New textile mill begins operations in Turkey

22 April 2014 - The export-oriented integrated Hemera Textile Mills constructed in the Turkish city of Midyat, located in the province of Mardin, has began operations this year, with an export target of textile and apparel products worth €5 million to the UK for 2014, reports haberler.com.

Constructed by Hemera Group of Companies, the integrated textile mill currently employs 200 people, and within the coming months would create employment for 600 people, said chairman of Hemera Group Khalil El.

According to the chairman, the textile mills were constructed with a budget of 10 million Turkish liras and utilized Japanese advanced technology and the most modern equipments for manufacturing garment fabrics and clothing products that meet with the customers’ standards in the UK.

The factory incorporates environmentally friendly equipments and modern technology, including treatment plants that recycle all the factory waste, he added.

Mr. Khalil El also informed that the factory also includes equipments such as a modern fabric cutting tools, printing units, embroidery units, sewing machineries, and also a well established quality control system to ensure quality products that could increase the export capacity from the Mardin province. The integrated textile mill aims to reduce the rate of unemployment, which is high in Mardin, by ensuring employment to women as well, he added.

Pakistan: Pak carpet sector urges govt to restore zero-rated status

22 April 2014 - The export-oriented Pakistani carpet industry cannot benefit from the duty free-access to the European Union (EU) under the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) facility, unless the Government restores the zero-rated regime for the carpet sector to help ease its liquidity flow, said Pakistan Carpet Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PCMEA) chairman Akhtar Naazi Cooki.

Mr. Cooki was speaking to members from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), including TDAP chairman SM Muneer, who recently made a visit to the PCMEA office in Lahore, reports The Nation.

At the meeting, Mr. Cooki explained that a significant ratio of working capital of Pakistani carpet exporters is already stuck up in refund regime and carpet exports from the country have already declined from US$ 300 million to $120 million.

According to the PCMEA chairman, the Government should bring in necessary reforms and give special status to the export-oriented carpet industry of the country and enable zero-rating facility for it.

The PCMEA chairman also urged the Government to allocate Pk Rs. 1 billion for hand-knotted carpet industry to create 13,000 jobs for the under privileged segment of the society.

On his part, TDAP chairman SM Muneer said that the Government is in the process of bringing positive changes in the rules and the business environment to enhance the export capacity by collaborating with the various industries, including carpet industry. According to the TDAP official, energy crisis and other challenges have been obstructing economic development in the country and also creating a barrier for growth of exports.

Switzerland: Lenzing shows new fiber concept for nonwovens at Index

17 April 2014 - Just in time for the fair Index, April 8.-11. 2014, Geneva, Lenzing is presenting a new fiber concept for the nonwovens industry.

European Innovation
Eurocel is a European product through and through. The cellulose fibers used are made in Austria in an environmentally responsible process. Eurocel is based on the idea of offering a high quality European product to consumers.

Sandler, a German nonwovens manufacturer partner, adopted the idea of Eurocel and developed a new product for their customers. “We are well known for quickly putting our ideas into practice and we immediately recognized the potential of Eurocel for the European market,” Dr. Ulrich Hornfeck, member of the Sandler management board, explains.

Due to the sustainable and high quality production of fiber material at Lenzing and Sandler’s innovative strength, a wipe has now been created which is extremely skin-friendly. The advantages of Eurocel go very well with the concept of the German nonwoven manufacturer, Sandler, who have their company headquarters at the center of Europe. “Production in Europe translates into shorter delivery distances which means fewer carbon dioxide emissions during transportation and thus a lower carbon footprint,” Hornfeck comments.

Apart from the logistical advantages, Hornfeck also names the improved product properties, such as the improved volume, the higher tear resistance and reduced elongation.

USDA forecasts global cotton use to rise 3% in 2013-14

16 April 2014 - The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cotton projections for 2013/14 indicate that global 2013/14 cotton consumption is estimated at 109.5 million bales, 3 percent (3 million bales) above the preceding year. Although rising for a second consecutive season, world consumption remains below production.

China continues as the leading cotton spinner, but mill use there is expected to decrease for the fourth consecutive season as policies have forced textile mills to import more cotton yarn; India, Pakistan, and Vietnam are the major yarn suppliers to China. Mill use in China is forecast at 35.5 million bales this season, down from 50 million bales in 2009/10.

India’s 2013/14 cotton consumption estimate is currently forecast at 23.0 million bales, a 250,000-bale reduction from March, as higher exports and lower imports reduce supplies available to mills; however, consumption is still 5 percent above last season. Pakistan is forecast to use 11.5 million bales of cotton in 2013/14, a 500,000-bale increase over last month and last season. Pakistan’s mill use is projected to rise for the third consecutive season in 2013/14. Vietnam, like India and Pakistan, is benefiting from China’s import demand for cotton yarn. In 2013/14, Vietna..

