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Belarus and Pakistan are eager to develop ties between their textile industries. The countries will organize a textile forum to consider avenues of bilateral cooperation, including joint ventures and investment projects. Pakistan and Belarus have agreed to initiate joint ventures in the textile, pharmaceutical and lighting solution industries.
Pakistan is a leading manufacturer of cotton. The country has a well-developed textile industry. The textile sector of Pakistan contributes 57 per cent to the country’s exports. Belarus was one of the top textile producers among the Soviet republics in terms of volume. Today, 300 Belarusian enterprises operate in the sewing, knitting, wool and cotton industries and textiles account for around four per cent of the total volume of Belarusian industrial production. Export destinations are mainly Russia and CIS countries, but also EU countries.
Pakistan’s exports to Belarus are mainly rice, light pure woven cotton, styrene polymers, edible preparations, leather apparel and citrus. Imports are mainly tractors, artificial filament yarn and rubber tires. Pakistan intends to export more value-added items to Belarus.
Both sides expressed their resolve to undertake concrete measures to enhance the volume of trade as the current trade figures are not reflective of the true potential.
"Gap Inc’s fourth quarter profits increased 3 per cent to $220 million, or 55 cents a share, and sales rose 1 per cent to $4.43 billion. Its fourth quarter same-store sales were up 2 per cent, compared with a decline of 7 per cent in the same period last year, and same-store sales for the year fell 2 per cent, compared with a decline of 4 per cent last year. The company’s flagship Gap brand showed signs of life for the first time in many quarters: Q4 same-store sales fell 3 per cent globally compared to last year’s 6 per cent decline. Old Navy same-store sales rose 1 per cent compared to flat numbers last year, and fell 7 per cent at Banana Republic, compared to a 10 per cent decline last year."
Gap Inc’s fourth quarter profits increased 3 per cent to $220 million, or 55 cents a share, and sales rose 1 per cent to $4.43 billion. Its fourth quarter same-store sales were up 2 per cent, compared with a decline of 7 per cent in the same period last year, and same-store sales for the year fell 2 per cent, compared with a decline of 4 per cent last year. The company’s flagship Gap brand showed signs of life for the first time in many quarters: Q4 same-store sales fell 3 per cent globally compared to last year’s 6 per cent decline. Old Navy same-store sales rose 1 per cent compared to flat numbers last year, and fell 7 per cent at Banana Republic, compared to a 10 per cent decline last year. The recent bankruptcies and store closures of rival apparel retailers like The Limited, American Apparel and Wet Seal present Gap with market share opportunity.
Growth drivers
This is an era in apparel retail when modest increases, flat sales or even ebbing declines might be seen as a comeback story. Talking about the reinvention strategy, CEO Art Peck said recently the company has worked thoroughly on getting a handle on fit style and quality; speeding up clothing manufacture to more efficiently respond to demand; transforming inventory systems to de-silo merchandise, inventory management and sourcing systems; and leveraging its warehouse network to accommodate both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar fulfillment needs. Having said that he feels that there is more work to do.
About Gap's other brands’ performance, Peck explained issues at Old Navy (which hampered the brand’s consistent strength for a time last year) were swiftly corrected and Athleta athleisure brand (for which the company doesn’t provide sales figures) is strong. But Banana Republic continues to be a drag. While Gap is right to dial back on the Banana brand across the UK and European markets, it must decide as to how it will revive its fortunes in the US. While the company is on the road to recovery, analysts feel that it will be interesting to see as to how the company sustains and speed up its growth momentum.
Cairo Fashion and Tex has opened its doors from March 2 to 5. This is a fashion and textile exhibition, specializing in yarns, textiles, garments and trimming supplies and accessories. It provides exhibitors and visitors the possibility of making a sound business investment. The exhibiting companies will showcase women’s fashion, men’s fashion, lingerie, nightwear, sportswear, knitted garments and tricot and special garments.
