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According to estimates presented at Pitti Uomo 91 by Sistema Moda Italia (SMI), the Italian fashion and textile industry federation, Italian menswear is expected to end 2016 with a modest 0.9 per cent revenue growth reaching almost €9 billion. In 2015, its revenue rose by 1.4 per cent. Above all, the estimate reflects a slow-down in export sales while the decrease in the Italian domestic demand's rate of decline seems to have chiefly benefited those businesses that are not exclusively focused on manufacturing. However, Italian manufacturing output in 2016, net of the sale of imported goods, is expected to post a marked recovery by rising 1.2 per cent, compared to a 3.5 per cent shortfall in 2015.
Over the same period, Italian export sales are forecast to grow by 1.9 per cent for a value of nearly €5.8 billion. This increase is lower than the 2.3 per cent rise recorded in 2015 chiefly owing to the performance in emerging countries as well as to the weaker-than-expected trend of USA domestic demand.
Imports on the other hand are forecasted to buck the trend and fall by 0.5 per cent, for a total value just below the €4 billion mark. Geographically, exports and imports to/from the EU are both reportedly growing (+3.9 per cent) while conversely the business with non-EU countries is expected to decline by 0.9 per cent in both directions.
A carpet cluster and a hosiery cluster will come up in Haryana. Carpet weaving calls for a high degree of skill and dexterity. A carpet consists of dyed pile yarns; a primary backing in which the yarns are sewn; a secondary backing that adds strength to the carpet; adhesive that binds the primary and secondary backings; and, in most cases, a cushion laid underneath the carpet to give it a softer, more luxurious feel.
Haryana wants to boost hosiery goods manufacturing in the state. The state will set up a hosiery cluster in Sirsa while the Centre would initially spend six crores to develop the cluster. A building will be constructed in the village. As a group about 120 people of the village would make sweaters, shirts and uniforms. Modern machines will be installed and the textiles would be marketed through tenders and other mediums which would prove beneficial for people working in this industry. All beneficiaries of the scheme belong to scheduled castes and backward classes and it is the first group of its kind in the country. Sirsa produces 40 per cent of the total cotton produced in the state and this area is famous as a cotton belt in the country.
German and European manufacturers of sewing and Garment technology and machines for processing technical textiles have positive expectations of the leading trade fair Texprocess that will open its doors in Frankfurt for the fourth time from May 9 to 12.
Elgar Straub, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Care Frankfurt said that 2016 was another successful year for the sector. Sales of German manufacturers of sewing and Garment technology increased by 15.9 per cent in real terms from January to October compared to that of last year.
Likewise, incoming orders increased by 2.8 per cent. He was speaking on the occasion of the international Texprocess press conference in Frankfurt. He further said that VDMA Textile Care, Fabric and Leather Technologies will present itself at this year’s Texprocess for the first time with their new names reflecting the sector’s strong international orientation. In addition, all sectors represented in the association find themselves represented in the name viz. manufacturers of Sewing and Garment technology, Shoe and Leather technology, Laundry and Textile cleaning technology as well as machines for processing Technical Textiles.
In welcome news, Le Tien Truong, General Director of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (VINATEX) has said that garment and textile enterprises of the country have received enough orders to keep them busy through the first quarter of this year. Addressing a press conference on January 9, Truong said that in 2017, the group targets a rise of 11 per cent in export turnover, 14 per cent in production value and 12 per cent in revenue.
He predicted that this year, Vietnam’s garment and textile sector will face numerous challenges including a lack of support in taxation policies as several important trade deals such as the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership will not become effective in 2017. Competition will become fiercer as other countries will continue attracting orders thanks to their advantages in tax and exchange rate, he said, adding that the instability in the EU economy will also affect the industry.
He further noted that last year was gloomy for the world apparel sector. Major importers including the US, the EU and Japan experienced low or decreased demand for garment and textile products. Vietnam’s apparel also saw under-expectation result with 28.3 billion USD in export, up 5.7 per cent year-on-year.