Spanish textile & apparel exports rise 10.4% in Feb'14

16 April 2014 - According to the Ministry’s monthly data on February 2014, the exports from the garment sub-sector totaled €782.8 million, indicating an increase of 11.5 percent, compared to the same month in 2013.

The textile and clothing exports from Spain accounted for 5.6 percent of the overall exports made from the country during the month of January.

Meanwhile, as per the Ministry’s data, textile and clothing imports from the country amounted to €1.38 billion during the month of February 2014, recording a surge 14.5 percent, compared to the same month last year.

Imports from the clothing sub-sector totaled €1.07 billion in February 2014, also registering an increase of 14.5 percent, compared to the same month in 2013.

Textile and apparel imported by Spain during January 2014, accounted for 6.6 percent of the overall goods imported by the country during the month. In 2013, Spain exported textile and clothing worth €12 billion, indicating a rise of 12.4 percent year-on-year, of which exports from the garments sub-sector totaled €8.6 billion, registering a surge of 15.4 percent compared to 2012..

India: Expand home textiles export to non-traditional markets

16 April 2014 - -Indian home textile manufacturers and exporters should do some extra work and expand their exports to non-traditional markets, Textiles Secretary Zohra Chatterji has said.

In her address after inaugurating the third edition of Home Expo India 2014 in Greater Noida, Ms. Chatterji said some extra work needs to be done for expanding export base to such non-traditional markets that have considerable buying powers and the standard of living is rising.

The size of such markets may not be as big as the traditional US and European markets, but some extra efforts is needed for expanding to markets in the Central Asian, Southeast Asian, West Asian and Latin American regions, she said.

She informed that the export of furnishings, floorings and textiles have grown by 27.45 percent during the last few years.

She suggested that exporters need to divert their attention to those markets where additional efforts are needed, as such markets can provide safe ground during difficult times in future.

The four-day long Home Expo India 2014 is focusing on display of products from the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir. The state is known for specialized kind of floorings and furnishings. The state also has textiles which are typical for their colour scheme, designs and presentation.

At the expo, said to be Asia’s largest exhibition of home and lifestyle products, more than 350 companies are displaying their textiles, furnishings, floorings and other products.

Buyers from Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, the US, the UK, Australia, as well as from other countries, including the CIS countries, Asean nations and Latin American region are expected to visit the exp.

Polyester Fiber and Filament Yarn Prices in China

16 April 2014 - Polyester staple fiber prices slightly dropped in last seven days in China whereas filament prices were further rising.

Thailand cotton fabric exports surge 8.9% in 2013: USDA

15 April 2014 - Exports of cotton fabric from Thailand totaled US$ 397,240 during last year, recording a rise of 8.9 percent compared to 2012, as per the data released by the United States Agricultural Department (USDA).

According to the USDA report on Thailand Cotton 2014, Thailand exported 47,284 metric tons (MT) of cotton fabrics during 2013, amounting to $397,240, whereas during 2012, the country exported 41,376 MT of cotton fabrics totaling $364,900.

Myanmar was the main destination for cotton fabric exports from Thailand during last year, with 7,728 MT of cotton fabrics worth $65,046, followed by Bangladesh with 6,705 MT amounting to $46,070, Vietnam with 4,466 MT of cotton fabrics worth $44,501, Niger with 2,876 MT of cotton fabrics totaling $25,477 and Japan with 2,577 MT of cotton fabric exports worth $18,412.

Meanwhile, as per the USDA report, Thailand imported 34,821 MT of cotton fabrics in 2013 totaling $179,965, registering a fall of 13.9 percent compared to the 39,875 MT of cotton fabrics worth $208,996 imported during 2012.

China was the main supplier of cotton fabrics to Thailand during 2013, supplying 30,268 MT of cotton fabrics amounting to $137,536, followed by India with 1,560 MT totaling $9,818, Japan with 766 MT of cotton fabrics worth $7,109, Indonesia with 580 MT worth $4,619 and Italy with 92 MT of cotton fabrics worth $4,273. In 2011, Thailand exported 42,190 MT of cotton fabrics worth $414,498, whereas the country imported 38,295 MT of cotton fabrics amounting to $260,988..

Turkish textile exports touch $2.25bn in first 3 months

15 April 2014 - Textile and raw material exports from Turkey, excluding apparel, fetched US$ 2.25 billion during the first three months of 2014, registering a rise of 9.2 percent compared to the same period last year, as per the data released by the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Association (ITKIB).

According to the ITKIB data, Turkey exported textile and raw materials worth $2.25 billion during January to March 2014, whereas, textile and raw material exports amounted to $2.06 billion during the same period last year.

Sub-sector wise, the highest exports were from the woven fabrics category with exports totaling $740.39 million during the first three months of 2014, followed by fibre with exports worth $459.22 million, knitted fabrics with exports worth $430.69 million, other textile goods with exports worth $353.54 million, yarn with $158.84 million, and non-woven textiles with exports totaling $113.78 million.

