AusIndustry, the Australian Government’s specialist program delivery division, has invited applications for the eighth round of its annual Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Small Business Program (SBP), which aims to boost the country’s small businesses by providing them funding up to Au$ 50,000. The competitive, merit-based grants program, slated to end in June 2016, offers financial grants worth Au$ 2.5 million every year to the eligible businesses. For the past few years the Governme

The world’s largest denim brand, Levi’s, today committed to eliminate all releases of hazardous chemicals throughout its entire supply chain and products by 2020, following public pressure in response to Greenpeace’s global Detox campaign. "Now more than ever, we are seeing brands such as Levi’s listen to the groundswell of support for toxic-free fashion. It’s about time other brands such as Calvin Klein, Gap and Victoria’s Secret finally cotton on and end their toxic addiction. We’ll continu

MerleDress, a leading wedding dress online supplier, was pleased to announce lace wedding dresses are available in its wedding dresses 2013 collection. Each lace dress is handcrafted, featured as fine fabrics, elegant beading, and exquisite embroidery. "Embroidering a wedding dress takes great skill and an eye for detailed designs. However, our lace spring wedding dresses feature exquisite hand-made embroidery, brought to life from patterns and the hands of dressmakers," said, Donnie Terry, C

New Zealand Wool Services International Limited’s Marketing Executive, Mr Paul Steel reports that the 7,800 bales of North Island wool on offer this week saw a 92 percent clearance with a firm market for the finer Crossbred wools and lower levels for the Coarser sector. The weighted indicator for the main trading currencies was 1.63 percent stronger than the last sale on 6th December which accounted for the lower levels however in foreign currency terms the market was generally very firm. Co

MEG nominations for December spanned in the range of US$1,200-1,220 a ton. Sellers will be keen to liquidate early next month and the second half may see some rebounding. Purified terephthalic acid prices will tend to rise to cover the increased cost of paraxylene in the last two weeks of November and also helped by tight spot supply which will continue to lift market sentiment. Some Chinese buyers may seek spot CFR cargoes outside the country rather than procuring domestic supply. Activity in

In Europe, December ethylene contract price was settled at Euro 1,275 a ton FD, rolling over from November. November spot had closed the week In spot, assessed at Euro1,080-1,085 a ton while the CIF NWE numbers were at US$1,200-1,205 a ton. Spot ethylene prices in Northwest Europe are likely to soften with the easing of naphtha cost and poor downstream demand. Meanwhile, US ethylene spot price will remain flat to marginally up as turnarounds were complete and expectations of supply to resume wil

Current spot prices for benzene suggest that prices will remain in the range of US$1,300-1,400 a ton until February 2013, but market fundamentals imply prices will remain closer to US$1,100 a ton mark. In December benzene markets in Asia may end up as market participants will seek prompt cargoes to cover immediate needs in the first half of the month. However, month- end will see some decline due to weaker buying sentiment due to holidays. After falling for two consecutive months, caprolactum

US benzene market will structurally remain short and given that the derivative markets are weak and inventories rising, with the financial year0end on the horizon and underlying hydrocarbon prices softening, there is a strong case for believing that benzene prices will correct in the short term. In Europe, export prices for caprolactum from East Europe to Asian markets were at US$2,180-2,220 a ton and deals largely concluded at around US$2,200 a ton. This will change as negotiation for November

Cotton prices will hold stable in December, as harvesting is now well under way in the northern hemisphere and the expectation is that global ending stock will be higher than earlier predictions. But there does not appear to be significant pressure on prices. This is to a large extent result of China taking an active role in both its domestic market and as buyer in the international market. Chinese purcheases are also supporting the market for cotton yarn, and spinners throughout Asia report the