The Budget 2008-09 has been a great disappointment for the textile industry as no significant policy measures have been announced to address the issues currently being faced by this crisis-ridden industry.

China’s apparel export to the US market is facing a serious slowdown in 2008. The reasons: Higher production costs due to a new labour law, rapidly rising yuan and surging competition from Vietnam.

Cotton has become a bone of contention again, with various interests indulging in a wrestling match to wrest initiatives in their own interests. On the one side is a record crop with Bt cotton’s share going up significantly.

Demand for specialist footwear fibres and fabrics is increasing rapidly, according to a new report, “Fibres and Fabrics for Performance Footwear”, published by Textiles Intelligence.

TUFS provides 5% interest reimbursement plus 10% capital subsidy for specified processing machinery, garmenting machinery and machinery required in manufacture of technical textiles.

For all those who visited ITMA Munich , one sight that refuses to go out of focus is the Allianz Arena, the awesome football stadium located near the autobahn (German highway).

To facilitate development of infrastructure for setting up of textile units, the government of India provides 40% of the project cost of common infrastructure and facilities subject to the limit of Rs 40 crore.

INDA, the leading nonwoven association of the west, had already made its first big attempt for a nonwoven awakening in the Indian market in January this year with a nonwoven training course in Mumbai.

FIASWI has welcomed the Union Government’s announcement of reduction of Customs Duty on Polyester Filament Yarn from 7.5% to 5% and also on Acrylic and Viscose Filament Yarn from 10% to 5%.

The 16th ITMA presentation will be held in Barcelona in 2011.

Some steps have been proposed for the production of quality silk in the country during the Eleventh Plan period.

Learning from nature’s example, science has recognised that it is not the smoothest possible surfaces but those with structures measuring some dozens of nanometers that repel dirt and water most effectively.

Crude oil in the week rose further to record levels. OPEC Middle East averaged at US$ 93.41 a barrel and Europe brent averaged at US$ 98.63 a barrel. OPEC Middle East averaged at US$ 93.41 a barrel and Europe brent averaged at US$ 98.63 a barrel.

Crude oil prices in the week mellowed on fears of US recession. US light sweet fell by US$ 4.40 a barrel with Europe IPE brent fell by US$ 3 to US$ 87.59. OPEC basket fell US$ 6 to US$ 84.62 a barrel. However a weak dollar will keep Crude oil on its toes with further expectations of dollar weakening.

Crude oil prices in the week averaged below US$ 90 as supplies from in the last week were restored however demand for heating oil would still keep prices firm whereas oil in Asia remained stable.

US apparel imports from CAFTA-DR countries fell in the third quarter of last year, reflecting rising uncertainties ahead of US quota’s removal. Poor results in cotton knit shirt categories 337 and 338 may indicate some serious threat for Central American countries while US trouser imports from the Dominican Republic dramatically fell in the last two years. Man-made fibre apparel imports from the region more resisted.

Barcelona Business Pass (BBP) is the official travel agent handling the accommodation requirements of participants at ITMA Barcelona to be held from 22 to 29 September 2011.

On the eve of ITMA 2007 inauguration, the organisers had some anxious moments. None of visitors (because they have not arrived) and most of the exhibitors (who have already built the stall & gone back to their hotels) had an inkling what happened!

The textile service company, Lindström has expanded its operations by establishing a subsidiary in India.

The textile and apparel deficit in the first five months was $13 billion, an increase of 31% over the comparable period last year.

The Indian Government has proposed to open new Fashion and Textile Technology Institutes during the Eleventh Plan period. New Centres of National Institute of Fashion Technology are being set up subject to the conditions that the State Government is willing to provide land and financial support and fulfilment of feasibility conditions.

As per data generated by the DGCIS, India’s textiles and clothing exports during 2006 - 07 were of the value of US$ 18,729.93 million, as against exports valued at US$ 17,520.07 million during the year 2005 - 06, registering a growth of 6.91%. DGCIS’s latest provisional foreign trade’s statistics indicate that India’s exports in the first quarter of this financial year registered a decline of 14% in US$ terms compared to the corresponding period of the preceding financial year.

Apart from China, Indian textile exporters are also facing competition from countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Pakistan.

Oerlikon Textile, belonging to the Oerlikon Group and under whose umbrella are Saurer, Schlafhorst, Neumag, Barmag, etc enjoyed excellent business performance during the first half of 2007.

The clothing, textiles and manmade fibre industries in the EU25 had a combined turnover of Euro 201.9 billion in 2006, reveals the European Apparel and Textile Organisation (Euratex).

At the Annual General Meeting of Edana, held in Berlin on 30th May 2007, Gerd Ries, Vice-President EAME, Regulatory and Medical Affairs, Johnson & Johnson, Germany, was elected as Chairman of Edana.

The French Textile Machinery Manufacturers Association (UCMTF), the Economic and Trade Department of the Embassy of France in Indonesia and Ubifrance (France’s agency for the international development of French companies) are organising a seminar on March 12, in Bandung (Hyatt Regency Hotel), to meet the textile producers from Indonesia, present their machinery and promote partnerships to address the challenges of globalisation.

The target for textile exports for the current year has been fixed at US$ 25.06 billion keeping in view the growth that had taken place in this sector after the termination of Multi Fibre Arrangement (MFA).

Some new initiatives have been taken by the Government for the growth of textile sector, inter alia, include creation of Investment Regions to consolidate the phenomenon of agglomeration.

Rieter Textile Systems bestowed the Rieter Award 2007

The Indian automobile industry is flourishing like never before in the recent years. The production sales of the automobiles are growing strongly at a CAGR of around 16% with 11 million units produced in 2006-07 reaching to 19 million units by 2010.

Vietnam plans to double the value of its textile and clothing exports from US$4.8 billion in 2005 to US$10 billion by 2010, according to a new report by Textiles Intelligence.

Traction Partners of Amsterdam has acquired Diolen Industrial Fibres, one of Europe’s largest producers of polyester fibres with production sites in the Netherlands and Germany. The acquisition will allow Diolen to develop further as a high-quality player on the growing market for technical polyester fibres.

At last, a different book was just published about the global textile and apparel trade. For the first time, “Fugitive Denim: A Moving Story of People and Pants in the Borderless World of Global Trade” offers a human and sensible approach to an increasingly global business through a series of remarkably well-written portraits of professionals.

Australian Wool Innovation Limited (AWI) has launched the latest Australian Merino wool knit and woven developments at the Intercontinental in New Delhi recently to over 200 current business partners, media and potential manufacturing and retail partners.

Japanese manufacturers are focusing increasingly on developing fibres and textiles for personal well-being, hygiene and comfort.

According to figures released by Edana, the international association serving the nonwovens and related products industries, production of nonwovens in Europe grew by around 6.5% in 2006 to reach 14,94,000 tonnes.

Using a patented silicone technology, Dow Corning Corporation has developed a new denim processing capability that significantly reduces the amount of water used, and decreases waste output as well.