The synthetic fiber market in China is one of of stark contrasts. While polyester and nylon prices have navigated a volatile year with some resilience, spandex has plunged into a downward spiral, hitting record lows. This difference in prices reflects not only shifts in the Chinese market but also broader trends in global fiber consumption.

Changes in the domestic & export landscape

China, one of the most important player in the global textile industry, has seen a decline in spandex exports, mirroring the domestic price slump. Overcapacity, triggered by the industry's rapid expansion after the 2021 boom, has led to fierce competition and price wars. In contrast, polyester and nylon, with more moderated capacity growth, have maintained steadier prices and export volumes.

Table: Changes in China's fiber exports (year-on-year)

Source: China Customs

Global & Indian consumption trends

The global textile industry is witnessing a shift in fiber preferences. While demand for polyester and nylon remains relatively stable, fueled by sectors like sportswear and automotive, spandex is facing headwinds. The oversupply in China, coupled with growing environmental concerns about synthetic fibers, has dampened its appeal.

However, in India, the world's second-largest textile producer, the situation is nuanced. Polyester, being cost-effective, continues to dominate the market. However, there's a growing appetite for sustainable and performance-driven fibers like recycled polyester and nylon. Spandex, despite its price drop, faces challenges due to its limited applications and competition from natural fibers like cotton.

The trends in the Chinese fiber market have implications for India, a major consumer and producer of textiles.

First and foremost it creates opportunities for Indian manufacturers. Declining spandex prices in China could present opportunities for Indian manufacturers to procure this fiber at competitive rates. This could boost the production of spandex-based products in India, such as sportswear and athleisure wear.

The global shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly products is likely to impact fiber consumption patterns in India. Manufacturers may need to adapt and focus on producing sustainable fibers to cater to evolving consumer preferences.

The bottomline is, the slump in spandex signals a need for the industry to recalibrate. Consolidation, innovation in sustainable production, and diversification into high-value applications are key for its revival. Polyester and nylon, while currently stable, need to adapt to the evolving demands for eco-friendly alternatives. Meanwhile, Chinese market's dynamics will continue to influence the global textile landscape. Its efforts to balance supply and demand, coupled with its push towards sustainable practices, will shape the future of synthetic fibers. For India, striking a balance between affordability, sustainability, and performance will be crucial in navigating the changing fiber landscape.

As a part of the government’s plan to set up seven PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) parks across India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the PM MITRA Park project in Amravati, Maharashtra. The park is being developed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), across 1,000 acre. 

During the event, PM Modi also participated in the National 'PM Vishwakarma' Program, which marked the one-year anniversary of the PM Vishwakarma initiative. As part of the program he launched the ‘Acharya Chanakya Skill Development Center’ scheme, a Maharashtra government initiative that aims to provide skill development training to youths aged 15 to 45. To be established in renowned colleges across the state, these centers will offer free training to around 1.5 lakh youths annually, equipping them with the skills to become self-reliant and access various employment opportunities.

Additionally, PM Modi introduced the ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme,’ which will provide early-stage support for women-led startups in Maharashtra. Under the scheme, financial assistance of up to Rs 25 lakh will be granted to qualifying startups.

PM Modi also visited an exhibition held alongside the National 'PM Vishwakarma' Program, where he interacted with beneficiaries of the PM Vishwakarma Yojana. He distributed credit to 18 beneficiaries across 18 trades and released certificates and loans to artisans under the scheme. 

To commemorate the occasion, he unveiled a stamp celebrating one year of progress under PM Vishwakarma, symbolising the government's tangible support for artisans and their significant contributions to society.

The event was attended by Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Ministers along with Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister.

The textile industry and apparel (T&A) industry in Vietnam needs to capitalise on its global position to maintain momentum and compete effectively in the international market, opine industry experts. 

Despite witnessing growth in exports, Vietnam’s T&A industry continues to face significant challenges due to rising market demands and evolving customer expectations.

The industry witnessed a 6.2 per cent Y-o-Y rise in exports in the first eight months of FY24 bringing the total export revenue to $28.3 million during the period.  

In Aug ’24 alone, Vietnam’s textile and apparel exports revenue reached $4.3 billion, as per Vu Duc Giang, Chairman, VITAS. Giang attributes this growth to the shift in global orders toward Vietnam, driven by factors such as the US-China trade war, conflicts in Europe, and instability in Bangladesh, a key apparel exporter. He notes, the current growth presents an opportunity for Vietnam's textile industry to set new export records.

