Wool
prices slightly rising in US$ terms, down in Euro terms
Wool prices this week rose in Australia in US$ terms for
the first time in five weeks. As a result of a rebound in
the domestic currency, prices were clearly lower in A$ terms.
Prices also dipped in South Africa and New Zealand. TOP
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Lower
cotton prices, weak demand for polyester
Cotton futures sharply declined Thursday in China after
government warned that cotton prices were too high in the
country. New York futures also fell on Wednesday with speculators
looking for some direction in the market. TOP |
US
quota impact: M/B Non-Knit Shirts (340/640)
Bangladesh is leading the race to replace China
in both men's non-knit shirt categories in September. Imports
from China have almost filled the quota for 2005 with shipments
having eased drastically over the last several months. South
East nations performed stronger in the cotton category with
Central American countries losing ground in man made fibre.
Bangladesh and China offered US buyers with lowest prices.
TOP |
Least
Developed Countries in US Duty-Free access push
Leaders of apparel manufacturers from 14 Least
Developed Countries, including Bangladesh and Cambodia,
plan to lobby Washington in November to push for US duty-free
access for their products. The mainly Asian nations are
seeking to influence a current trade bill making its way
through US Congress. The call comes ahead of December's
crunch WTO Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong as part of
the Doha round of free-trade negotiations. TOP |
US
Imports of Blue Denim Fabrics fell during January to August
2005
US Imports of Blue Denim Fabrics declined by nearly
30 per cent in the first eight months of 2005. Shipments
from the leading suppliers, Mexico and Hong Kong, fell by
over 40 per cent. Imports from China, encouraged by its
low prices, surged by over 600 per cent. Prices, overall,
were 23 per cent more expensive than last year. TOP
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US
quota impact: MMF Knit Shirts
Haiti has prospered in category 638 since the removal
by embargo of China from the US market in July. Offering
the lowest prices to US buyers, its shipments surged in
September. In category 639, Asian countries accounted for
nine of the top ten US suppliers. El Salvador and Honduras
lower prices to remain cheaper than China. TOP |
US
Quota Impact: Cotton and MMF Underwear
Four Central American countries continue accounting
for over half of all US underwear shipments in 2005, although
China shipments surged until they were finally embargoed
in July. Under pressure from Chinese competition, prices
fell this year with Bangladesh offering the lowest prices.
Washington has again been asked by US textile manufacturers
to re-impose quotas on China imports from 1 January 2006.
TOP
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US
and European buyers turning to Bangladesh
Bangladeshi apparel exports for 2005 have not been
adversely affected by soaring Chinese shipments and have
given confidence to exporters. US buyers are increasingly
turning to Bangladesh as China faces the wrath of US safeguard
measures. In addition, US imports of Bangladeshi apparel
could benefit from a US Trade Bill in the pipeline proposing
duty-free access for textile products, according to domestic
sources. TOP |
Latest
Regulations regarding Textile Trade
- US
International Trade Administration (ITA): Implementation
of tariff on wool imports.
- US
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements:
Exemption of Chinese manufactured Snowboard pants in
category 647/648.
- Hong
Kong Trade and Industry Department: Zero import tariffs
between Hong Kong and the mainland detailing Rules of
Origin and Outward Processing Arrangement. Also, provisional
Columbian safeguard measures on textile and apparel
imports from China.
- US
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA): Solicitation of public comments on request for
Textile and Apparel Safeguard Action on imports from
China.
- International
Trade Administration (ITA): Financial aid for textile
exporters.
- Hong
Kong Trade and Industry Department: Results for the
first round of bidding on EU quantitative limits for
textile exports in 2006 and elimination of US textile
declaration document.
- Chinese
Ministry of Commerce: Import tariff quota management
of wool and woolen sliver.
- US
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
(CITA): Acceptance of China textile safeguard requests
for further consideration.
- US
Customs and Border Protection: Notice confirming elimination
of the textile declaration requirement for imports of
textiles or textile products.
- Hong
Kong Trade and Industry Department: Confirmation of
CITA safeguard consideration and import tariff rate
quota for wool tops. TOP
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US
Apparel Imports in August
Although being hit hard by embargoes and safeguard measures
this year, apparel imports into the US during August still
remained much higher than in 2004. Figures for August, attributing
a 30 per cent market share to China, also show prices were
slightly lower than last year with Chinese prices falling.
