Through the Mapped in Bangladesh (MiB) project, Bangladesh has made around 3,630 garments export-oriented (RMG) factories available on the website. The MiB project is being funded by the Laudes Foundation and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, coordinated by BRAC and implemented by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) of Brac University (BracU). Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) are the strategic partners of the project.

The project facilities sorting of website data by brands, products, certifications, export countries, etc. It aims to provide the most accurate and latest industry updates to stakeholders to enhance their efficiency, productivity, accountability, and transparency.

In its third quarter ended January 02, 2022, globally renowned outerwear brand Canada Goose, registered a 26.2 per cent rise in sales. As per an Apparel Resources report, known for its parkas and jackets, the brand’s non-parka revenues surged by 74.9 per cent. Its global online revenues grew 28.1 per cent while direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenues grew to Can$ 445.4 million from Can$299.4 million. Most of this increase was driven by higher sales from existing retail stores, complemented by online growth and retail expansion.

The brand’s DTC revenue in Mainland China surged 35.1 per cent while its wholesale revenues declined to Can$ 136.7 million this quarter. Gross profit grew 66.8 per cent to Can$ 413.8 million from Can$ 316.4 million in Q3’ 21. Canada Goose has lowered total revenue guidance in the current quarter from Can$ 1.090 billion to Can$ 1.105 billion, compared to previous guidance in the range of Can$ 1.125 billion to Can$ 1.175 billion. The decision was driven by the brand’s lower than expected revenue and retail traffic in APAC and EMEA in the current quarter.

Founded in 1957, Canada Goose sells a variety of jackets, parkas, vests, hats, gloves, shells and other garments through various sale channels,

China's Shein is expanding its Singapore office after making a Singapore firm its de facto holding company, according to a report by Reuters,

Starting in 2008 in Nanjing, Sheinde-registered its main business last year. Singapore-registered Roadget Business Pte, which lists Xu and three others as its representatives, has been the legal entity operating Shein's global website, Singapore filings show.

Roadget also now owns Guangzhou Shein International Import & Export Co as well as Shein's trademarks that were transferred from Hong Kong's Zoetop Business Co, which had been involved in intellectual property disputes with global brands. In addition, Shein's company profile page on LinkedIn shows Singapore as its headquarters.

Shein, which was valued at about $50 billion in early 2021, produces clothing in China to sell online in the United States, Europe and Asia. The company aims to quadruple the number of its Singapore employees to around 200 by the year's end

It is currently advertising for government relations associates as well as for staff for human resources, marketing and IT. It is expanding its Singapore offices to support the firm's growth in the Southeast Asian market.

Despite fierce competition, Shein has become one of the world's largest fast fashion marketplaces by targeting the social media-savvy "Gen Z" generation, making heavy use of influencers and discount codes.

Validating a projection made by Apparel Resources in 2020, OTEXA says, India will surpass Indonesia in apparel exports over the next decade. India’s garment exports surpassed Indonesia’s shipments for the first time in 2021, as per an Apparel Resources report. During the year, India exports garments worth $4.19 to the US while Indonesia shipped apparels worth $4.14 billion.

India’s apparel exports remained buoyant all through 2021, helped by strong orders and revival of global retail industry. Apparel exports to the US grew 36.92 per cent during the year, leading amongst the top five apparel export destinations to the country. It was followed by Bangladesh whose exports surged 36.70 per cent, China which recorded a 29.40 per cent rise in exports, Indonesia with an export surge of 17.92 per cent and Vietnam with export rise of 14.33 per cent. India’s positive performance in its top apparel export market resulted in the country’s apparel exports to the US growing by 24 per cent y-o-y to $15.21 billion.

Strong foreign demand, higher input costs for farmers and prolonged drought in Texas is leading to surge in cotton plantings by the US. This surge was a result of cotton futures in New York touching a decade high of 44 per cent during January-end over the last year. The growth on stock exchange was driven by projections for a second global deficit.

In this season beginning August 1, cotton planting by US farmers are projected to rise by 7.3 per cent to 12 million acre from the previous year, according to the National Cotton Council’s planting-intentions survey released Sunday.

Increase in cotton planting is also being driven by tighter cotton supplies and high demand for textiles in the global markets including China, India and Mexico. Global cotton consumption is also projected to surge by 2.8 per cent this year, as shown by data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Australia is expected to export cotton worth $3.5 billion this year, says Michael Murray, General Manager, Cotton Australia. In all the country will produce 5 million cotton bales this season. As per a Textile Focus report, the surge in Australia’s cotton exports this year will be a result of excellent seasonal circumstances returning to several drought-affected producing areas, as well as robust worldwide pricing of around $840 per bale. Australian cotton exports shifted shipments to other markets when the sector was involved in the fight of Chinese trade concerns in 2020, and exports to the important market virtually ended, according to Pete Jonhson, Cotton Analyst. Cotton prices were also pushed to the second levels worldwide due to COVID-related supply chain delays. Local producers benefited from the high prices by bagging new supply contracts, adds Stuart Armitage, Cotton Grower, Cecil Plains.

The Union government has extended the application date for the PLI Scheme for the Textile Sector to February 28, 2022. The earlier deadline for submission of the application form was February 14, 2022. The extension in application date is due to some issues related to the HSN code for technical textiles that need to be resolved. Until now, around 80 companies have registered for the scheme while 46 have submitted draft application forms.

The PLI scheme for textiles sector was approved by the government with an outlay of Rs 10,683 crore. It will promote production of MMF apparel, MMF fabrics and other products of technical textiles over a period of five years. The scheme was launched by the government on January 01, 2022. It aims to expand India’s MMFs and technical textiles’ value chain and help India gain a dominant status in the global textile trade.