Emphasising on the industry long-term strategy to diversify its product range, Giang also acknowledges the challenges faced including the rising volume of orders and the need for businesses to adapt to new purchasing strategies from global partners. He emphasises on the importance to enhance connectivity across the supply chain, from raw materials and machinery to marketing. Giang also highlights the need to adopt advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to boost productivity, improve quality, and create distinctive products.

Nguyen Van Hoang, General Director, Dong Tien JSC, points out, the shift is also happening domestically, with more partners prioritising factories that comply with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. He notes, the industry is increasingly emphasising on sustainability and ethical production.

Jimmy Qiu, Vice President of Jack Technology, emphasises on Vietnam's growing significance in the global textile-garment supply chain, attributing the country’s success to its rapid adoption of smart technologies and green production practices.

Pham Van Viet, Chairman, Viet Thang Jean Co (VitaJean) and Vice President, Ho Chi Minh City Association of Garments, Textiles, Embroidery, and Knitting (Agtek), remarks, Vietnam's competitive edge no longer lies in low-cost labor. Instead, the focus has shifted toward optimising science, technology, and digital transformation. He underscores the need to establish clear policies and strategies to ensure a smooth transition to new market dynamics.

Viet also emphasises on the importance of building a domestic textile-garment supply chain through high-tech systems at every stage—from raw material production and weaving to design, sewing, and branding. However, his transformation requires substantial capital and human resources, particularly in terms of technology innovation and workforce training, he acknowledges. He urges small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support in this green transition through technology upgrades, and design capabilities.

Additionally, Viet highlights on the need to strengthen communication efforts to enhance the branding of both individual companies and the national textile industry, ensuring a strong global presence.

In a meeting attended by Jam Kamal Khan, Commerce Minister, and Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Power Minister, Pakistan’s Board of Investment signed an MoU with Chinese textile giant Ruyi Shandong to establish international-standard textile parks in Pakistan. The MoU signed in the presence of Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister and a nine-member delegation from the Ruyi Group, led by Qiu Yafu, Chairman, aims to boost Pakistan’s textile exports to $5 billion and create up to 500,000 jobs.

According to the terms of this agreement, Pakistan will develop textile parks in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab, with approximately 100 Chinese textile firms invited to invest in these parks. 

These textile parks' aim to position Pakistan as a leading global hub for textile and garment manufacturing, said Yafu at the meeting. They will be powered by solar energy and fully automated, with a goal of achieving $2 billion in exports during the first phase, followed by $5 billion in the second phase. The project is expected to generate between 300,000 and 500,000 jobs.

Construction on the textile parks will begin by the end of the year, with the project estimated to complete in around three years. Additionally, Ruyi plans to establish wholesale commodity centers in Karachi and Lahore.

The meeting also led to the creation of working groups in Islamabad and Beijing to fast-track the project’s development. Prime Minister Sharif appointed a special committee, led by Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister to oversee the process. The committee includes federal ministers for commerce, investment, industries, production, and privatisation, as well as senior officials from the Special Investment Facilitation Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Yafu emphasised on Ruyi’s longstanding relationship with Pakistan, noting that the company's involvement extends beyond investment to friendship. 

Acknowledging the potential of the Indian cotton market, Marcelo Duarte Monteiro, Director- International Relations, Brazilian Cotton Growers Association (ABRAPA), notes, despite cultivating around 12.5 million hectare of cotton, India’s cotton productivity still lags behind Brazil. With targeted efforts, India could significantly boost its cotton yields, freeing up land for other crops and strengthening its agricultural output, he adds.  

An increase in India's cotton productivity would also benefit the global cotton industry as a whole, opines Monteiro. Producer of 5.33 million tons of cotton annually, India is the second-largest cotton producer in the world, just behind China. Brazil, which produces 3.64 million tons, ranks third. Unlike India, Brazil has minimal domestic cotton consumption, allowing it to export 2.72 million tons of cotton annually, making it the world’s largest cotton exporter. Meanwhile, India imports 0.44 million tons to meet its domestic demand, offering Brazil a significant opportunity to increase its market share in India.