Fifteen Indian textile companies are also participating. They are showcasing yarns and fabrics, which include suitings, shirtings, dress materials and embroidered fabrics, high fashion fabrics, furnishings, home textiles, scarves, stoles, shawls and yarns of manmade fibers and their blends. India is the world’s second largest producer of synthetic fibers and yarn, cotton, cellulosic fiber and silk. The country has the ability to supply both high and low end textile items either in small quantities or large volumes.
The textile sector accounts for 27 per cent of Egypt’s industrial production, making it the second largest industry after processed food. The industry contributes eleven per cent to manufacturing GDP and three per cent to total GDP. Egypt’s main export partners have traditionally been the United States and the European Union but the trade includes also includes other Arab countries, China and Brazil.
In 2016, Picanol’s turnover increased 20.8 per cent compared to 2015. Gross profit percentage increased from 22 per cent to 25 per cent. The operating result increased 44.75 per cent.
In 2016, the weaving machines division experienced a record breaking year. The growing demand for quality and technology created strong sales and an increased share in many markets. This resulted in Picanol’s putting a record number of weaving machines on the market in 2016, thereby especially focusing on dealing with production peaks. The industries division also had a strong year and increased its contribution to the group result thanks to a higher turnover in various sectors.
The sale of parts and accessories followed the positive trend of the weaving machines. In 2016, the OptiMax rapier weaving machine was taken out of production and replaced by the OptiMax-i, which was launched in 2015 and is the fastest rapier weaving machine in the world that is series-produced.
In 2016, Picanol further invested in the renovation and modernization of its production facilities, including the upgrade of the automated warehouse and the logistics systems. In combination with further productivity and quality improvements, Picanol aims to enhance its competitiveness. Picanol expects a slight increase in turnover for the first half of 2017 compared to the first half of 2016.
International Wool Textile Organisation has released a set of guidelines designed specifically for conducting life cycle assessments on wool products. From a sustainability perspective wool has, historically, scored poorly in rating systems. IWTO has long wanted new methods where wool is produced alongside meat or milk as this would potentially lead to a much lower environmental impact being allocated to the wool product.
The new guidelines are wool-specific. They aim to create an improvement in the application of life cycle assessments to wool supply chains. This method is expected to improve the scientific veracity and comparability of studies that apply it, providing better information to decision makers and consumers of wool products.
These guidelines will be relevant to any organisation undertaking an assessment of wool products. A life cycle assessment is the most commonly used tool for assessing a product’s effect on the environment. It models the use of resources and emissions to air, land or water that occur from the production, processing and manufacturing of products, the use of these products and their end-of-life recycling or disposal.
IWTO represents the interests of the wool textile trade. Its members encompass 60 per cent of the world’s total wool production, from sheep to shop. By facilitating industry strategy and ensuring standards in manufacturing and sustainability, IWTO fosters connection between members and other stakeholders.
India’s cotton prices witnessed a fluctuation within a narrow range during the second half of February. However, fiber prices came down marginally after the fluctuation. As February witnessed higher market prices, arrival of the fiber has improved and supply has eased. Farmers and traders released the fiber as prices were favorable. At the same time, improved availability has brought down prices too.
The total cotton arrival in the country so far is estimated to be around 19 million bales and current arrival is estimated to be between 1,80,000 to 2,00,000 bales per day across India. It’s estimated that domestic consumption of cotton will improve this year to 29.5 million bales while production will be at 34.1 million bales.
This indicates availability of the fiber in abundance as exports have been slow and some exporters have cancelled export shipments due to strong domestic cotton prices. On the price front, current domestic price of the benchmark Shankar-6 variety was recorded at around Rs 43,000 a candy, which is higher by Rs 300 a candy compared to mid February prices.
On the global front, cotton prices continued with the fluctuation within a narrow range during the second half of February. India’s demonetisation drive has tightened the fiber supply and helped global cotton price gain.
