures to be taken for streamlining regulatory mechanisms for exports. During the discussions it was also decided that regional authorities of DGFT should conduct outreach programmes with exporters on all issues of the Department of Commerce.
Source: Tecoya Trend
Since the last seven months, 1,700 people have been demonstrating outside the gates of Century Textiles & Industries, protesting the firm's sale to Wearit Global Limited. Out of these 1,700, nearly 1,300 had been permanent employees. In textile, workers spend decades honing one or two skills mostly specific to the demands of that company. In the case of Century Textiles, they worked on cotton and denim yarn. "The demands of the workers was that they didn't want to work with Wearit Global and believed it would shut shop sooner or later, and hence demanded their voluntary retirement scheme amount," said Adv. Pratyush Mishra, who assisted legal counsels fighting on behalf of the Textile Mazdoor Union in the Indore High Court. The high court's judgment dated 8 April, 2018, ruled in favour of the labour union. It stated: "There is violation of Clause 7.4 of agreement as no proper intimation was given to the employees regarding continuance of service as yet. On 20.12.2017 (Annexure R/2/3), a letter was issued to the management of century yarn and denim from the office of Labour Officer, Khargone, with respect to the illegal deduction of the salaries of the workmen. Further, the reminder of the said letter was issued on 11.1.2018. The office of district registrar, Khargone, also issued the letter wherein it is specifically mentioned that there is no registration of business transfer agreement with respect to the sale of the century yarn and denim in the office of district registrar, Khargone." In the same order, the Indore High Court mentioned the concept of "corporate entity" and said that it was evolved to encourage and promote trade and commerce and not to commit illegalities. Adv. Mishra asked why the labour commissioners failed to intervene and why the matter had to reach the high court. He said they didn't look at the complete appeal of the trade unions. How often can trade unions seek support of activists and NGOs to raise their voice and spend their precious labour time in litigation is a question that often haunts Mishra. Tapandas Gupta, a labour rights activist based in Vadodara whom the the Socialist Unity Centre of India-Communist SUCI(C) fielded against Narendra Modi from the Vadodara Lok Sabha constituency in 2014, said the problem lies in the lack of staff in the labour departments. "In a state like Gujarat, where industrialisation is growing at a rapid pace, there should be 80 labour officers, but today, there are less than 25, which means one person is handling up to two to three districts. Lately, labour courts have also been appointing civil judges," explained Dasgupta. PK Walanj, general secretary of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Gujarat State, agreed with him. The Hind Mazdoor Sabha, in the language of the Indian government, is a central trade union with more than one crore members across the country. Walanj spoke to Firstpost about how the implementation of labour laws is bifurcated into state and central level. "The Gujarat government has amended up to eight laws. One of them is The Apprentices Act, 1961. A protest organised by workers of a textile manufacturer Khargone, Madhya Pradesh. Firstpost/Pallavi Rebbapragada"Earlier the law was that a company of 100 employees could hire one apprentice, but after the amendment, they could hire as many apprentices and pay them 2/3rds of the salary of an average worker. So, it is quite common to see workers being hired for two to three years, then being kept on probation for one year, and then being laid off without Provident Fund," explained Walanj. Veteran textile researcher Chinmay Mishra, who has recently been working on conserving indigo and natural dyes in the Neemuch and Dhar districts of Madhya Pradesh, said, "Today, automation is taking a toll on the skill and livelihood of textile workers. Make a trip to Mumbai and Ahmedabad and you'll notice that only 10 percent of the mills that existed 25 years ago have survived." In the textile hub of Surat — a city which holds the record for being the largest producer of man-made fibre and filament fabric, with a 40 percent share in the country and a daily production of 30 million metres of raw fabric units — seven to eight lakh powerlooms have shut down in the last seven to eight years. Manufacturers are investing in imported machines like the Jacquard that are made are Italy and cost up to Rs 80 lakh and don't require much human help. "In Mauranipur, close to Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh and on the fringes of Ludhiana in Punjab, one finds a cluster of small powerloom units. Since these are small, labour laws don't apply to them," said Chinmay Mishra, explaining how the textile sector is littered with cheat codes. Apart from uneducated people failing to understand GST complications, he observed that textile unit owners in Madhya Pradesh have also started offering pink slips to workers and are arbitrarily hiring and firing them. "For instance, if there is a rule that says a unit with 20 employees will offer them provident funds, only 19 will be employed," he said, highlighting the plight of labourers who fail to find strength to form unions. The labour ministry plans to start registering 47 crore unorganised sector workers and providing them with unorganised worker index numbers (UWIN) cards to bring them under the social security net. The size of India's textile market in 2016 was around $137 billion, which is expected to touch $226 billion market by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 8.7 percent in that period. In the textile packages announced during the Union Budget, the government increased the permissible overtime up to 100 hours per quarter in made-ups manufacturing sector besides making employees' contribution to EPF optional for those earning less than Rs 15,000 per month. But as Padma Shri awardee Runa Banerjee, founder of Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), puts it, the problem is that awareness regarding rights doesn't percolate to the lower levels. She feels the labour department should be more active in engaging with the lower rungs of the unorganised work force and should continually educate them about their rights. At SEWA, an organisation that provides a platform for chikankari artisans to teach the craft to thousands of women, a spirit of uplifting each other is encouraged. The onus of adhering to labour laws laid down by the government is on private enterprises. Gautam Vazirani, fashion curator, sustainability at IMG Reliance/Lakme Fashion Week, says that brands and designers need to also become responsible/aware of their supply chains. "At times they just don't care about the conditions of workers who are involved in making their textiles or garments as long as the order is delivered within the budget. The time for profits over people is going to soon come to an end, as a new generation of millennial consumers is demanding transparency and morals. At Lakme Fashion Week, sustainability is a serious agenda. Our collaborations with United Nations, British Council, Craftmark, Fashion Revolution and Usha International among others are about initiatives that create a movement towards ethical fashion and inspire brands and designers to lead the change," he said, talking about how several young designer labels such as Poochki, Pot Plant, Rouka and Naushad Ali are now creating collections with artisans as equal collaborators and not as rural labour. Fashion needs to see itself as an agent for social change and empower people, more importantly the marginalised. But inserting accountability into profit-making establishments won't happen in a day and workers in textile mills of Gujarat have been suffering the brunt of it. Firstpost reached out to some of them, who happen to be migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Kanhaiya from Bihar's Sasaram district specialises in oxidising fabric. He complained that he doesn't receive medical or provident fund credits with his salary. Bharat Maurya, who hails from Juaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, said he has been working in Gujarat since 24 years as a weaver in powerlooms in Rajkot's Jasdan area. He narrated his story of denial, of how his karmabhoomi Gujarat hadn't embraced him because workers like him aren't even issued identity cards by mill owners and end up and face the risk of being roughed up by the police if they try to enter the loom. Ram Bharat Maurya, also from Jaunpur, has been working in the textile hubs of Surat since the 1960s. He recalled that when he started out, one kaarigar would man two machines. The number of machines went up to three in 1975 and four in 1985 and six in 1990. Today, he disclosed, one kaarigar is expected to run up to 16 machines. Mahesh Khushwaha from Firozabad district in Uttar Pradesh said he used to work in handloom when he came to Surat in 1990 and then learnt how to operate powerlooms. Today, he says he gets paid barely Rs 10,000 and works 12 hour shifts. Yet another problem is that of child labour in the textile sector. Sanjay Gupta, managing trustee of Chetna, an NGO for street children, revealed that the problem is concentrated in areas like Tughlakabad, which houses more than a couple of hundred garment manufacturing companies and employs close to 50 percent children, and in Okhla, where children, owing to their nimble fingers, are employed to sew pearl and sequins beads into fabric. In Govindpuri, his organisation's groundwork shows that children drop out of school at an early age to work in small-scale illegal garment factories to do sequencing and thread-cutting. Unless there are stronger policing mechanism keeping the check on the textile chain, from top to bottom, manufacturers will keep cheating the law in a sector that employs nearly 45 million.