As per the ITKIB data, Italy was the main destination for textile and raw material exports from the country during the first three months of this year, with exports worth $252.32 million, followed by Russia with $201.73 million, Germany with $115.68 million, Romania with $93.46 million and the UK with $92.06 million.

The European Union (EU) remained the main destination for textile and raw material exports from Turkey, accounting for 48.1 percent of the overall textile and raw material exports from the country, during January to March 2014. Last year, the country exported textiles and raw materials worth $8.39 billion, registering a rise of 7 percent, compared to 2012, as per ITKIB data.

China Yarn Prices: Domestic and Import Markets

15 April 2014 - China's yarn market remains very depressed, whatever the current decline of domestic cotton prices.

China Textile & Clothing Production Costs

15 April 2014 - Production prices are everywhere falling in China, but still rising in the clothing industry, as a result of higher wages.

Thailand cotton yarn exports rise 66.4% in 2013: USDA

14 April 2014 - Cotton yarn exports from Thailand amounted to US$ 217,495 during last year, registering a rise of 66.4 percent, compared to 2012, as per the data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

According to the USDA report on Thailand Cotton 2014, Thailand exported 63,821 metric tons (MT) of cotton during last year, totaling $217,495, whereas during 2012, the country exported around 33,908 MT of cotton amounting to $130,693.

China was the main destination for exports of Thai cotton yarn during 2013, with Thailand exporting 42,115 MT of cotton worth $121,546, followed by Japan with 4,850 MT totaling $27,322, South Korea with 3,735 MT amounting $14,217, Sri Lanka with 1,979 MT worth $8,546 and Malaysia with 1,822 MT with $7,784.

Meanwhile, Thailand imported 11,166 MT of cotton yarn totaling $60,195, recording a fall of 9.4 percent, compared to cotton imports of 14,375 MT worth $66,469 during 2012.

As per the USDA report, China was the main supplier of cotton yarn to Thailand during last year, supplying 3,657 MT worth $27,805. India ranked second with Thailand importing 3,848 MT of cotton worth $15,749 during last year, followed by Japan with 867 MT totaling $3,646, Indonesia with 611 MT amounting to $3,257 and Egypt with 412 MT worth $2,455. In 2011, Thailand exported 28,992 MT of cotton yarn totaling $153,435, whereas the country imported 14,227 MT of cotton yarn amounting to $76,008.

China Yarn Prices: Domestic and Import Markets

18 March 2014 - Spun polyester yarn prices continued falling in China, as a first sign of an expected decline of all yarn prices later this year.

China Textile & Clothing Production Costs

18 March 2014 - China's economy is further slowing down with production prices everywhere falling, except for the clothing industry confronted with higher labour costs.

United States Of America: Turkey, Vietnam buyers cancel orders as cotton prices rise

18 March 2014 - The rise in cotton prices in recent days has led to diminished demand and buyers, majorly from Turkey and Vietnam, have cancelled orders for about 35,000 bales as per the US Government data for the week ending March 6, 2014, according to a Reuters report.

Turkey, which is the largest buyer of cotton from the US during the ongoing season, cancelled orders for at least 19,300 bales, the highest number of order cancellation since October last year, the report said.

According to the data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Turkey is expected to buy around 1.86 million running bales of cotton during the ongoing season August-July 2013-14.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese buyers cancelled orders for 11,700 bales as per the data till March 6, 2014. The statistics also showed cancellation of orders from Egypt, India and Italy.

Late last year, Turkey became the largest buyer of the US cotton, overtaking China, which started withdrawing its cotton buying and storage policy.

Vietnam ranks fourth in terms of US cotton customers, next only to Turkey, China and Mexico.

One of the reasons for the increase in prices of cotton in the US is decreased harvest this season, the lowest in the last four years.

Pakistan Cotton Yarn Export Prices

17 March 2014 - Yarn export sales are now frozen in Pakistan by the sudden rebound of the rupee, our correspondent reports.

Polyester Intermediate Prices: PTA and MEG in Asia

17 March 2014 - Raw material costs of polyester fiber producers are now expected further sliding, after a short-lived rebound in previous weeks.

Indian textile industry working to boost business in Bangladesh

10 March 2014 - Indian textile businessmen are focusing on increasing the country's market share in Bangladesh to offset the impact created by China in last few years, say industry experts.

"Bangladesh is a natural trading textile partner for India. But for last two years, China is increasingly consolidating its footsteps in the Bangladeshi markets," Sanjay Murarka, partner of Kolkata-based FM Textile Private Limited, told PTI yesterday on the sidelines of the ongoing International Ethnic Week (IEW) Goa 2014

A proper and concentrated focus on Bangladesh markets can work wonders for the textile industry, which is amongst the top trading communities in India, he said.

"From Surat itself, the trade of textiles to Bangladesh is to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore," Murarka said.

The ongoing IEW, which has 1,000 Indian and 400 international visitors joining hands, has provided Business to Business (B2B) platform for buyers and the sellers.