VINATEX earned over 2.5 billion USD, a rise of 5 per cent over 2015 with a pre-tax profit of over 41 trillion VND on a 5 per cent year-on-year increase. The average income of its employees rose 8 per cent over the previous year to reach 6.7 million VND per month. Truong also said that the results showed the great efforts of the sector, as Vietnam recorded higher growth than major competitors such as China, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
Berling Fashion Week will be held January 17 to 20, 2017.
The fashion week is expected to draw nearly 2, 00,000 visitors, including 550 trade journalists. In total more than 70 fashion shows and 200 events will be staged over the four-day event. The exhibition owes its reputation as Berlin’s best fashion fair to the carefully selected brand mix.
The program includes the fashion trade show Panorama, which is described as the largest fashion exhibition in Europe. Expanding in size and concept, this season’s show will see an increased surface, boasting 42,000 square feet more than last year and nine new halls. Panorama Berling is also expanding the existing range of products by adding a dedicated area for lingerie, underwear and loungewear.
Sustainable fashion and upcycled designs will be showcased at dedicated trade shows GreenShowroom and Ethical Fashion Show. However specialised brands will be also present at the largest trade fairs with numerous sustainable brands in the line-ups.
Over 1000 brands and 1800 collections will be on display. The catwalk schedule will be moving into a new venue. New this season will be an outdoor section. Trade shows Show & Order, Bright and Seek will continue to serve their respective segments at the Berling Fashion Week.
The European Union's executive has suggested that the bloc reinstates a trade concession to Sri Lanka as an incentive to the government to promote human rights and good governance. The move, a victory for the new coalition government, could boost Sri Lanka's exports which have been falling due to sluggish demand from advanced economies.
The European Commission's trade commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, said that the move could make a significant contribution to Sri Lanka's development by increasing exports to the EU. But this also reflects the way in which we want to support Sri Lanka in implementing human rights, rule of law and good governance reforms, she said in a statement.
The removal of customs duties was granted again in exchange for Sri Lanka's commitment to ratify and implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labour conditions, protection of the environment and good governance. The move on the part of the EU would be accompanied by rigorous monitoring, the commission said. It will become effective in four months if the European Parliament and the Council do not raise objections.
Sri Lanka lost the concession in 2010 after the then-president Mahinda Rajapaksa rejected international demands to address human rights abuses allegedly committed during a 2009 offensive to crush a Tamil insurgency. Since ousting Rajapaksa in January 2015, the coalition government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to address the alleged abuses via an impartial mechanism that meets international standards.
Marking a significant turning point for the country’s industrial and export sectors, Sri Lanka will soon receive Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status of the European Union (EU). This was disclosed by President Maithripala Sirisena. The GSP+ trade concessions are linked to the country’s compliance with human rights and labour rights conventions.
On the topic, Sirisena said that agreements with the countries, businessmen, investors and international organisations of the EU are very open. The current government is honestly committed to the development of the country. He was speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate the newly built bridge in Halloluwa, Dodanwala, Kandy.
During the last two years the present government was able to build friendship with all the countries in the world, eliminating many hindrances which halted the forward drive of the country, he added. In 2010, Sri Lanka lost the GSP Plus status as a cause of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) alleging violations of human rights during the civil war. Subsequently, when the EU evaluated Sri Lanka in 2014 it found that the country was not adhering to 3 of the 27 international covenants that a country must abide to qualify for the consideration of GSP Plus.
However, last year, the European Council said it welcomed the significant advances made by Sri Lanka to restore democratic governance, initiate a process of national reconciliation and re-engage with the international community and the United Nations system since the presidential elections held in January 2015. Apparel account for 46 per cent of Sri Lanka’s exports to the EU. As an effect of the President’s announcement, stocks of two leading garment companies, MGT Knitting Mills and Teejay Lanka, became active on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE).