Source: FirstPost
KOCHI: As part of its second-year anniversary celebrations, the state government has decided to reopen three khadi spinning mills in the district that were forced to shut down in the 1990s. The arrangement for the reopening has been completed in coordination with the corresponding district panchayats, the Khadi Village and Industries Board. The three mills are at Veettoor in Mazhuvannoor panchayat, Kutta in Puthenkurishu panchayat and Pinarmunda in Kunnathunad panchayat, and will employ 75 Scheduled Caste women. "Women over 18 years and willing to work are being given training. They will be paid `350 per day. They will also be eligible for other entitlements. Reopening these mills will infuse fresh energy into the khadi industry of the state," said K K Chandini, project officer, district Khadi Village and Industries Board. She said the older mills, each measuring around 2,000 sq ft are being refurbished using the district panchayat fund and a total amount of `38,12,500 has been allocated for the project. The mills will start functioning by the end of the month. The district hosts 17 spinning mills and seven weaving centres, employing about 320 people. The district has produced khadi products worth over `2.5 crore in the past two years.
Source: The New Indian Express
The Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board on Wednesday inaugurated the third batch of skill training programme for women to help increase their livelihoods. After a gap of six years the programme was started at its Bistupur workshop. Kulwant Singh Bunty, of Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board and other guests inaugurated the programme. About 15 ladies who had applied to avail the six month training started their classes from today. The training will help them enhance their skills. These ladies can work either for Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board or can start their own business ventures if they wish to. The participants will be taught about making shirts, kurtas, salwar kameez, and many designer style cutting and sewing. If the trainees wish they can also apply to get sewing machines at a 75 per cent subsidy from Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board. It is our ambitious project and we are working hard to make it success. We also want to spread its reach,‖ said Bunty. The board has been imparting skill development training and organizing programmesto promote entrepreneurship including women entrepreneurs. It conducts specialized training programmes related to Khadi and Village Industries (KVI), management training and Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs). The duration of the training is flexible and varies from 1 week to 15 month, depending upon the trade, purpose and level of training such as managerial, supervisory or artisan oriented, entrepreneur oriented, skill up-gradation etc. So far Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board honed skills of 300 women in various districts like Hazaribagh, Koderma, Deoghar and Ranchi. I am really very happy to be part of the training programme. I want to learn more about stitching so that I can start my own business, said a trainee. Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board in Jamshedpur has so far trained two batches in 2010-11 and 2011-12. This is the third batch in the past eight years.
Source: The Avenue Mail
Recent economic data showing a cooling in Asian exports and in business activity in the United States and Europe, coupled with the risk that trade tensions will further undermine global supply chains, poses a risk to Asian currencies which had held up last year even as the Federal Reserve raised policy rates. “The strengthening in the global economy since second half of last year has supported Asian currencies and that was one of the reasons why they were largely able to brush off higher U.S. yields last year,” said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at ANZ Banking Group. “But with early signs that we could be seeing a peak in growth with March PMI numbers largely disappointing, there is a concern that ‘if the growth start to slowdown, then that is one less supportive factor for Asian currencies’.” Moreover, unlike last year, when there were bursts of volatility in Treasury yields, this year’s sustained rise in yields could force dollar borrowers to pull money out of emerging markets. That could embolden regional currency bears. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield breached the psychological level of 3 percent last month. However, its 20-day volatility is hovering near 8-year lows of 15.86 percent hit in April. “At the beginning of the year, increased volatility discouraged foreign investment in U.S. bonds, including from Japan, but smoother rises in U.S. yields may attract foreign demand more easily,” said Yujiro Goto, senior FX strategist at Nomura in a note. “As long as rises in foreign yields are smooth, further upside in dollar-yen and euro-yen is possible.” The yield spread of Japanese and Thai bonds over U.S. Treasuries narrowed to a 11-year low last week, while Malaysian bond’s spreads are hovering near a 4-1/2 year low hit in March. With the Fed being the only major central bank set to raise interest rates in this quarter, most analysts expect further upside in U.S. bond yields. The dwindling yield premium in emerging markets is already driving foreigners out of Asian bond and equity markets. Data from seven Asian stock exchanges showed foreign outflows totalled about $3.5 billion in April, extending the year’s tally to $8.2 billion. South Korea, India and Indonesian markets led the outflows last month.
Foreign investments in Asian equities
Wei Liang, FX strategist at Mizuho Bank expects $1 billion worth of foreign outflows from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand bond markets for every 10 basis point increase in U.S. 10-year Treasury yields, based on his regression analysis. Chinese 100 yuan banknotes are seen on a counter of a branch of a commercial bank in Beijing, China, March 30, 2016. Rising crude oil prices are a risk for currencies of the two net oil importers, India and Indonesia, which also have among the highest current account deficits in the region. ANZ’s Goh expects a varied performance for regional currencies for the rest of the year. He favors the Singapore dollar due to the central bank’s recent tightening and the Thai baht for its higher current account surplus. “Those with deteriorating external imbalances, like India in particular, will continue to underperform,” Goh said.