Surat Dreams, a Gujarat-based textile business initiative, which has organised the event, expects over Rs 1,000 crore business deals to be signed among participants.

The textile businessmen from the US, UK, Bangladesh, Dubai, Colombo are looking out to expand their horizons during the two-day-long event that began here yesterday.

Nihal Jain, an organiser and partner of Siddharth Feb Text Pvt Ltd, said India and Bangladesh are like one family but "Chinese manufacturers are reaping the benefits."

A strong contingent of 130 Bangladesh traders has arrived for the IEW and holding across the table discussions with various traders, who have set up their stalls displaying the products on the sidelines of the event.

"We are here to look out for fabric and unstitched material," said Mohammad Shahidul Alam from Dhaka-based Joint Impex Trade company.

Indian places like Surat, Delhi and Ahmedabad are hot spots for such material, he said.

Refusing to comment on China's increasing presence in its domestic market, Mohammad Wahid Murad, another buyer, said the ethnic wear products manufactured in Bangladesh are traded within the country.

"We are a huge consumer market. Places specially like Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet are consumer hubs," he said, adding that the trade with India is more preferred due to the geological proximity.

Ethiopia a rising star for sourcing garments

6 March 2014 - Ethiopia is fast becoming a rising star for sourcing garments. The country's efforts to build its textile and garment industry and offer competitive prices have attracted a growing number of new buyers in recent years. Michelle Russell takes a closer look at the growth taking place in this developing market and what it has to offer those willing to invest. Ethiopia's clothing and textile sector is undergoing rapid expansion fuelled by foreign investment as companies seek to reduce their reliance on countries like China and Bangladesh. According to investment management company Silk Invest, Ethiopia is the fifth fastest growing economy in Africa, the third highest in the world for public investment, has a GDP growth averaging 10.7% over the last decade, and a population of 90m set to double in the next 20 years.

Expansion
The country's textile and clothing industry is currently undergoing a major expansion programme, and its government is implementing a number of prudent macroeconomic policies designed to support that growth. This has helped to place the country even higher on the radar of sourcing experts. ''The Ethiopian government is dedicated to growing the country's apparel manufacturing industry and has set a target of reaching US$1bn in textile exports by 2016,'' says Magdalena Kondej, head of apparel research at Euromonitor. ''This is a very ambitious figure, with developments in 2014 likely to determine just how realistic it is.''

Brazilian govt launches export credit insurance for MSMEs

11 February 2014 - The Brazilian Ministry of Finance has launched export credit insurance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including textile and apparel enterprises in the country, in order to encourage entrepreneurs to increase exports.

According to a statement issued by Brazilian Government, the companies eligible to avail the export credit insurance are those with annual revenues of up to US$ 90 million and exports products worth US$ 1 million.

The insurance will be granted on the export of goods and services with the marketing term financing of up to two years operations. The Brazilian Government's goal is to reach $1 billion in guarantees per year by 2018 through this tool.

According to the Ministry, the lack of guarantees is a limitation for these MSMEs, including textile and apparel, to access public and private funding, and with this insurance the Government aims to facilitate exports of various products, including textiles and apparel, from the MSMEs.

The insurance can ensure the financing of exports of the MSMEs conducted through any bank and would increase competitiveness between these MSMEs.

The MSMEs willing to avail the export credit insurance would be required to visit the website of the Brazilian Export Credit Insurance (ESCB) and would need to provide information required by the Public Guarantees System.

Indian textile industry making a strong comeback as orders grow

11 February 2014 - China's high cotton costs and rising labour rates have resulted in more orders for textile manufacturers in India. The Indian textile industry, after a long-drawn-out has made a strong comeback. Also the comeback has been attributed to the recovery in the US economy and a pick-up in growth of some European regions. Rupee fall has improved the competitiveness of exporters vis-a-vis China, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

The economic recovery in key markets, the US and Euro-zone would continue to drive the order book of exporters in 2014-15, analysts at India Ratings and Research said.

Polyester Intermediate Prices: PTA and MEG in Asia

10 February 2014 - The raw material costs of polyester fiber producers could stop falling in the coming weeks, amid lower PX and PTA operating rates.

Cotton Prices on International and Domestic Markets

10 February 2014 - Cotton prices clearly rose in the last week, over a rebound of cotton export sales while uncertainty still prevails over China's cotton policy.

Hohenstein textile study okays nanoparticles

06 February 2014 - BONNINGHEIM – A leading German textile testing body has published the results of two three-year studies on the increasingly pressing issue of nanoparticle safety. In its findings, the Hohenstein Institute, concluded that the tested textiles it treated with nanoparticles posed little to no risk to human health or ecosystems.

Inflation in Low-Cost Countries

05 February 2014 - Inflation is everywhere rising in low-cost countries, or staying at very high levels, as currency values are falling and import costs surging. This could eventually lead to higher labour costs

Bright outlook for Thai textile export sector in 2014

04 February 2014 - Thailand’s textile export sector has a bright outlook this year, owing to the country’s advanced textile production technology, according to the Thai Textile Institute (TTI), reports the National News Bureau of Thailand.