Acknowledging the challenge of competing with synthetic fibers on price, Monteiro says, while synthetic fibers often have a cost advantage, cotton offers unmatched quality. Synthetic fibers, particularly plastic waste, are a growing concern in densely populated countries like India and Brazil, where waste management systems are often strained, he points out.

Though logistics and the geographical distance between Brazil and India pose challenges, increased trade could lead to more direct shipping routes, helping to reduce costs, Monteiro opines. Last year, Brazil exported one million tons of cotton to China last year, he emphasises, suggesting, even a portion of that volume exported to India could unlock new opportunities for trade, including other products.

Monteiro recommends Brazil to focus on supplying specific grades of high-quality, contamination-free cotton with staples longer than 29 or 30 millimeters. This specialised approach would fill gaps in India’s textile industry without directly competing with local farmers, fostering a complementary relationship between the two nations, he adds. 

In Brazil, High Volume Instrument (HVI) testing is conducted on every bale of cotton. Two samples are taken from each side of the bale, combined for consistency, and subjected to both visual and HVI tests. The results are stored in a database, allowing for detailed tracking of the performance of different cotton varieties and regions. This system enables Brazil to deliver tailored products to clients and provides valuable data for ongoing research. By analyzing this data, Brazil continuously improves its cotton varieties, enhancing both yield and quality, a commitment to excellence that has been central to Brazil's success in the global market.

India aims to boost its textile exports to $100 billion by 2030, as per the India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) under the Ministry of Commerce. During this period, India’s textile and apparel market is projected to grow at a 10 per cent CAGR, reaching $350 billion by 2030.

As the world’s third-largest exporter of textiles and apparel, India ranks among the top five in several categories. The sector contributes 2.3 per cent to India’s GDP, 13 per cent to industrial production, and 12 per cent to total exports. According to the IBEF report, the textile industry’s GDP contribution is expected to nearly double to 5 per cent by 2030.

In Union Budget 2024-25, the government increased funding for the textiles sector by Rs 974 crore, bringing the total allocation to Rs 4,417.09 crore. Funding for research and capacity building was also raised to Rs 686 crore, and the National Technical Textiles Mission saw a 120.59 per cent increase in funding to Rs 375 crore.

However, reduced cotton sowing during the ongoing kharif season could hinder India’s ability to seize additional export orders, especially given the crisis in Bangladesh’s garment industry. By Sep 13, 2024, India’s cotton sowing dropped to 11.24 million hectare, down from 12.36 million hectare last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

While increased sowing in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka might push the total sown area to 11.6 million hectare, lower cotton production is expected to impact textile exports. In FY24, India’s textile exports fell to $34.40 billion from $35.55 billion in FY23. Despite the government’s target to exceed $40 billion in textile exports by FY25, declining cotton production casts doubt on reaching this goal, says Abhash Kumar, Assistant Professor – Economics, Delhi University.

India’s cotton production has been declining since it peaked at 36 million bales in FY20. By FY24, it is projected to fall to 32 million bales. Challenges such as outdated seed technology and labor shortages have reduced productivity, prompting many farmers to switch to alternative crops like soybean. The rising cost of cotton and a 10 per cent duty on cotton fiber imports pose further risks to export competitiveness, warns Mihir Parekh, Foundation for Economic Development.

Consolidating its position as a global leader in sustainability, the garment industry in Bangladesh added three new facilities to its list of green factories.

According to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), these factories included Ananta Huajing in Narayanganj, Sepal Garments in Gazipur, and Unitex Spinningd (Unit-2) in Sitakunda, Chattogram. With these latest certifications, the total number of eco-friendly factories in Bangladesh's readymade garment and textile sector increased to 229.

Of these, 91 factories have earned the prestigious LEED Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC), while 124 have received Gold certification. Additionally, 10 factories have achieved Silver, and 4 have been awarded certified status.

BGMEA highlights, around 56 of the top 100 eco-friendly factories across the world are situated in Bangladesh with almost nine of the world’s top 10 green factories located in the country. 

The Government of Uganda has launched the ‘Banatex Project,’ a pioneering initiative to boost sustainable textile production through the use of banana fiber. 

Spearheaded by Busitema University, the project marks a significant step towards leveraging banana fiber, an underutilised yet abundant resource in the country. It aims to scale up and commercialise banana fiber to enhance sustainable textile production.