Source: Financial Express
The 27th GST Council meeting will take place today through video conferencing and is likely to come up with comprehensive changes to the return filing process in order to make it simpler. Other key issues in the agenda include a proposal to bring GST Network completely in Government control by buying the stakes of the private entities. Currently, five private financial institutions - HDFC Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, NSE Strategic Investment Co and LIC Housing Finance Ltd, together hold 51 per cent stake in GSTN. There is also a proposal to introduce a Sugar cess of 5%, which if approved by the Council will in all probability come through a new Act of Parliament in the next session since the GST Act has no provision for cess. However, all eyes will be on the Council to come up with simplified return filing process. The Group of state finance ministers under Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi and Nandan Nilekani have been going through different itera different iterations of the return filing process and have zeroed in on three different models of the process. The Council is widely expected to agree to one of them, which is likely to closely mirror the return filing process under the erstwhile VAT system. This would mean filing only one return every month compared to three every month under the current GST process. GST collections for April crossed Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time, amidst indication that the indirect tax regime was stabilizing. However, the government and experts caution that collections are usually higher towards the last month of the financial year as taxpayers clear their arrears. Anti-evasion measures like e-way bill that was introduced on April 1 is expected to stem any evasion taking place, but the government may want to do more.
Source : The Economy Times
GST collection, total GST collection, income tax file returns, gst returns, GSTR 3B returns , IGST, SGST, Central GST The new model is a fusion of the two systems proposed after the original design failed to take off due to its cumbersomeness. Even though the Goods and Services Tax Council is likely to approve the ‘fusion model’ for tax returns generation on Friday, its implementation could take 9-12 months, as the process would require changes in the GST Acts by the Centre and states, designing of new forms and IT-related preparedness including a long-testing schedule. This would mean that invoices-matching on a large scale, which is crucial curb GST evasion and boost compliance, would take longer to materialise, too. Under the new model, cleared by a group of ministers recently, taxpayers are spared the job of filing returns. The IT system, run by the GST Network, will produce monthly returns based on supply data uploaded and inward supplies accepted. Invoices-matching would be done through a ‘semi-automatic’ credit reconciliation process. Confirming that the new system might take more time, a senior official said the idea was to ensure that once it is implemented, it runs free from glitches. “Meanwhile, we will still have data available from GSTR-3B (summary return) and GSTR-1 (outward supplies form), which would help us in matching outward sales data. The data being generated from e-way bill from April will further aid in curbing evasion,” the official said. Currently, the taxpayers are required to file a summary return (GSTR-3B), which contains details of self-assessed tax liability and input tax credit (ITC). Since the model doesn’t allow matching of purchase and sales of suppliers and recipients, it is prone to evasion. In November last year, the GST Council had diluted the comprehensive return-filing, that was initially proposed; it suspended GSTR-2 (details of inward supplies) and GSTR-3 (summary of sales, tax liability and ITC) owing to taxpayers complaints over high compliance burden. However, the filing of GSTR-1 (details of outward supplies) along with GSTR-3B was continued. Although the current system is to last only till June-end — given that a alternative foolproof system is unlikely to be ready by then — it is likely to be extended further. “The new model needs ample time before the same could be implemented. Current GST filing model was finalised and documented way back in October 2015. But even after more than 20 months, several issues were experienced in the execution, which led to its eventual scrapping. GST Council should note that new model would require changes in law, structuring of new forms, development of technology around it and finally government would again need outreach programmes for the final user,” Rajat Mohan, partner, AMRG & Associates said. According to the GOM-approved model, there will be a facility for sellers to continuously add invoices and for buyers to view them. The system could allow the buyer to lock the invoice after which seller can’t edit/delete it, making it a confirmed liability of the seller. The system will periodically, say quarterly, generate a list of suppliers defaulting on tax payment and the tax man could focus on them. If a supplier doesn’t pay the tax even after action taken by the tax man, the buyers will face reversal of input tax credit or ITC. To reduce the risk to compliant taxpayers, “high-risk” assessees will be identified so that instances of credit reversal are minimised. The system would try to ensure credit flow from high-risk suppliers by making them deposit advanced tax. The new model is a fusion of the two systems proposed after the original design failed to take off due to its cumbersomeness. While a committee of tax officials recommended a system where credits could be given on a provisional basis to a taxpayer on the basis of self-declared invoices, the GoM thought this could be potential revenue risk. The model mooted by Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani also was to be hassle-free for taxpayers as it involved system-generated returns (rather than filed by assessees), but the ministers’ panel again felt that it lacked a provision for reversal of credit in cases where excess/undeserved credits are taken.
Source: Financial Express
GST, goods and service tax, GST reform, GST regime, GST return, GST network, economy, economic policy, currency ban, note ban, federal system, narendra modi, independence 1947 The GST law provides for transition of accumulated credit, which allows existing taxpayers to transfer the input tax credit (ITC) available as closing balance in existing tax returns to the GST returns. The Authority of Advanced Ruling (AAR) under the goods and services tax (GST) in Maharashtra has clarified that accumulated credit of the Krishi Kalyan Cess (KKC) from the pre-GST regime can’t be carried forward to the new indirect tax system as relevant laws don’t allow it. Referring to transitional provisions under the CGST Act and CENVAT Credit Rules, the AAR noted that it was made expressly clear that KKC credit would only be utilised for payment of KKC, and no other credit could be utilised for payment of the same. Although the ruling was specifically related to KKC, the ruling clarified that the Swachh Bharat Cess would also be treated in the same manner. “As specified in the proviso to Section 140(1) of the Act, the taxable person is allowed to carry forward the credit to the extent admissible as Input Tax Credit under the GST. Definition of input tax as given in section 2(62) does not include any cess. So, apparently the Krishi Kalyan Cess will not be allowed to be carried forward,” the AAR observed. The KKC was levied and collected as the service tax on any or all of taxable services at the rate of 0.5% of the value of taxable service. After the GST rollout, such cess were abolished. The GST Act doesn’t explicitly bar transitioning of cess credit into the GST regime. Owing to this, the government has estimated that a large number of taxpayers claimed this credit in the GST regime. The GST law provides for transition of accumulated credit, which allows existing taxpayers to transfer the input tax credit (ITC) available as closing balance in existing tax returns to the GST returns. Therefore, assesses were able to transfer the closing balance of credit in respect of central excise duty, service tax and local VAT as the opening credit balance in the GST returns. Abhishek Jain, tax partner, EY India, said: “A long awaited advance ruling was delivered yesterday by the Maharashtra Advance Ruling Authority, upholding non-admissibility of the KKC credit as an eligible input tax credit under the GST regime. While the ruling is in the context of a particular fact pattern, it does concur with the revenue authorities view of ineligibility of transitioning of KKC credits. A long drawn legal battle seems inevitable on this issue.”