India’s cotton production is projected to rise by two per cent in 2017-18 as area expands by seven per cent. China’s cotton production may increase by two per cent. Production in the United States is forecast to rise by just one per cent. Assuming normal weather patterns, the harvested area is projected to expand by three per cent. Pakistan’s cotton production is forecast to grow by eleven per cent. Its cotton area is projected to expand by three per cent. Average yield may grow by eight per cent.
Global cotton production is forecast to grow by 23.1 million tons on a planted area of 30.4 million hectares in 2017-18. World cotton consumption is expected to remain stable. Given the strong demand this season, and anticipated world economic growth in 2017 and 2018, world mill use is forecast to increase by one per cent.
China’s share of cotton consumption is likely to remain at 30 per cent. Mill use in India is projected to decline by three per cent in 2016-17 but is forecast to recover by one per cent in 2017-18. Consumption in Bangladesh continues to grow due to strong textile exports, with its mill use likely to rise by five per cent in 2017-18. Mill use in Vietnam has more than doubled in the last five years.
ThreadSol has a range of innovative software solutions for apparel manufacturers. The aim is to cut fabric waste for garment manufacturers. Fabric accounts for about 70 per cent of the operational cost of garment manufacturing units, where the average amount of waste can vary from eight per cent to as high as 16 per cent, largely because the length and width of cloth varies across mills.
ThreadSol helps garment manufacturers cut down fabric waste right from the purchase of the fabric to getting the garment ready. So a semi-literate worker at a factory can punch in basic details like sizes of garments to be made, length and width of fabric to be used and can get suggestions in terms of the most economical ways to make use of the fabric.
ThreadSol offers the solution both as a cloud-based software as a service where companies pay per use or an on-premise solution for which companies pay a license fee. The larger idea is to expand use of the software across similar industry segments like footwear, upholstery, technical textiles and bags. The company, based in New Delhi, is participating in the Garment Technology Expo 2017, New Delhi, March 3 to 6, 2017.
Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) prices in China witnessed a fluctuating trend in the second half of February. Though the high price of the commodity is deterring buyers from resuming procurement, the market remained busy and the demand may pick up further. Demand for PTA would be enough to meet the current supply. Therefore PTA prices are expected to remain healthy.
Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) prices witnessed a fluctuating trend during the second half of February as well. MEG prices started declining from mid February, which continued before rebounding toward month end. Supply concerns for MEG are over but couple of plant shut-downs in Singapore and India might disrupt supply. As the number of polyester plants are increasing capacity utilisation after the Lunar New Year holidays, MEG demands will increase gradually. However, the high price of the commodity has damped demand and therefore demand for the commodity might be determined by price in the short term.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) prices witnessed a marginal downward trend as raw material prices back tracked. Demand for PET chips is good but high prices kept the buyers in dilemma on procurement decisions. However as lower offers emerged in the market buying volumes might improve substantially. Chip prices are expected to move in line with raw material prices in the coming weeks.
Mongolian brand Hebei Yuteng offers organic cashmere. The production is carried out to Oeko-Tex standards. Hebei Yuteng was founded in 2003 and has the world’s most advanced cashmere carding processing equipment. Inner Mongolia is a major cashmere growing region.
The company has set up raw material branch corporations in Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, and Qinghai to source the finest quality cashmere. Cashmere is a fiber obtained from cashmere goats and other types of goat. The fiber is finer and softer than sheep’s wool.
Recent years have seen the global cashmere knitwear market outgrowing luxury apparel market, with dressed-down, comfort-led trends like athleisure becoming the main driver of demand. At one time it was a highly expensive commodity. These days affordable, casual cashmere products have become popular. Brands such as H&M and Uniqlo retail pure cashmere knitwear products. Other brands are developing blends of cashmere and sport-friendly materials like spandex.
However, growing global demand for cashmere has placed pressure on supply and made it increasingly important that suppliers adopt sustainable herding practices and the holistic management of pasture lands. Most global cashmere output comes from China, where there are over 100 million goats. It can take four goats to produce enough fibers for one sweater.