This initiative will help strengthen Uganda’s textile and clothing sector by boosting local value addition and promoting exports, says Godfrey Kabbyanga, Minister of State, ICT. The project supports the cotton industry by offering banana fiber as a local, eco-friendly alternative, contributing to the sustainability of the textile sector. It not only aligns with Uganda’s environmental objectives but also creates economic opportunities for farmers and local communities, he notes.

The banana industry is a crucial component of Uganda’s economy, contributing significantly to livelihoods, food security, and economic stability. Highlighting the potential of the sector, Kabbyanga states, with the right support, the government aims to further elevate the contribution of the banana industry to Ugandan communities and economy. By focusing on banana fiber, the government taps into a sustainable resource that would help strengthen its economic impact."

Uganda’s textile industry has faced several challenges, including its dependence on synthetic fibers. The Banatex Project offers a timely solution to these issues by promoting eco-friendly textile production, helping the country meet the growing global demand for sustainable textiles, affirms Kabbyanga.

Collaboration between universities, industries, and the government will ensure the project's long-term success, notes Kabbyanga. He urges all stakeholders to actively participate and support Banatex, emphasising, collective effort will help unlock the full potential of this groundbreaking initiative.

The Government of Uganda has launched the ‘Banatex Project,’ a pioneering initiative to boost sustainable textile production through the use of banana fiber. 

Spearheaded by Busitema University, the project marks a significant step towards leveraging banana fiber, an underutilised yet abundant resource in the country. It aims to scale up and commercialise banana fiber to enhance sustainable textile production.

This initiative will help strengthen Uganda’s textile and clothing sector by boosting local value addition and promoting exports, says Godfrey Kabbyanga, Minister of State, ICT. The project supports the cotton industry by offering banana fiber as a local, eco-friendly alternative, contributing to the sustainability of the textile sector. It not only aligns with Uganda’s environmental objectives but also creates economic opportunities for farmers and local communities, he notes.

The banana industry is a crucial component of Uganda’s economy, contributing significantly to livelihoods, food security, and economic stability. Highlighting the potential of the sector, Kabbyanga states, with the right support, the government aims to further elevate the contribution of the banana industry to Ugandan communities and economy. By focusing on banana fiber, the government taps into a sustainable resource that would help strengthen its economic impact."

Uganda’s textile industry has faced several challenges, including its dependence on synthetic fibers. The Banatex Project offers a timely solution to these issues by promoting eco-friendly textile production, helping the country meet the growing global demand for sustainable textiles, affirms Kabbyanga.

Collaboration between universities, industries, and the government will ensure the project's long-term success, notes Kabbyanga. He urges all stakeholders to actively participate and support Banatex, emphasising, collective effort will help unlock the full potential of this groundbreaking initiative.

Valued at $1.32 billion in 2023, the global organic cotton market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 44.4 per cent from 2025-30, according to a report by ResearchandMarkets.com. 

This growth is likely to be driven by increasing consumer demand for sustainable products and rising awareness of the environmental impacts of conventional cotton farming. The shift towards organic cotton is motivated by the desire to reduce the ecological footprint of textile production and address health concerns related to chemicals used in traditional cotton agriculture.

Organic cotton is cultivated without toxic pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), using eco-friendly farming methods. These practices promote biodiversity, enhance soil quality, and often require less water than conventional cotton. Furthermore, organic cotton farming aligns with fair trade principles, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for farmers, which adds to its appeal among consumers, manufacturers, and retailers.

Fashion brands and retailers are increasingly incorporating organic cotton into their products, responding to the growing demand for sustainable and ethically produced clothing. Organic cotton has gained popularity in apparel, home textiles, and personal care products, including bed linens, towels, and hygiene items. Social media and digital marketing have played a key role in raising awareness about organic cotton, increasing its visibility and driving demand. These platforms help build consumer trust by providing transparency about the ethical and sustainable origins of products.

Government regulations and international standards are also supporting the organic cotton market. Stricter rules on chemical use in agriculture, along with subsidies and financial incentives for organic farming, are encouraging farmers to transition from conventional to organic cotton cultivation.

The fashion industry is a major driver of the organic cotton market, with leading brands aiming to improve their sustainability credentials. High-profile collaborations between textile manufacturers and fashion companies have further boosted the visibility of organic cotton.

In terms of value, the Asia Pacific region leads the global organic cotton market, driven by growing consumer awareness of eco-friendly products and strong regulatory support. International brands are increasingly sourcing organic cotton from this region, supported by certifications such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).