Source: Financial Express
Currently, Louis Philippe, Allen Solly and other brands of Aditya Birla's Madura Fashion & Lifestyle are market leaders in menswear segment. After a long gap, Wadia group's textile company Bombay Dyeing is looking at entering readymade apparel once again with menswear products. Earlier, it had an apparel brand, Vivaldi, which the company sold to Proline to manage.
Bombay Dyeing
"There is a huge demand from southern India for readymade apparel. We will test market it in South and take it to other markets over a period of time," said Aloke Banerjee, chief executive officer for retail at Bombay Dyeing. The merchandise will be priced below Rs 1,000 apiece. Currently, Louis Philippe, Allen Solly and other brands of Aditya Birla's Madura Fashion & Lifestyle are market leaders in menswear segment. Raymond has Color Plus, Park Avenue and Parx, and Arvind has brands, such as Arrow, in this segment. RIL sold its iconic brand Only Vimal earlier to a Chinese company earlier. Bombay Dyeing was also coming up with bedsheets on which customers can print digital prints like a home printer, Banerjee said. Customers can submit their photos in Bombay Dyeing stores or upload it on the company website. The company will charge charge Rs 1,999 and get it printed in 30 days. It has started campaigning the new products this month. Banejeree said the company would also enter Central Asia, wherein it will sell its products in multi-brand stores. The firm is looking at opening 100 franchisee stores this year, mainly in tier II and III cities. It has 200 franchisee stores, 27 company-owned stores and 3,000 multi-brand outlets. The company is growing 30-35 per cent in retail and textile segment, Banejee said.
Source: Business Standard
A comprehensive short-term policy, which includes adjustments of pattern of production, marketing and excise duty on cotton textiles, was announced by the Commerce Minister, Mr. Dinesh Singh, in the Rajya Sabha to-day [May 1, New Delhi] to relieve the present difficulty faced by the textile industry. Under the new scheme, the area of control has been reduced from 40 to 25 per cent. The controlled varieties will now consist of dhotis, saris long cloth, shirting and drill made in coarse and lower medium categories. The superfine, fine and higher medium categories have been taken off the control. A two per cent increase in the ex-mill price of the controlled varieties has been allowed, but this will not affect the consumer price, because it will be absorbed by the reduction in excise duty from 3 paise to 1 ½ paise per square metre and abolition of processing surcharge. In order to maintain the competitive position of decentralised sector vis-a-vis the mill sector, a corresponding reduction is being made in the processing surcharges applicable to coarse and medium handloom and power-loom cloth.
Source: The Hindu
|
Item |
Price |
Unit |
Fluctuation |
Date |
|
PSF |
1394.35 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
VSF |
2183.83 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
ASF |
2906.54 |
USD/Ton |
2.78% |
5/3/2018 |
|
Polyester POY |
1456.41 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
Nylon FDY |
3409.29 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
40D Spandex |
5655.96 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
Nylon POY |
1728.21 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
Acrylic Top 3D |
3613.53 |
USD/Ton |
-0.43% |
5/3/2018 |
|
Polyester FDY |
5938.76 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
Nylon DTY |
1704.64 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
Viscose Long Filament |
3157.91 |
USD/Ton |
-0.50% |
5/3/2018 |
|
Polyester DTY |
3016.51 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
30S Spun Rayon Yarn |
2961.52 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
32S Polyester Yarn |
2183.83 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
45S T/C Yarn |
3000.80 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
40S Rayon Yarn |
2325.23 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
T/R Yarn 65/35 32S |
2545.18 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
45S Polyester Yarn |
3126.49 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
T/C Yarn 65/35 32S |
2686.58 |
USD/Ton |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
10S Denim Fabric |
1.46 |
USD/Meter |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
32S Twill Fabric |
0.90 |
USD/Meter |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
40S Combed Poplin |
1.25 |
USD/Meter |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
30S Rayon Fabric |
0.70 |
USD/Meter |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
|
45S T/C Fabric |
0.74 |
USD/Meter |
0% |
5/3/2018 |
Source: Global Textiles
Note: The above prices are Chinese Price (1 CNY = 0.15711 USD dtd. 3/5/2018). The prices given above are as quoted from Global Textiles.com. SRTEPC is not responsible for the correctness of the same.
KARACHI - Federal Minister for Commerce and Textile Pervaiz Malik on Wednesday said that Pakistan wants to increase trade and economic cooperation with Kenya as it is the gateway to many African counties, where there is big demand for Pakistani goods. In search of new potential markets, Pakistan had already launched ' Look to Africa' initiative in November 2017. Pakistan and Kenya Joint Ministerial Committee has been formed with this objective, he said while speaking at the first session of two-day 'Kenya Pakistan Trade and Investment Conference' here. Led by Kenyan Cabinet Secretary, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Dr Monica Jumma, the delegation included senior officers of trade related departments of Kenya and representatives of its private sector. The minister said it was common desire of both the countries to get socio-economic development through exchange of information and technologies, and sharing experiences in various fields. He said that after detailed discussion at this conference, the both sides had agreed to form a Joint Trade Committee which would meet twice a year. First meeting would be held after two months in Narobi, the capital of Kenya. The meeting would focus on products, tariff barriers and other issues relating to trade, he said. He said there was big potential for the bilateral trade and within next five years it would be increased to at least $1.25 billion. He said banking channel had been established. Habib Bank Limited had set up its branch in Nairobi. Pakistan and Kenya had old cultural ties, which now required to be transformed into strong economic cooperation, he said adding that this two-day conference would provide opportunity for B2B meetings that would bring the two business communities closer. The bilateral trade and economic cooperation would increase in near future. He said Pakistan was opening trade centers in Kenya and other African states. Getting more access to new international markets for Pakistani goods through diversification and value-addition was essential to ensure better and sustained economic growth, he said. To a question from media persons, the Federal Commerce Minister expressed his satisfaction that in the month of March 2018, the exports increased up to 24 percent and overall 14% increase was registered in last ten months. The month of April would also show good export figures. More incentives were being given to exporters for boost to the exports. Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Dr Monica Jumma, said Kenya was the first African country to engage in such a business-to-business and government-to-government contact through this two-day conference. She asserted the important role of the private sectors in promoting bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The governments could only create environment and facilitate. She told that before coming to Karachi, she had two-day stay in Islamabad. There, she had fruitful meetings with high authorities of different ministries including the Foreign Affairs. He underlined the need for exchange of trainings and institutional research.Pakistan could support Kenya in modernization of agriculture and in development of fishing sector. Food security was one the big challenges for her country, she said. She praised Pakistan's role in peace-keeping efforts in the world and its frontline role in the war against terror. Later, the minister visited Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and held a meeting with members of this apex trade body of the country. United Businessmen Group chairman in FPCCI and former president FPCCI, SM Muneer, FPCCI Senior Vice President Syed Mazhar Ali Nasir welcomed the minister. FPCCI Vice Presidents Tariq Haleem, Zahid Saeed and Saeeda Bano, former vice presidents Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig and Gulazar Feroz were also present. The minister listened to the trade related issues raised by FPCCI members and assured full cooperation and support for their resolution.