Last year, Thai textile industry produced goods worth US$ 7 billion, growing at 3.6 percent year-on-year, according to Ms. Suthinee Phupaka, director of the TTI.

The export sector performance of the textile industry showed an eight percent growth, as competent textile production technology enabled the textile export firms to fulfill demands from Asean markets as well as from the US, the EU and China, she informed.

Besides Thailand, Indonesia is the only other country among Asean nations that has complete textile production chain consisting of yarn, fabric and garment production. However, the difference lies in the fact that while Indonesia excels in mass production, Thailand has better production technology and customization.

On 2014 outlook for the textile industry, the director said the industry has a potential to register a growth of 7-8 percent, due to demands from trading partner countries.

She mentioned that there was a 30 percent drop in orders during October-November 2013 due to political uncertainty in the country.

In 2012, Thailand’s textile exports dipped by 13.68 percent year-on-year to US$ 4.27 billion, while apparel exports fell by 9.95 percent year-on-year to US$ 2.95 billion.

Turkey’s KALIDA textile committee visits Morocco

04 February 2014 - A delegation of businessmen from the Kahramanmaras Leading Businessmen’s Association (KALIDA) Textile Committee of the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras, recently visited the Moroccan city of Casablanca in order to discuss bilateral trade relations between the two countries, especially in the textile sector.

According to a statement issued by KALIDA, representatives of around 100 textile firms from Kahramanmaras met with Moroccan textile entrepreneurs in order to establish business contacts and further trade relations.

Mahir Kece, secretary general of KALIDA, said the five-day business trip was organized in order to explore the neglected Moroccan market which has huge opportunities for Kahramanmaras’ textile manufacturers.

The Moroccan city of Casablanca has the logistics, infrastructure and resources for producing textile products and Turkish entrepreneurs who wish to enter the market would benefit if they try to set up production centers in the city, he added.

During the business meet, textile entrepreneurs from Kahramanmaras also got the opportunity to interact with the Casablanca Chamber of Commerce president Mohammed Omar who welcomed the initiative of extending bilateral trade relations in the sector stating that both the countries have extreme potential to grow in the textile sector.

Turkey’s home textile exports touch $3.1bn in 2013: UTIB

28 January 2014 - The home textiles exports from Turkey touched US$ 3.1 billion in 2013, and the country accounts for 5 percent of the world’s total home textiles output, said Uludag Textile Exporters’ Association (UTIB) president Ibrahim Burkay.

According to a statement issued by UTIB, Mr. Burkay said that over 164 firms manufacturing home textile products participated in the recently held Heimtextil 2014 fair in the German city of Frankfurt and displayed their various innovative products.

Turkey is amongst the largest producers of home textiles in the world and the products manufactured in the country cater to all kinds of consumers in the European as well as other international markets, he added.

The UTIB official said participating at the Heimtextil fair, which is world’s leading trade fair for home textiles, served as a gateway to for the Turkish home textile industry to enter the European market.

For the sustainable success of the Turkish home textile industry in the coming years, the UTIB has conducted several projects and activities, in order to reach the export target of $10 billion by 2023, he added.

Over 2,718 international exhibitors displayed their products at the Heimtextil 2014 fair, which was attended by around 67,000 visitors from 133 countries.

Polyester Fiber and Filament Yarn Prices in China

15 January 2014 - Polyester prices are slowly declining in China, thanks to a drop of raw material costs. The gross margin of polyester spun yarn producers is also released.

Turkmenistan to sow cotton on 545,000 hectares in 2014

15 January 2014 - In 2014, cotton will be sown on 545,000 hectares of land in Turkmenistan to achieve the planned production of 1.05 million tons of cotton, according to a plan approved by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The plan has been framed in view of the 'President of Turkmenistan's program of socio-economic development of the country in 2012-2016', which advises rational use of land, water, agricultural machinery and mineral fertilizers as well as further increase of the cotton production volumes on the basis of control of the high quality of land treatment.

Cotton is the main cash crop of Turkmen agriculture and one of the main exports of the country, second only to energy resources.

In 2012, the Turkmen cotton growers fulfilled their contractual obligations and produced about 1.1 million tons of raw cotton.

