TEXTILE BRIEFS

1Textile exports surged by 25 percent to $11 billion in the first seven months of this year. Key export driver during the last seven months was valueadded exports. The knitwear segment contributed the most, increasing by 33 percent year on year (YoY) to $2.9 billion.

2Textile mills have to pay millions of rupees in demurrages due to the delay in clearance and offloading of cotton consignments at the Karachi Port by the Plant Protection Department, a letter written by All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) revealed recently. 3The exports of textile commodities increased by 26.08 per cent during the first eight months of the current fiscal year (2021-22) as compared to the corresponding period of last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.

4Textile exporters have welcomed the industrial support package, announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan, and stated that it focused on industrialization, foreign exchange inflows and revival of sick industrial units. They added that the scheme sets progrowth measures in place to steam up industrialization, boost exports and place the country’s economy on path of sustainable growth. 5According to details, Pakistan's textile exports for February were a whopping $1.69 billion which is a huge improvement from last year. In February 2021, the textile exports were $1.23 billion. However, during February 2022, the figures rose by 37%.

6Punjab Minister for Agriculture Syed Husnain Jahania Gardezi has emphasised the use of modern technology and Integrated Pest Management for improving cotton crop management and field results.Addressing a seminar organised by the Punjab University Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), he further said that agriculture was the backbone of our country and nearly 60% of country’s export was based on cotton and cotton-related products.

7Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to over 7.4 million or exactly 74,41833 bales have reached ginning factories across the country till March 1, 2022, registering increase of 32 per cent as compared to corresponding period of last year. According to a fortnightly report of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) released recently, over 7.4 million or 74,40568 bales have undergone the ginning process i.e. converted into bales.

Textile Briefs International

1The gross value of cotton production is forecast to increase by 157 per cent to US$4.3 billion by the end of the 2022 fiscal year. This rise is on the back of a sharp increase in production volumes and strong international prices.

2Garment workers in Bangladesh are suffering from violations of workers’ rights because of a lack of government action, according to a new report from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).They suffer discrimination and harassment, nonpayment of wages and benefits, being forced to work unpaid overtime, and being denied freedom of association. 3Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has said Bangladesh and India have enormous scope to complement each other for the development of apparel and textile industries of both neighboring countries.

4Cotton prices in Brazil fluctuated between BRL 6.89/pound and BRL 7.02/pound between March 1 and 15. Still,sellers' firm stance on prices prevailed and underpinned quotations from wholesalers and end-of-season buyers.

5China's textile industry recorded a double-digit growth in 2021. China's garment exports grew 8.4 per cent YoY to reach a record high of US$315.5 billion in 2021, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

6The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham Cambodia) which aims to increase sustainability in the country's garment industry.

7India's merchandise exports between April 2021 and Feb 2022 were worth US$ 374.05 billion. This is an increase of 45.80 per cent over US$256.55 billion in April 2020-Feb 2021, and 28.16 per cent year-over-year.

8According to the Joint Clothing Association Forum, Sri Lanka's apparel exports in January 2022 were at their highest level in that month in the last five years (JAAF). The results illustrate the industry's underlying strength as it recovers from the pandemic's effects.

9Over 150,000 Tunisian textile and garment workers have earned a 6.5 percent salary raise (backdated to September), with a further 7% increase expected in May. (2022). They're members of Tunisia's General Labor Union (UGTT).