Source: The Nation
The Russian government plans to allocate up to US$ 250 million in the design and production of nonwovens and technical textiles for the needs of the Russian military forces during the next several years, according to recent statements of some senior officials of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. The production will begin following the special state orders, details of some of which will not be disclosed to the public. The majority of funding for the project will be provided from the Russian military budget, which is estimated at around US$ 70 billion for 2018 – the highest in the history of modern Russia. It is planned that most of the funds will be invested in the design of special materials, based on technical textiles, which will be used in the production of military uniform clothing and other military equipage for Russian soldiers, including those, who are currently deployed in Syria and other Middle Eastern states. The names of the enterprises that will participate in the project are currently not disclosed, however, according to sources close to the Russian Ministry of Defence, these will be Russia‘s largest producers of technical textiles and nonwovens, which have previously supplied their products to Western markets, European, in particular. The project also involves acceleration of the R&D activities in the industry, involving some of Russia‘s leading research institutions in the field of technical textiles and nonwovens, as well as the country‘s leading technical universities, such as Bauman Moscow State Technical University – the Russia‘s oldest and largest technical university, which has been conducting R&D activities in the field of nonwovens and technical textiles since the 1990s. According to an official spokesman of Denis Manturov, Russia‘s Minister of Industry and Trade, the majority of these R&D activities will be classified. As part of these plans, the Russian Defence Ministry plans to attract some well-known Western experts in the field of technical textiles that will participate in R&D activities in the industry. In recent years, the demand for nonwovens and technical textiles from the Russian military and defence industries has significantly increased, which is also due to ongoing militarisation in the country. This has provided a significant impetus for the industry and created conditions for its further growth after stagnation, caused by the economic crisis in the country and Western sanctions. According to Denis Manturov, in recent years, the Russian defence industry has become one of the largest consumers of nonwovens and technical textiles in Russia and it is expected that its share in the overall structure of consumption will continue to grow during the next several years at higher rates. In the meantime, leading Russian producers have already welcomed the new state initiative, hoping that its implementation may result in the generation of additional profits, which is especially important due to ongoing stagnation of medical, construction and other sectors of the Russian economy, which to date, have accounted for the majority of technical textile and nonwovens‘ consumption in Russia. Prior to 2017, the Russian technical textiles industry has experienced an acute shortage of funding, caused by a significant decline of investment attractiveness of the industry, however, thanks to the ever-growing demand from the defence industry, there is a possibility that such a situation will be significantly improved already in the coming years. In the meantime, according to the Russian Association of Textile and Light Industry Producers, a public association, which unites Russia‘s leading technical textiles and nonwovens producers, the government‘s decision to invest funds in the development of technical textiles for the needs of defence will be a response to the recent announcement of the US to invest US$ 75 million in the design of new technical textile and nonwoven materials for military purposes. Eugene Gerden is an international free-lance writer, who specializes in covering global technical textile and non-wovens industry.
Source: Innovation in Textiles
Despite the depreciation of the value of the naira and the anti-smuggling operation by the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), checks by THISDAY have revealed an influx of imported ready-to-wear garments taking the value of smuggled apparel to a whopping $1.2 billion annually. Stakeholders have blamed Nigeria‘s porous land borders for the menace while manufacturers insist government failure to tackle the problem was responsible. Also, there are concerns around the recent signing of the pact forming the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Kigali. Stakeholders within Nigeria‘s textile, apparel and footwear industry opine that if the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) signs this agreement, it would have an adverse effect as it could accelerate the importation of cheaper imported textiles and garments. However, analysts at FBN Quest have noted that the textile, apparel and footwear sub-sector remains the second largest contributor to Nigeria‘s manufacturing (after food, beverage and tobacco). The sub-sector posted total output of N383bn ($1.3 billion) in Q4 2017 or 23.3 per cent of manufacturing gross domestic (GDP). The segment grew by 1.6 per cent year-on-year (y/y) in the fourth quarter of2017, compared with 1.1 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year. Given Nigeria‘s huge appetite for fashion and related industries, the segment is still performing well below its full potential. Industry sources suggest that the country‘s annual import bill for textiles and ready-to-wear apparel is $4 billion. Meanwhile, trade statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) tell a different story, with imports of textile and clothing items of N37 billion ($121 million) in the fourth quarter, ―said FBN Quest. On what the federal government should do to stop the menace, the analysts stated: ―We understand that the FGN has kicked off the creation of special economic zones (SEZs), starting with a zone for garment manufacturing. On a macro level, this should attract investment within the sector, boost output and assist with easing pressure on the job market. However, the NCS have blamed ignorance on the part of residents of border communities across the country for increasing smuggling of arms and contrabands. The Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‗A‘ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Mohammed Uba stated this in a chat with THISDAY. He said that residents see smuggling as legitimate business and this remains one of the major challenges faced by the Unit in its efforts to curtail illegal border trades and other forms of smuggling. He said the lack of knowledge is the reason why people see customs officials as enemies and sometimes attack them while they are carrying out their legitimate duties. He however vowed that this will not deter the unit from performing its statutory responsibility of curbing smuggling. While making reference to section 147 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), Uba said the law empowers Customs to search any warehouse where there is reasonable suspicion that prohibited goods are kept there. He called on the media to support the Service in the fight against smuggling by educating and enlightening the public on the dangers of smuggling. It is because of ignorance people living in the border communities feel and believes smuggling is a legitimate business. Customs is a constituted authority by the government but to our surprise, the whole community will just come and be attacking us. Because we collect tax, people see us as enemies. It is the media and some individuals who understand that smuggling is dangerous. So we must continue to educate ourselves and that is why we are soliciting the support of the media to educate people that smuggling is injurious to the economy. I have also been talking to my colleagues at the borders by advising them on customs community relation activity. We advise them and they set up such communities and advise them on what to do. Smuggling is a war not only for customs but all of us. For example, look at the issue of rice. What is the point bringing in rice when we can locally produce this rice or bring them through the port, this are some of the issues we are facing but that will not deter us from doing our work, he said.