Germany: OEKO-TEX updates valid test criteria for 'Standard 100'

15 January 2014 - At the start of the year, the OEKO-TEX Association has, as usual, updated the valid test criteria and limit values for product certification in accordance with OEKO-TEX Standard 100. The following new regulations come into force on 1 April 2014 for all certifications, following a three-month transition period:

The specifications for perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) will become much stricter. In future, values cannot exceed the following limits:

• Product class I: 50 μg/kg = 0.05 mg/kg (previously 0.10 mg/kg)
• Product class II: 100 μg/kg = 0.10 mg/kg (previously 0.25 mg/kg)
• Product class III: 100 μg/kg = 0.10 mg/kg (previously 0.25 mg/kg)
• Product class IV: 500 μg/kg = 0.50 mg/kg (previously 1.00 mg/kg)

Four longer-chained, perfluorinated compounds will also be included in the criteria catalogue with the same limit values as PFOA. Specifically, these are the substances perfluoroundecanoic acid / heni-cosafluoroundecanoic acid (CAS 2058-94-8), perfluorododecanoic acid / tricosafluorododecanoic acid (CAS 307-55-1), perfluorotridecanoic acid / pentacosafluorotridecanoic acid (CAS 72629-94-8) and perfluorotetradecanoic acid / heptacosafluorotetradecanoic acid (CAS 376-06-7).

The reason behind this is the inclusion of the chemicals in the ECHA Candidate List with substances of very high concern (SVHC) as part of the REACh legislation.

With these two measures, OEKO-TEX is specifically supporting the "Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC)" initiative of international brands and retailers that have committed to excluding hazardous chemicals from the production process by 2020.

• All the perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) regulated by OEKO-TEX will in future be listed in a separate substance category, and not, as previously, in the section "Other Chemical Residues".
• For the alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), the test will be extended to further ethoxylate chains (1-20). The limit values for nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) as well as for nonylphenol ethoxylates (NP(EO)) and octylphenol ethoxylates (OP(EO)) will be significantly reduced in all OEKO-TEX product classes:
• Sum: NP + OP: 10.0 mg/kg (previously 50 mg/kg)
• Sum: NP + NP(EO)1-20 + OP + OP(EO)1-20: 250.0 mg/kg (previously 500 mg/kg)
• By reducing the limit values, OEKO-TEX® is contributing to the complete exclusion of NP and OP as well as APEOs from textile production, striven for by the industry and also one of the goals of the ZDHC initiative and other campaigns.

MEGlobal decreases MEG Asian contract price for Feb'14

14 January 2014 - Ethylene glycol manufacturer MEGlobal has decreased its Asian Contract Price (ACP) for monoethylene glycol (MEG) to US$ 1180/ton CFR Asian main ports for arrival in February 2014 from ACP of US$ 1210/ton CFR Asian main ports in January 2014.

The company’s decision to decrease the contract price for February reflects the short term MEG supply/demand situation in the Asian market.

Established in 2004, MEGlobal is a joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company of the United States, and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of Kuwait.

MEGlobal is a world leading supplier of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), collectively known as ethylene glycol (EG). Currently, MEGlobal produces about 1.0 million metric tons per year of EG, and markets in excess of 3.5 million metric tons per year.

EG is used as a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers, polyethylene terephthalate resins (PET), antifreeze formulations and other industrial products.

Turkey to be global brand in organic cotton production

15 January 2014 - Turkey is gaining more and more awareness regarding organic cotton production, and would soon become a global brand in the production of organic cotton, said the Turkish Nazilli Cotton Research Station’s manager Sadettin Ozturk.

According to Mr. Ozturk, Turkey possesses favorable conditions for organic cotton farming and currently, the country is the largest producer of organic cotton in the world, reports haberler.com.

Organic cotton farming is conducted without the use of chemical inputs, and each stage of the production process is carried out through a controlled and certified agricultural method, he added.

Mr. Ozturk said that since 1990s, Turkey has been gradually transcending into a stage of producing organic cotton and slowly the country has become synonymous with organic cotton.

Conventional cotton production has a lot of disadvantages, whereas, organic cotton production can translate into several advantages, especially for small cotton growers in the country, he added.

Established in 1934, the Nazilli Cotton Research Station under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock. Known earlier as the Cotton Breeding Station, the institution’s key objective is to develop projects and conduct research for the production of high-quality, disease and pest resistant cotton varieties.

China Yarn Prices: Domestic and Import Markets

14 January 2014 - Yarn import prices further rose in the past days in China, while domestic prices were again frozen at high levels.

Indian cotton farmers and ginners hold on to inventories

January 13, 2014 - In the week ending January 11, 2014, farmers and ginners in India held to their cotton without any fear of downtrend, says a weekly report on cotton market trends released by S. Ajay Kumar & Company.

During the week, cotton market in India experienced a lot of resistance from foreign futures and strong rupee, and ginners held on to their inventories, according to the report.

At the close of the week, farmers held 10 million bales of raw material while ginners had another 2.5 million bales either in raw form or in fully pressed form.

At the start of the week, the price of Shankar 6 variety of cotton was Rs. 40,500 per candy of 355.6 kg each, while the price at the close of the week increased to Rs. 42,000 per candy.

During the week, the Indian rupee became stronger compared to the US dollar, and both Indian futures and physical prices rallied showing bullish trend.

"It shows strength and holding power of Indian farmers and ginners," the report states and adds that "It is a lesson for the industry not to under estimate strength of united Indian cotton growers."

