Breakdown: 85% of textile produced is exported while 15% is left for local consumption, according to PTEA Chairman Sheikh Ilyas Mahmood. PHOTO: AFP/FILE The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) has called for immediate intervention of the government for the release of huge amounts for its exporters stuck in refund regimes, demanding zero ratings on textile exports. Talking to The Express Tribune, Sheikh Ilyas Mahmood, PTEA chairman, and Adil Tahir, vice-chairman, termed the liqui

Sri Lanka’s apparel industry is hoping to dress up the Chinese by firming up the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) mid this year with a 2014 forecast of around US$4.6 billion in total trade even as the sector continues to struggle with limited access to the European Union (EU). Apparel exports were estimated to top $4.2 billion in earnings for last year, market analysts predicted while speaking with the Business Times on Friday adding that they expect 2014 to be bullish. Figures released for Nove

The Union government should adopt stringent measures to prevent the adulteration ofhandloom products in the country, said Prasanna, activist and convener of Desi, an organisation striving to promote handlooms. Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, he said based on a study conducted in Andhra Pradesh and other regions, nearly 70 per cent of the products sold as handloom products were in reality powerloom products. Powerloom operators were duping customers, he alleged. Products, falsely br

Increased local demand will stimulate production and help the country’s jute processors to catch up with major jute industries. The long-awaited implementation of the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 begins this month. According to the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, an additional 1.5m bales of jute will need to be manufactured to meet requirements. This will result in more essential products, such as paddy, fertiliser and sugar, being packaged with jute sacks and reduce the use of le

Garment workers who are paid for the number of pieces they produce per day will not be eligible for overtime pay as they are employed on a contract basis, according to a notice of the labour and employment ministry issued on Thursday. The workers paid on a piecework basis did not get any overtime pay earlier also, under section 108 of the labour law of 2006, Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar said yesterday. The same section has also been incorporated in the amended labour law o

The Vietnam Trade Office in the US will seek to persuade leading US retailer Walmart to source goods, including apparel, from Vietnam in 2014, Vietnam Industry & Trade Information Center said on its website Asem Connect. Vietnam is hopeful of successfully persuading Walmart to source its goods from the Southeast Asian nation, following its success last year in persuading Kroger, the second-largest supermarket chain by revenue in the US. In 2013, due to efforts of the Vietnam Trade Offi

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Vietnam’s export turnover from fibre, textiles and garments surpassed 20 billion USD in 2013, up 18 percent from 2012 and surpassing target by over one billion USD, according to Dau Tu (Investment) newspaper. Such an outcome put the commodities at the top of Vietnam’s key exports. The sector also maintained considerable growth in major markets such as the US, EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN. Last year, Vietnam’s exports of these goods t

Cotton plantings for 2014/15 will start in a few months in the northern hemisphere, which accounts for about 90% of world production. World area is expected to decline due mostly to the expected decline in China. In 2013/14, the Secretariat estimates that China’s cotton area is 4.6 million hectares, a decrease of 8% from 2012/13 and a further decline to 3.9 million hectares is expected for 2014/15. However, this may change as planting does not start until March, and on December 26, Xinhua News r

During 2013, the textile sector was hit mostly by the energy crisis. Around 50% of the industrial units have either shut down or suspended work. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI/EXPRESS Textile exporters have pinned their hopes of industrial and economic revival on 2014, expecting Pakistan to achieve $14.5 billion of exports by the end of the fiscal year (FY) after being granted duty free access to the European Union (EU). Terming 2013 a year of survival, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA)

With revival of export and domestic demand across the textile value chain, production of textile products have increased during the last year. Chairman of Southern India Mills’ Association T. Rajkumar said that yarn export from the country from January to October in 2012 was 760 million kg and it was 1138 million kg this year. Domestic consumption of yarn has also increased by 15 per cent. Even the stock available with the mills has increased. Thus, production has increased, supply has gone u