Source: ThisDay
Text and Textile,‖ on view at Beinecke Library from May 3 through Aug. 12, explores the intersections of text and textile in literature and politics, from images of Eve spinning in a 13th-century manuscript to the mill girls of New England in the 19th century. The exhibition features works in a wide variety of formats drawn from throughout each of the Beinecke library‘s curatorial areas, as well as items from the Yale Center for British Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, and the Manuscripts and Archives Department of the Yale University Library. Particular highlights include: Gertrude Stein‘s waistcoat manuscript patterns and loom cards from French Jacquard mills the first folio edition of William Shakespeare‘s plays the Souper‖ paper dress by Andy Warhol American samplers Renaissance embroidered bindings Christa Wolf‘s Quilt Memories‖ Zelda Fitzgerald‘s paper dolls for her daughter Edith Wharton‘s manuscript drafts of The House of Mirth‖ an Incan quipu poetry by Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson, Susan Howe, and Walt Whitman and The Kelmscott Chaucer‖ by William Morris. The exhibition was conceived by Kathryn James, curator of Early Modern Books and Manuscripts and the Osborn Collection at the Beinecke Library, and Katie Trumpener, the Emily Sanford Professor of Comparative Literature and English. It is co-curated by James, Trumpener, and Melina Moe, research affiliate at the library. In the introduction to a series of essays for the exhibition, James frames the show in contexts both literary and historical:
In the myth of the Fates, three sisters oversee each thread of life. Clotho spins the thread, Lachesis measures, Atropos cuts.Through the Fates, the thread of a life becomes its story. Text and Textile‖ traces the weave and entanglement of these threads of myth, labor, self, and memory. From the Fates through Walt Whitman, textile gives us mythologies of self or nation. The spindle of necessity spins for Eve, exiled from Eden, as it did for the workers at the Lowell textile mills or the New Haven corset factory or for ‗Sleeping Beauty.‘ The exhibition draws these threads together, allowing us to glimpse their owners: a 17th-century girl embroiders her Bible in silver thread Gertrude Stein wears the vest sewn by her lover a widow in 18th-century America fashions a mourning band to mark her loss. In holding the imprint of the body, textiles ask us to remember. In the wake of the unification of Germany, writer Christa Wolf constructed an artist‘s book from a fragile antique quilt she encountered, stitching it into a codex, binding petals, leaves, poems, newspaper clippings into an archive of decay. How, and does, this differ from the paper scraps of fan patterns that Jonathan Edwards uses to write his sermons, or the threadlike coils of hair kept in an envelope, wrapped in a first edition of Emily Dickinson‘s Poems‘? Text and Textile‘s invites its viewers to examine the ways in which textile call us to a remembered or imagined body, childhood, past. Beinecke Library exhibitions are free and open to the public daily. Visit the library‘s website for more information about hours. There are several special events planned in conjunction with the exhibition, Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, will give a keynote address, Pink: The History of a Color,‖ on Wednesday, May 23, at 5 p.m. This Beinecke Library show is accompanied by an exhibition Text & Textile in Arts Library Special Collections at the Robert B. Haas Arts Library at Yale, and by a thematic wall display of works in the Long Gallery at the Yale Center for British Art.
Source: Yale News
Sustainable innovations will be the guiding principle of the Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (Dornbirn-GFC) which will be held in Austria from September 12-14, 2018. The global congress will host over 100 lectures on academic research and industry. Delegations from Asia and US have already confirmed their participation for the upcoming event. Lectures will be conducted at the event on key themes such as fibre innovations transportation and mobility recycling - circular economy energy generation and storage surface modification and additive technologies. Top management from the lead sponsor Lenzing Group, Indorama and Reliance and other European, Asian and American fibre producers are expected to participate in the event. Due to the vast interest from industry and trade and the strong support of the EU Commission ‘circular economy’ is once again the focal point of the event. A panel discussion will be conducted by International Solid and Waste Association (ISWA) to discuss new approaches with relevant players from the textile value chain. As a connoisseur of the automotive industry, AVL, the world`s biggest independent company for the development of powertrains, will discuss the relevance and potentials of the fibre industry in the future development of the automotive industry. Canadian brand Lululemon Athletica will talk about the latest innovations in the industry. The successful ‘Young Scientist Forum’ will also be conducted for the third time. The workshop will take place on September 11, 2018, under the leadership of the industrial consultancy Syngroup (AUT) on the issue of ‘Open Innovation and its relevant challenges’. The ‘Green Meeting & Green Event’ will be organised at the event to discuss eco-friendly accommodations, reduction of CO2 (carbon dioxide), ecological catering, as well as material - and waste management.
Source: Fiber2Fashion
Denim Première Vision that decodes fashion, innovation and eco-responsibility, will provide a platform for fashion brands to showcase their contemporary denim collections. The event will take place at the Parc Floral in Paris on May 23-24. Designer Lutz Huelle has for the first time been elected for carte blanche at the Denim Première Vision. Elaborated in the context of the new collaboration between designer Lutz Huelle and the show’s fashion team, the Denim Trends Area is broken down into 2 parts – an inspirational forum and a forward looking forum. An inspirational seminar, a seminar dedicated to the autumn winter 2019-20 fits and a seminar decoding spring/summer 2019 will also be held during the 2-day event. Through its Smart Creation platform, Première Vision has proposed a range of studies and actions to identify and communicate its exhibitors’ initiatives in terms of responsible production and creation. Denim Première Vision has adapted its Smart Creation programme to the denim industry and will present a special area, the Denim Smart Square. Denim Première Vision will also be hosting a socio-cultural master class presented by Pascal Monfort, founder of the Rec Trendsmarketing agency, on the theme The Future Is Bright.
Source:Fiber2Fashion
Vietnamese enterprises must partner with firms in the Asia-Pacific region for stronger growth in times of increasing global economic integration, participants concluded at a recent conference in Hanoi on strengthening partnership between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI). While VCCI vice chairman Ðoàn Duy Khuong appreciated the importance of cooperation between both the chambers and between Vietnam and regional countries, CACCI president Jemal Inaishvili lauded the efforts by the Vietnamese business community in recent years, resulting in significant economic progress. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would boost Vietnam’s potential for cooperation with major economies and markets offering domestic enterprises access to advanced production technology and improved management and administration, a Vietnamese newspaper reported quoting Khuong. Inaishvili visited Vietnam along with 30 CACCI representatives, notably from Australia, India and Nepal, specialising in textile, garment, cosmetics, consumer goods, food distribution and processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, industrial products distribution, construction and tourism.