Analyzing the prices, the report says that Indian cotton is overvalued due to strong mood of farmers. At present, the price of Indian cotton is greater than the price of African cotton and equal to the US cotton.

In such a situation, it is not viable for Indian cotton traders to compete in international market. Moreover, Indian rupee is appreciating. So, it would be more viable for Indian spinners to import cotton rather than buying domestic cotton.

Technically, New York Board of Trade (NYBOT), a physical commodity futures exchange, is on down swing, so imported cotton is expected to become cheaper in the ongoing week ending January 18, 2014.

Although the Indian cotton market rallied for short-time, the report predicts strong resistance in the market and again it will touch Rs. 40,000 per candy level.

Germany: Heimtextil posts successful start to new furnishing season

January 13, 2014 - Heimtextil 2014 in Frankfurt am Main, which closed its doors after a four-day run, represented a successful start to the new furnishing season.

"Almost 67,000 visitors from 133 countries (2013: 65,835) made their way to Frankfurt to see the latest products and innovations being shown by 2,718 international exhibitors (2013: 2,616).

"With growth on both the visitor and exhibitor sides, Heimtextil 2014 has been a complete success. In addition to the excellent statistics, the quality and enormous spectrum of products underscore the unique position of Heimtextil as the world's leading trade fair for home and contract textiles", says Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, summing up the results of the event.

With growth in the number of exhibitors for the fourth year running, Heimtextil sent a positive signal to the sector even before it began. This and the return of many leading renowned European companies gave a further boost to a sector already taking an optimistic view of the coming season.

Visitors and exhibitors emphasise the high standard of the fair.

Flax/Linen Fiber and Yarn Prices in China

19 December 2013 - China's linen industry is rapidly expanding, boosted by the surge in demand for linen clothing from Europe.

MEXICO: Huntsman Textile Effects expands Atoto plant

19 December 2013 - Singapore-based chemical and dye products manufacturer Huntsman Textile Effects (HTE) has expanded capacity and upgraded facilities at its Atoto plant in Mexico.

Polyester Fiber and Filament Prices in China

18 December 2013 - Polyester prices have further fallen in the last seven days in China, over lower demand from fiber processors.

Spandex and PTMEG Prices in China

18 December 2013 - prices began surprisingly falling in the last weeks in China.

US: Chinese firm to set up US$218m yarn facility

17 December 2013 - China's Keer Group has unveiled plans to set up the company's first textile plant in the US, creating more than 500 jobs over the next five years.

JAPAN: Toray plans international expansion

17 December 2013 - Yarn and fabric maker Toray Group is targeting international expansion in a number of emerging markets, including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Brazil.

CHINA: Enzymes boost sustainability of knitwear production

17 December 2013 - Biotech company Novozymes has teamed up with the China Knitting Industry Association (CKIA) under a three-year agreement to promote the use of enzyme technology, with the aim of saving water and energy.

CHINA: Teijin launches uniform recycling project

17 December 2013 - Textile and fibre company Teijin is joining forces with Onward Holdings and Fuji Xerox to launch a closed loop recycling system for polyester uniforms in China.

Polyester Intermediate Prices: PTA and MEG in Asia

16 December 2013 - Polyester prices are now retreating to lower levels, which could soon result in lower PTA and paraxylene prices.

Cotton Prices Further Surging Over Spinners' Demand

16 December 2013 - Cotton prices continued sharply rebounding in the last week in New York over a world recovery in demand from yarn producers. China's cotton imports could also be stronger than expected in coming months.

PAKISTAN: China's Shandong Ruyi to buy Masood Textile Mills

16 December 2013 - Chinese textile firm Shandong Ruyi Technology Group plans to acquire a majority stake in Masood Textile Mills, one of the few vertically integrated textile and apparel makers in Pakistan.

EU: European Parliament vote grants Pakistan GSP+ status

12 December 2013 - A vote by the European Parliament today (12 December) to allow preferential market access to the European Union (EU) for a group of developing countries has finally granted Pakistan its long-awaited GSP+ status.

Yarn Import Prices Falling in China

12 November 2013 - Cotton yarn prices slightly dropped in the last seven days on China's domestic market while more decreasing on import market.

BANGLADESH: Hundreds of garment factories shut in wage clash

12 November 2013 - More than 200 apparel factories in Bangladesh were shut today (12 November) amid on-going protests by ready-made garment (RMG) workers over the latest wage proposal.

Factories in the Ashulia industrial hub are also set to remain closed tomorrow (13 November), following an emergency decision by the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The unrest is now into its third consecutive day, and has seen thousands of workers take to the streets in different areas including Ashulia, Gazipure and Narayanganj.

Around 25-30% of total export production is carried out in the Savar-Ashulia belt, where more than 250 factories are located.

The unrest is the latest in a line of protests and strikes to affect Bangladesh's apparel sector in recent months as workers call for a rise in their minimum wage.

The government's six-member wage board last week recommended an increase in the monthly minimum wage to BDT5,300 (US$68.17) - which has been rejected by factory owners who say the amount should be BDT4,250 ($54.66).