In 2021, Bangladesh emerged the largest exporter of denim garments to the US for the second consecutive year, as per the latest OTEXA report. The value of Bangladesh’s denim garments exports to the country surged 42.25 per cent y-o-y to $798.42 million from $561.29 million in 2020.

Latest OTEXA data estimates, the US’ imports from Bangladesh increased by 31.36 per cent to $3.68 billion in 2021. Imports from other countries like Mexico grew by 39.60 per cent in value to $654.57 million while that from Vietnam grew to $402.29 million in 2021.

Pakistan’s exports of denim garments surged by 54.60 per cent to $389.76 million compared to the previous year. China’s exports of denim apparels grew to $387.91 million during the year.

High export shipments from the US, limited improvement in Indian cotton arrivals and an increase in Pakistan’s cotton production fuelled international cotton prices to a new high during the Spring Festival holiday. However, the celebrations didn’t last long as the Zhengzhou cotton futures market rose limitedly on the first trading day with domestic cotton market weaker than foreign market.

US cotton exports rise 18.3 per cent

As per CCF Group analysis by January 27, 2022, inspection volumes of the US upland cotton grew by 18.3 per cent year-on-year to 3.5771 million ton, show USDA stats. The inspection volumes of upland cotton and Pima increased by 16.7 per cent year-on-year to 3.6466 million tonne, about 95.1 per cent of the forecast production. The proportion of the upland cotton tenderable against ICE futures amounted increased by 8.1 percentage point year-on-year to 83.5 per cent for the marketing year.

Since January, the promotion of upload tenderable against ICE futures has remained high. Weekly exports have also rose due to sustained production and quality. By the week ending January 27, upland cotton exports for 2021-22 declined 15.1 per cent from previous week while they increased 10 per cent from prior four-week average. Cumulative exports declined 6.1 per cent year-on-year to 2.7195 million tons. Weekly exports increased by 52.7 per cent to 68.5000 tons from previous week and by 80.8 per cent from prior 4-week average. Total export shipments declined 41.9 per cent year-on-year to 885.2000 tons. Exports of upland cotton and Prima surged by 86 per cent to 2.809 tons during 2020/21 while total cotton exports surged by 33 per cent to 926,000 tons. The rise in weekly exports was mainly attributed to the stimulus from China, Pakistan and Vietnam. Exports from India also increased in January 2021.

India’s cotton production to reach 5.67 million tons

According to AGM, by February 5, weekly Indian cotton exports increased by 93,000 tons to 200,000 tons from the same period of last year and by 26,000 tons from the prior 3-year average. Total cotton exports increased by 780,000 tons to 3.27 million tons, up 780,000 tons from the same period of last year.

Currently, about 66-72 per cent of Indian cotton is expected to arrive in the market, though arrivals are expected to slow down later. India’s cotton production is expected to reach around 5.67 million tons this season.

End in arrivals from Pakistan boost spot cotton prices

Statistics from the Pakistan Cotton Ginners' Association (PCGA) show, new cotton arrivals increased 33.2 per cent year-on-year to reach 1.15 million tons on February 1, 2022. Textile Mills’ purchase increased 43.3 per cent year-on-year to 1.121. Currently, arrivals have ended and production has settled. This has led to an exponential rise in spot cotton prices while the prices of seed cotton show limited growth.

Cotton planting in Brazil improves

By the week ending January 29, the sowing progress of cotton crops in Brazil increased by 22 per cent from the same period of last year to reach 78.8 per cent. The current sowing progress is equal to that in 2019/20 season.

Overall, a surge in cotton exports from the US, improved arrivals of Indian cotton in the market and a minor rise in Pakistan’s cotton production led to international cotton prices hitting a new high during the Spring Festival holiday. Nevertheless, on the first trading day returning from the holiday, Global cotton production shows signs of growth in 2022/21. However, high cotton prices may drag down the consumption.

The ‘green dream’ of Bangladesh garment entrepreneurs seems to be going down the drain as they are not getting the expected benefits from retailers and brands. As per a Daily Star report, garment entrepreneurs in Bangladesh have invested hundreds of crores of taka to set up green factories across the country. Though these units are helping buyers source products from eco-friendly factories besides improving the image of the entire supply chain, they are not fetching premium prices from brands and retailers, said Md Fazlul Hoque, Managing Director, Plummy Fashions at the launch of an initiative of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and the embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh at the Brac Centre Inn in Dhaka.

Hoque added, green garment factories get only a 2 per cent rebate on final settlement of income tax. Bangladesh currently has 157 green factories, the highest in the world. Nearly 500 more garment factories in the country are awaiting their LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certifications, he informed

Industry leaders demand duty waivers

Nazma Akter, Founder and Executive Director, Awaj Foundation, a labor rights organization, urged buyers to pay fair prices for garment items produced at green factories as their production involves huge investments. Green factories should also attend to the welfare of the workers, especially female employees, she added. Consumers have been paying fair prices for goods produced in green garment factories. Yet, exporters fail to get their due, alleged Mohammad Hatem, Executive President, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA). To resolve this, the government needs to waive duties on imported chemicals used in green factories and reduce source tax, he opined.

Policy makers urge for new marketing initiatives

Christine Johansson, Deputy Head-Mission, Embassy of Sweden, urged manufacturers to introduce new marketing drives to get better prices. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry, also called for measures to increase apparel prices to solve current issues.

Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director, CPD sums up, manufacturers should fashion their green initiatives according to workers’ needs. Meanwhile, the garment industry will soon set new environmental standards.