Source:Fiber2Fashion
With over 120 exhibitors to present textile equipment, substrates and consumables at FESPA 2018 during May 15-18 in Germany, there will be numerous solutions and applications for print service providers (PSPs) and designers interested in textile printing and production at the show which will also have a wide range of educational and interactive content. Visitors will also be able to experience FESPA’s new feature Print Make Wear. Print Make Wear is a full end-to-end, design-to-finish production line for fashion and sportswear. Within the feature visitors can discover all aspects of a textile production line, from creation and preparation to production and presentation incorporating both screen and digital print. Print Make Wear visitors will also find a range of equipment from leading textile manufacturers in action, including a direct-to-garment machine from Brother colour software from Coloro Dekken’s new T-Apparel folding machine, a cutting table from Gerber Technology Inedit digital printing software solutions Grafco AST screen printing software solutions a Juki sewing machine MagnaColours inks an auto screen carousel from MHM and a manual screen carousel from Vastex, a Mimaki pigment printer and dryers from Adelco, Chiossi and Klieverik. Textiles used in the fast fashion factory will be provided by Premier Textiles as well as Falk and Ross who are providing a selection of shirts, bags and aprons for the direct-to-garment printing machines. Fashion designer, Sanna Annukka of Marimekko, has created a design for garments produced in Print Make Wear, using a combination of Pantone spot colours, metallic and special effects, which will be printed live daily on MHM’s oval automatic screen printing press. Visitors looking to learn more about the technology in Print Make Wear can take part in daily informative tours of the equipment, substrates and inks used within the feature. The show will also have a fashion and print trend session to be hosted by Zara Llado, creative director of the Trend Bunker. The session will look at the two key fashion trends for S/S19, exploring the key colours, moods, looks and print direction for the season. Jenny Holloway, CEO of Fashion Enter / Fashion Capital will also host a session on What is quality ethical garment production? At the event, FESPA 2018 Corporate Partner, Dover Digital Printing will demonstrate a full production workflow for the creation of customised football jerseys. Dover Digital Printing’s sportswear factory will showcase products from Dover Digital Printing brands: Caldera, MS Printing Solutions, JK Group, Monti Antonio and Zund. The factory will highlight the entire production process, from initial design through to printing, cutting and sewing. Epson will present haute couture womenswear collection by fashion designer, Richard Quinn. All the items will be printed on Epson’s SureColor SC-F series printers. Aeoon will showcase its Aeoon Kyo Hybrid Series, which provides digital production on an industrial scale combined with the benefits of screen printing. FESPA Gold Partner, Brother, will highlight its latest GTX print heads, which produce high quality prints at industrial production speeds. For visitors interested in digital and screen textile printing, there is a multitude of exhibitors, demonstrations and seminar content available at FESPA 2018 to guide them on their textile journey.
Source:Fiber2Fashion
Euromonitor International is the insight partner for International Sourcing Expo Australia (ISEA) beginning November 20. Euromonitor International will deliver a presentation on market insights and trends as part of the seminar programme at the event, as well as providing strategic access to research content for exhibitors and registered trade visitors. Euromonitor International is the world's leading independent provider of strategic market research. "We are extremely excited that Euromonitor International has come on board as our Insight Partner. Euromonitor is widely acknowledged as the world leader in strategic market research and so their involvement will give both our exhibitors and trade visitors valuable insights into the latest global trends in apparel and footwear as well as a deeper understanding of the dynamics within the Australian and New Zealand markets," Julie Holt, exhibition director of ISEA. "Euromonitor International is extremely pleased to be an Insight Partner at the International Sourcing Expo. We look forward to supporting this fantastic event and contributing to its success," David Gudgin, director of Australasia at Euromonitor International, said.
Source: Fiber2Fashion
With United States and China engaged in tariff battles, cotton and grain sectors are nervous and are watching carefully, as the situations around proposed tariffs are uncertain. More importantly, in the High Plains of Texas, which is the ground zero for the U.S. cotton industry, where planting of cotton is around the corner, it may affect the planting intentions and hence influence the broader economy of the region. On April 6, speaking at the 61st annual meeting of Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., in Lubbock Honorable Jodey Arrington, the United States’ congressman representing Lubbock and the cotton growing regions surrounding this epic center of cotton production, emphasized the importance of level playing field for U.S. trade. Arrington while supporting the proposed tariffs by the United States to safeguard America’s interest, stressed that executing those policies are more important. Outlining some of the recent successes to protect the cotton industry, such as the recognition of seed cotton in the Title 1 of the current Farm Bill and the ginning assistance program, Arrington stated free and fair trade are linked and more free trade agreements are needed to open-up new markets. With the recent announcement from China about the proposed 25% tariff on 106 products from the United States, key agricultural commodities like soybean, sorghum, cotton may be impacted. Sorghum industry, which is an important agricultural commodity grown in the High Plains of Texas may feel the impact, if the tariff proposal becomes reality. “trade must be fixed, but farmers should be protected”, stated John Duff, strategic business director of Lubbock-based National Sorghum Producers. Last year, United States exported 189 million bushels of sorghum to China, which is about 78% of total exports from the United States. China is a significant market and there is demand for protein and quality cotton as it is a growing consumer society. Steve Verett, with 21-years of experience as the executive vice president of Plains Cotton Growers, Inc., stated, “export markets are extremely important to U.S. cotton producers and up to 80 percent of U.S. cotton is sold into export markets around the world, including China.” “The potential for current or future trade disputes to impact or redirect the flow of U.S. cotton is very real and it is a situation that we are monitoring closely,” added Verett. The tariff issue clearly highlights the point that one size fits all does not work, as it evident with the impact it may have on the U.S. agriculture sector unlike its manufacturing sector.