Cotton prices in India began the New Year with a bang. After being stuck in a narrow range all through December, cotton prices broke above a key resistance point by surging higher. The cotton futures contract traded on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) is up about six per cent. Cotton prices were on a strong downtrend in the second half of 2016.
Along with restricted arrivals, the Cotton Corporation of India’s decision to purchase at market price from various parts of the country has also aided this price reversal. The recent rally eases the downtrend that was in place between July and November last year and also signals a trend reversal. The outlook is bullish. The 21-day moving average is turning around and is signaling a cross-over above the 200- and 100-day moving averages in the coming days.
This strengthens the bullish view and suggests that the downside could be limited in the short term. There is strong support in the Rs 19,500 to Rs 19,200 band. Though an intermediate dip to test this support region cannot be ruled out, a break below this support zone is unlikely. Traders with a medium-term perspective can make use of dips to go long near Rs 20,000.
According to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) of the country, China will adjust tariffs on a number of exports and imports from January 1. The adjustment was approved by the State Council after the same was scrutinised by its Customs Tariff Commission.
MOF said that tariff adjustment will be based on innovation-driven development, encouraging imports of the country’s much-needed advanced equipment, key components and energy raw materials. The import tariffs of items including integrated circuit testing and sorting equipment, aircraft hydraulic actuator and pyrolysis furnace will be reduced through the provisional tax rates.
Tariffs on specialty food such as tuna, arctic shrimp and cranberry as well as cultural products such as original sculpture will be reduced in order to give a wider choice to domestic consumers. The import tax on yew skin and foliage required for the production of anti-cancer drugs and acarbose hydrate for diabetes drugs will also be reduced as a response to the public’s concerns about medical and health care.
Import tariffs of sodium acrylate polymers and semi conductor products with the flow function which are subject to the provisional tax rates will also be adjusted in order to protect domestic industries. Export tariffs of nitrogen fertiliser, phosphorus fertiliser and natural graphite will be scrapped and that of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertiliser and steel billet will be reduced.
In order to expand bilateral and multilateral economic and trade co-operation and accelerate the implementation of the free trade area initiative, the country will continue to levy conventional tariffs on selected imported goods originating from 25 countries and territories in 2017. Tariffs will be further reduced under free trade agreements between China and South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Iceland and Pakistan.
The scope of commodities and tariffs will stay unchanged under free trade agreements between China and Singapore, ASEAN and Chile as well as the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement. Meanwhile, the range of goods subject to zero tariffs under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with Hong Kong and Macau will be further widened.
Preparations, for this year’s edition of Planet Textiles, to be held at Vancouver’s Sheraton Hotel on May 22nd, is taking shape as additional speakers have been confirmed. The growing issue of textile micro-fibre pollution will be a key issue of the event, as well as sessions on finance, deforestation and chemical management which will form a significant part of the agenda.
The annual event on sustainability is jointly co-hosted by MCL News & Media and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition as part of a series of environmental meetings in Vancouver where around 400 delegates are expected to attend. The agenda will have a variety of industry leaders and environment experts to enable participants gain a fuller understanding of issues, including; micro-fibre pollution in aquatic environments, solutions and the latest research to the problem, deforestation and the man-made cellulosic industry, chemical management in relation to wastewater as an effluent and how to finance innovation and change in our industry.
Environmental publications have increasingly been probing issues surrounding micro-fibre pollution and the role of the textile industry in this process. Correspondingly, Peter S Ross, VP-Research at the Ocean Wise Conservation Association will deliver a presentation of his latest findings on this issue. Ross is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Victoria, and served as a Research Scientist with the Canadian government between 1996 and 2013. He is a leading authority on ocean pollution, having published over 150 scientific articles and book chapters, with a focus on the source, transport, fate and effects of priority pollutants.
In 2014, he launched the Ocean Pollution Research Program at Ocean Wise and leads a major solution-oriented micro plastic pollution research programme. His team is currently working with major outdoor retailers and MetroVancouver waste water treatment operators to evaluate the possible role of textiles and other domestic sources to micro plastics in coastal environments.
