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Switzerland’s textile and clothing industry has a long history. To remain competitive globally, the industry relies on innovations. The Sustainable Biomedicine Textiles research initiative was set up by Empa and Swiss Textiles, the Swiss textile industry association, for this very purpose. Through innovative approaches and knowledge transfer, researchers and players are working tirelessly together to promote innovations in the field of biomedical textiles, and to bring them to the market more rapidly.
René Rossi, Subitex Project Manager and Head of Empa's Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles lab says the company needs to give up the idea that development of textiles revolves around cotton T-shirts. Their research is focused on a wide range of ceramic, metal, wood, and synthetic fibers.
Many Swiss textile companies have also recognized this, successfully transforming themselves into specialist manufacturers of highly technical and high-quality products. They have networked intensively with researchers and have skilfully occupied economic niches. Empa offers its services as a research partner precisely because it draws a line from basic research, as in the case of the "Zurich Heart" project, all the way to products that are close to the market. For example, it has developed optical fibers that are used in hospitals to measure the vital functions of premature babies, or as biosensors with pH-sensitive fibers to monitor wounds. Other examples of applications include textile pressure sensors that can be installed in wheelchairs, for instance, in order to show incorrect pressure loads; textile plasters that release medication in a targeted way and a wettable chest strap that can be reliably used for long-term monitoring of electrocardiograms for cardiovascular patients.
Pitti Uomo will be held in Italy from June 13 to 16, 2017. This is a men’s wear and accessories show with 1,220 brands and collections—almost 45 per cent of which come from abroad. The show is held twice a year. At last year's summer edition, there were around 30,000 visitors and 8,500 foreign buyers. This time the exposition space is spread over 60,000 sq. mt. and will accommodate 220 new names and returning presenters.
The event will see the return of Paul Smith and Tommy Hilfiger. Christian Louboutin will organize a sporting event for Pitti and present a men’s collection. Iconic luxury shoe designer Christian Louboutin is renowned throughout the world for his signature red soles.
Last year Italy’s non-EU exports slowed, mainly due to the United States, which is still Italy’s third largest export market after Germany and France: the US dropped by 5.6 per cent. However, the United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, and Russia did well. The textile and fashion sector in Italy expects turnover in 2017 to grow by 1.7 per cent. The textile and fashion sector is the second largest in Italy. It believes fashion reflects and anticipates societal changes, which are difficult to interpret with traditional tools.
Pakistan’s readymade garment exports during the first three quarters of the current financial year increased 5.93 per cent. Towel exports country decreased 3.18 per cent. In the first three quarters of the current fiscal, textile group exports registered a negative growth of 0.89 per cent.
Exports of made-up articles excluding towels grew by 2.97 per cent in the last nine months of the current financial year. Knitwear exports during the period decreased by 0.07 per cent. The country is looking for a $500 million increase in textile exports in the next three months. The government is helping the entire textile chain to adopt and upgrade to new technology. Funds have been allotted to carry out research and bring about a qualitative improvement in industry-academia linkages.
Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports rose 6.2 per cent year-on-year in March. The increase was mainly due to value-added products such as garments. Customs duty was brought down to zero from four per cent. Likewise, sales tax was brought down to zero from five per cent. Exports of value-added products grew during the month, both in terms of value and quantity. Exports of readymade garments rose by 19.5 per cent and that of knitwear grew by 5.4 per cent.
CII has been calling for a single national tax for a decade and it will help make GST implementation as smooth as possible. Shobana Kamineni, President, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) says the Industry is completely ready for the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill, a landmark tax reform expected to be rolled out from July 1.
The reform agenda has picked up with substantive policies such as GST, insolvency and bankruptcy norms, FDI liberalisation and ease of doing business being implemented. Conditions are positive for an economic recovery in the current year, with GDP growth expected to lie in the range of 7.5-8 per cent. Kamineni while addressing the media said while there are many opportunities available in India, further strengthening of the growth process and job creation is on the horizon.
Going forward, it is possible to target 1 per cent additional growth each year to reach 10 per cent in the next three years. She said that it is possible to create 5 million jobs each year, if the GDP growth rate can be boosted by an extra 1 per cent. CII's analysis shows as of now, it is creating about 3.7 million jobs annually. 10-12 million people enter the working age population every year. Of these, about half actually do not look for jobs as they prefer to go into education or other activities. CII's intensive skill development activities are ongoing and are designed to enhance the employability of the workforce continued Kamineni.
CII would continue to request the government for quick action in reducing corporate income taxes for all corporates. This has become urgent given the lowering of tax rates across many other countries. The 25 per cent rate is currently applicable only for companies with a turnover up to Rs 50 crores. Eventually, the corporate tax rate could be brought down to 18 per cent together with the removal of all incentives.
Indonesia’s textile and textile product exports grew three per cent from January to February this year. The country’s clothing and textiles are exported to mainly the United States, Japan, Turkey, China, and Germany. There is high demand for Indonesian batik cloth and other traditional fabrics. Indonesia is one of the largest textile and apparel producers in the Asean region. The industry employs approximately 17 per cent of the country’s workforce and contributes significantly to the country’s economy.
Textile manufacturers are looking at Middle Eastern countries as potential export destinations. However, domestic textile products have been losing their foothold in Indonesian market over the past five years. Imported products dominate 70 per cent of the domestic textile market.