Source: Textile Focus
Hummel, 95-year-old Denmark-based International sportswear company, is exploring Indian market for its next leg of expansion. The company has already joined hands with premium fashion e-commerce companies such as Jabong and Myntra for retailing its products in the India subcontinent. The company runs a substantial part of its production business in India. In their quest to penetrate the Indian market, Hummel is on the lookout for strategic partners to get a better grip on India, its people, the market and the business and economic ecosphere. They are in talks with various prospective partners to be able to explore more online e-commerce options as well as enter the offline retail segment towards the end of the year. Highly satisfied with their beta testing via Jabong and Myntra, Hummel states that their plans for India are nothing short of long-term.In a recent visit to India, Christian Stadil, the owner of the parent company Thornico group and hummel International said, he had seen the country growing before his eyes. His company was keen to know the Indian Market and the requirement of its audience. “This country needs to be more than just a production hub and we want to be a part of its success story. Unlike most brands, which first look at China and thereafter consider moving into Indian markets, Hummel went the other way. We have made our foray in the e-commerce space already in India. Now we will also make our products available in the Chinese market as well in a month or two.” Currently selling on Jabong and Myntra in India, Hummel is already on its way to create new records. With a very high retention rate, Hummel ranks in the top league of all available sports brand selling on Jabong and Myntra. In addition to its existing collection, considering India’s diversity, Hummel is looking to come up with a more vibrant collection to cater to the colourful palette of the Indian audience, CEO Allan Vad Nielsen said. “The Indian market is on hummel’s priority list. We’ve been slow, yet steady and took our time to enter the Indian market, it is because we are here to stay,” Nielsen said and added, “Very soon you will find collections that are India centric. We will create branded content and products for the Indian market.”
Source:Fiber2Fashion
KHYBER AGENCY - Pakistan and Afghanistan trade via Torkham border has decreased to $500 million from $ 2.5 billion due to governmental stringent policies, political problems and repeated and long closures of the border. This was stated by KP Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Zahid Ullah Shinwari while talking to journalists during his visit to Torkham Custom Office here on Wednesday. He said "The anti-business policies of the government have not only suffered businessmen but also has inflicted a huge loss to national exchequer as the government has been deprived of revenue in the form of taxes." Shinwari warned that if such governmental policies are not revised the trade between two Islamic countries would come to an end. "Because of anti-trading policies, adopted by the Pakistani government pertaining business with Afghanistan, the Afghan traders have started to work with other countries like Iran, India and China," the KPCCI president said. He said the drop in Pakistan and Afghanistan trading volume is very alarming at a time when Islamabad is making efforts to control its trade deficit. KPCCI Senior Vice President Muhammad Naeem, Vice President Malik Nizam, ex-senior vice president Muhammad Shafiq and Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce Director Ziaul Haq Sarhadi were also present on the occasion. Zahid Ullah Shinwari requested the government to remove discriminatory clauses regarding trade with Afghanistan from trade policies and FBR should introduce policies to promote trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He maintained that as much as departments would be engaged in trading activities, the more business acts would be affected therefore. He suggested the government to introduce simple and one window clearing process at Torkham border, introduced by Custom department in other parts of the country to boost trade. Regarding unavailability of basic facilities in Torkham, he said the government should ensure availability of all facilities at the border. Earlier, Additional Collector, Torkham Custom Centre Ziaullah Shams appraised the visiting guests of the facilities being provided to the trading communities for clearing process. Representatives of Torkham Clearing Associations also called on the KPCCCI officials and informed them of their problems.
Source: The Nation
The Swiss textile innovator HeiQ launches an upgraded version of its popular dynamic cooling technology HeiQ Smart Temp. Based on an instant cooling hydro functional polymer, this patent pending technology provides activated cooling to the wearer for enhanced performance and thermal comfort. In house thermo regulation performance measurements of a treated fabric revealed a 1.5°C to 2.5°C (2.7°F to 4.5°F)cooler skin temperature compared to an untreated fabric.During the Performance Days Munich, the upgraded HeiQ Smart Temp technology can be experienced on high-tech sports fabrics by Pontetorto and Tessitura Taiana Virgilio. From its launch back in 2011 until today, the intelligent thermoregulation technology HeiQ Smart Temp has grown to one of the market leading dynamic cooling technologies. More than 50major brands globally on more than 500 million garments use HeiQ’s most popular technology in their products spanning the application scope from basic apparel and sportswear to home textiles. HeiQ Smart Temp is used as the differentiating technology in Hanes’ X-Temp program, Dick’s Sporting Goods’Second Skin range, Stance’sFeel 360 socks collection, Dickies’Temp-iQrange and BekaertDeslee’s mattress ticking goods – just to name a few.This outstanding achievement spurred HeiQ’s research and development team on even more to move the previous product version to the next level. Now, the Swiss textile innovatorreleases the new addition to the HeiQ Smart Temp family: HeiQ Adaptive AC-06. This patent pending technology version equips the sports enthusiast with activated cooling and enhanced performance and thermal comfort. Upgraded HeiQ Smart Temp interacts with the wearer, helping to lower the skin’s temperature when it needs it most. The innovation is based on an instant cooling hydro functional polymer that is activated when the skin temperature exceeds a range between 28°C and 32°C (82.4°F and 89.6°F) and deactivated once cooling is complete.Two actions are used to keep the body at the optimum performance temperature: Even before the first sign of sweat on fabric, a melting action is activated, sending instant-cooling impulse directly to the skin. And when the heat is really turned up, a vaporizing action transports sweat away from the body, reducing the skin’s temperature by 1.5°C to2.5°C (2.7°F to 4.5°F) compared to an untreated fabric sample.Overall, the wearer feels cool, comfortable and focused to perform better even in the most uncomfortable of conditions. In house thermo regulation performance testing has revealed high reduction rates of the skin temperature measured over a certain time by utilizing a thermal imaging infrared (FLIR) camera. The FLIR camera set-up imitated the human skin while sweating at different levels of activity. “In contrast to the Dynamic Evaporation testing, the FLIR camera measurement allows us to quickly though accurately visualize the temperature change of a fabric treated with HeiQ Smart Temp, for example compared to an untreated fabric sample,” says HeiQ’s Chief Technology Officer Walter Nassl. During Performance Days in Munich the upgraded technology will be presented on high-tech sports fabrics by HeiQ’s Italian partner mills Pontetorto and Tessitura Taiana Virgilio. Both fabrics with upgraded HeiQ Smart Temp have been picked for the PD Forum in the “Cooling Technologies focus topic”. Further, these two fabrics are also going to be available soon in HeiQ’s fabric library for ordering and configuration online through the fast fabric sampling tool “heiq it!”.HeiQ welcomes all visitors to learn more about the upgraded HeiQ Smart Temp technology at their booth (Lounge 5/Hall 5) or during their workshops (Room 13/2ndFloor) at Performance Days Munich from 18-19 April 2018.
Source: Textile Focus