Workers, meanwhile, are demanding a hike to BDT8,114 ($104.36).

The monthly minimum wage for Bangladesh garment workers currently stands at BDT3,000 (US$38.58), among the lowest in the world, and was last revised in 2010.

PTA and MEG Prices Stabilized For A Few Days

11 November 2013 - Polyester intermediate prices stopped falling in Asia, reflecting a decline of operating rates.

Bangladesh Yarn Prices Resist Troubles

8 November 2013 - Whatever strikes and demonstrations in Bangladesh, yarn prices are still supported by strong demand.

Viscose Prices Boosted by Anti-Dumping on Pulp

7 November 2013 - China's decision to impose anti-dumping duties on wood pulp imports has immediately triggered a rise in viscose price offers.

US Dollar Weakness Favors European Imports

4 November 2013 - The Euro strongly rose in October, offering some more opportunities to Eurozone clothing importers. The Indonesian rupee began however rebounding at the same time.

No Agreement Over Paraxylene Price

4 November 2013 - Polyester intermediate prices could further decline in coming days, after paraxylene industry failed in reaching a monthly price agreement with PTA producers in Asia.

Flax/Linen Fiber and Yarn Prices in China (Statistical Report)

October 15, 2013 (Thailand) - TFlax fiber and yarn prices remained relatively stable in last months, after significantly increasing at the end of last year. China's linen fabric and clothing exports are surging.

Polyester Spun Yarn Prices Falling in China (Weekly Report)

October 15, 2013 (Thailand) - Spun polyester prices began falling in China, after staple fiber prices declined.

Vietnam : A close competitor to Bangladesh RMG

October 14, 2013 (Vietnam) - Vietnamese garment makers are strengthening their foothold in key markets, putting new pressure on the Bangladesh apparel sector.

Competition will further intensify if the United States awards Vietnam the generalised system of preferences (GSP), a trade privilege scheme, as negotiations are currently underway for garment products.

Bangladesh exported nearly $18 billion in the nine months to September, with Vietnam trailing behind. With its robust growth, the Southeast Asian nation exported about $13.15 billion of garments, registering an 18 percent rise year-on-year in the same period.

Vietnam's garment exports grew 9.98 percent to $14.1 billion in 2012 from $12.82 billion in 2011, according to data from Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Associaiton.

Vietnam is surely a major competitor for Bangladesh in the global readymade garments business as its performance is going strong, said Sadiq Ahmed, vice-chairman of the Policy Research Institute.

Vietnam to import 600,000 Tonnes of Cotton in 2013

October 11, 2013 (Vietnam) - TVietnam will import an estimated 580,000-600,000 tonnes of cotton this year, up by nearly 15 percent from last year's figure.

In the first nine months of the year, cotton import reached nearly 430,000 tonnes, worth US$864 million, a year-on-year increase of 35 percent.

The Vietnam Cotton and Spinning Association attributed the increase in cotton import to rising demand for cotton fibers of domestic garment and textile firms.

Last year, Vietnam purchased 420,000 tonnes of cotton from abroad, compared to only 150,000 tonnes in 2005, putting the country in the world's top five cotton importers.

The United States, India, Australia, Brazil, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, China and Indonesia are major cotton suppliers for Vietnam. Among them, the US makes up 43.5 percent of the nation's total cotton import.

Thailand's textile exports rise 10.49% in Jan-Aug'13

October 8, 2013 (Thailand) - The exports of textiles, excluding apparel, from the Southeast Asian country of Thailand increased by 10.49 percent year-on-year to US$ 3.149 billion.

Polyester Prices Further Dropped in China

2 October 2013 - Polyester prices continued last week falling in China, ahead of National Day holidays.

Cotton Prices Boosted by Poor Weather

30 September 2013 - Cotton prices last week rebounded, over weather worries and a consecutively lower level than expected in global production in the new season.

Polyester Intermediate Prices May Now Decline

30 September 2013 - PTA and MEG prices could further fall after Paraxylene suppliers accepted a significantly lower contract price for October.

Change is key to helping China face new challenges

30 September 2013 - International clothing and textile experts gathered near Shanghai last week to discuss solutions to China's twin challenges - dealing with less foreign demand, while managing rising production costs.

Bangladesh Yarn Prices Boosted by Apparel Demand

26 September 2013 - Cotton yarn prices are fluctuating into different directions in Bangladesh, where a decline in cotton import prices is being offset by a surge in demand from apparel industry.

China's Yarn Stocks Kept at Low Levels

24 September 2013 - Both domestic and import yarn markets are staying very depressed in China, ahead of National Day holidays.

Vietnam's Apparel Exports Further Surging

20 September 2013 - Vietnam's apparel exports surged in the first part of the year, mostly due to very strong demand from US buyers. Vietnamese suppliers were able to cut their prices in a series of specific categories, accelerating a sourcing shift from China.