Plans are on to curb imports of textile and textile products to protect the domestic industry and encourage development of upstream textile industry. The aim is to make Indonesia competitive in the international market with other Asian major textile makers such as India, China, Vietnam and Bangladesh. Another problem is that most of the country’s textile factories especially weaving and knitting sector still use old machines, which are no longer efficient.
The Indian textile machinery industry grew 10 per cent from 2013 to 2014. It’s expected to reach Rs 35,000 crores by 2021. The textile machinery sector plays an increasingly vital part in shifting India’s textile and apparel industry from labor-intensive production to a more advanced and industrialized sector. Spinning machinery segment is expected to see the fastest growth over the next five years. Much of this segment’s growth can be attributed to expansion of spinning machinery. High demand for cotton exports and expansion of spinning machinery capacities will help India maintain high demand for spinning machinery over the next few years.
The Indian textile machinery industry has been experiencing tremendous growth over recent years, facilitated by the country’s booming textile and apparel market. India is expected to be a leading textile producing country in the world by 2020 and the domestic textile and apparel market in India is estimated to grow at 12 per cent CAGR over 2020. The technical textile market in India is also showing a promising growth, at 18 per cent CAGR. All this is believed to further boost demand for and output of textile machinery in India.
India’s apparel exports to the US grew 0.8 per cent y-o-y in March 2017. India is the fifth largest apparel exporter to the US. The growth in export value was solely on account of an increase in volumes. During the month, export volumes increased three per cent while export realisation fell 2.1 per cent.
Despite a growth in exports in March 2017, India’s share in the US apparel import market contracted by 30 basis points. It stood at 6.5 per cent during the month. For the year ended March 2017, India’s cumulative apparel exports to the US decreased 2.8 per cent. This was solely on account of a 3.6 per cent fall in export realization. Export quantity grew by a meager 0.9 per cent. Despite a fall in exports, India’s market share expanded by ten basis points to 4.5 per cent.
As for other top apparel exporting countries to the US, China recorded an increase of 5.7 per cent in its exports in March 2017. The country’s share in the US apparel import market expanded by 40 basis points to 23.7 per cent. Apparel exports by Vietnam and Indonesia grew 15.7 per cent and four per cent. Vietnam’s market share increased by 140 basis points to 13.9 per cent and that of Indonesia remain unchanged at seven per cent. Bangladesh reported a 6.5 per cent drop in exports in March 2017 while its market share dipped 90 basis points to 7.6 per cent.
Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week will be held in Ethiopia from October 3 to 6, 2017. Many international textile suppliers and buyers are expected to attend the third edition of the biggest textile trade fair in Africa. Nearly 250 international exhibitors from 25 countries are expected to be present.
A conference running parallel to the trade fair will discuss the themes currently dominating the textile industry. It will focus on becoming particularly relevant to more and more fashion buyers and present new approaches to eco fashion and sustainable solutions. The spotlight will be on various issues, including sustainability, with particular focus on production, environment and certifications. A fashion show, trend area and matchmaking platform are some of the other highlights.
International manufacturers of textile machines will also be showcasing new technologies for the African market. Italian textile machinery makers will present a range of product innovations. Designers will also get specific information targeted at them. Presentations by experts on international fashion designed in Africa and future forecast on women's, men's and children's apparels are lined up.
Three new trade fair brands Texworld Addis Ababa, Apparel Sourcing Addis Ababa and Texprocess Addis Ababa will be launched at Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week.
India may impose an anti-dumping duty on imports of acrylic fiber from the European Union, China, Belarus, Ukraine and Peru. There are evidences of dumping of acrylic fiber from these regions. Anti-dumping duties are levied to provide a level playing field to local industry by guarding against cheap below cost imports.
Countries dump products in India as it is one of the most attractive markets for global producers due to its large middle-class population. Imposition of anti-dumping duty is permissible under the WTO regime. Both India and China are members of the Geneva-based body.
WTO does not regulate the actions of companies engaged in dumping. Instead, it focuses on how countries can or cannot react to dumping. The duty is aimed at ensuring fair trading practices and creating a level-playing field for domestic producers vis-a- vis foreign producers and exporters.
An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value. Dumping is a process where a company exports a product at a price lower than the price it normally charges on its own home market. To protect local businesses and markets, many countries impose stiff duties on products they believe are being dumped in their market.
Indonesian Textile Association (API) chairman Ade Sudrajat says from the past five years, the domestic textile products have continued to lose their foothold in competition on the domestic market. Imported products have held control of 70 per cent of the $10 billion market a year leaving only 30 per cent of the market for domestic products. In addition, clothing no longer appears a priority requirement for the people with motorcycles figuring higher in their priority.
The government needs to address the problem. Earlier, there government helped through (BLT) that could increase peoples' buying power. API also noted that 90 per cent of the basic material for readymade wear is imported like cloth from South Korea, China and Japan. However, API is optimistic that the country's textile industry would continue to grow as indicated by data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) which showed that the country's exports of textiles rose 3.8 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2017.
Earlier, the industry ministry had said they would coordinate with the trade ministry to curb imports of textiles and textile products (TPT) to protect domestic industry. Director general of chemicals, textiles and multifarious industries Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono points out the government encourages development of upstream textile industry. The challenge faced by the company is that most of the country's textile factories especially weaving and knitting sector still use old machines, which are no longer competitive in efficiency. Exports of TPT grew only 2 per cent year-on-year to $2 billion in the first two months of 2017.