TOP
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US
Quota Impact: Cotton Trousers
Washington is being urged by a coalition of textile organizations
to re-impose safeguard measures on categories 347/348 (cotton
trousers) from January 2006. Several Asian countries are
edging ahead of Central American competitors. Prices are
cheaper than last year with Bangladesh, Nicaragua and Honduras
offering the cheapest options to US importers. TOP |
Philippines
exported less to the US in January to July 2005
With a slight fall in apparel exports to the US, top exporters
in the Philippines have been told not to panic. While several
cotton categories have resisted Chinese competition, others
have however decreased. Man-Made Fibre categories even fell
considerably. A free trade agreement with the US is possible
that could boost exports, but more work needs to be done.
TOP
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Chinese
Terry Towels facing new US Quota
US imports of Chinese terry towels could see safeguard measures
introduced as US textile industry associations request the
US government to investigate market disruption. The associations,
angry at what they see as Chinese Government intransigence,
also call for Washington to introduce further safeguard
measures. TOP |
US
Quota Impact: Cotton Knit Shirts
With no deal on the horizon between the US and China, many
categories are likely to have quotas imposed or re-imposed.
Beginning with categories 338/339, we look at how the embargoes
have affected Chinese exports to the US, the alternative
suppliers available for US buyers, as well as current trends
in prices in this merged category. The first in a series
of articles looking at the impact of quotas foreseen for
2006. TOP |
Mediterranean
countries to benefit from relaxation of EU rules of origin
Mediterranean countries will benefit from an EU decision
this week aimed at doing away with complex cumulation and
origin rules. Textile manufacturers in North Africa, Turkey
and the Middle East will also see their products imported
into partner countries at lower import duty levels giving
a boost to the industry suffering from surging Chinese imports
into the EU. TOP |
Turkish
exports in September continued to increase
Turkey's apparel and textile exports increased in September
compared to the same month last year. Shipments taken as
a whole for the year are also up slightly after rebounding
in August coinciding with the restrictions in place on Chinese
imports into the United States and European Union. Government
and industry in Turkey are confident of higher exports continuing
into 2006. TOP
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Bahrain
awaits US Congress ratification of Free Trade Agreement
After the ratification of the Free Trade Agreement by the
King of Bahrain in July this year, the US Congress is currently
discussing the finer points in the text before passing it
to President Bush for ratification. The agreement would
see the liberalization of trade between the two countries
as well as offering limited flexibility in the rules of
origin to the Gulf state. TOP |
Hong
Kong re-exports slowed down in August
Hong Kong's apparel re-exports have significantly slowed
down on the world stage in August. Shipments to the US were
only slightly up from last year but were lower than in preceding
months. Imports into the United Kingdom and Germany were
also down. TOP
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Thailand
slightly increases apparel exports to the US in January
to August
US apparel imports from Thailand scored only a modest increase
in the first eight months of the year. Cotton apparel shipments
increased whilst apparel in the man-made fibre categories
decreased. A Free Trade Agreement with the United States
has moved one-step closer. TOP |
US
and European textiles urge separate talks at Doha Round
A coalition representing many of the world's apparel and
textile manufacturers has urged separate negotiations at
the WTO for textiles and clothing. US producers also want
to see an extension of the 2008 China safeguard measure.
The coalition is critical of the recent EU quota flexibility
deal which it qualifies as taking potential business away
from its members. TOP
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EU
could reduce anti-dumping duties on Pakistani bed linen
After months of investigations, the European Commission
could imminently propose a reduction of anti-dumping duties
on imports of Pakistani bed linen. Press in Pakistan confirm
the government is to discuss the issue with the companies
involved with the possibility of appealing against the decision.
TOP |
Exports
to Russia may jump US$500 million
A textile delegation to the XXV Federal Trade Fair Moscow,
where 12 exporters and manufacturers from Karachi, Lahore
and Faisalabad participated...
Machinery of Bolan Textile Mills fetches Rs128m in final
bidding round
The final bidding round for the sale of machinery of Bolan
Textile Mills (BTM) on October 1 fetched Rs128 million,
which is higher than the previous offer of Rs110 million.
TOP |
Korea's
cotton yarn imports falling in 2005 despite increasing imports
from China and Pakistan
South Korea's imports of cotton yarns in August grew in
volume and value terms against the overall norm for the
year which has seen the value of imports falling. Shipments
from India have also fallen this year but recovered in August.
Pakistan and China have been increasing shipments in the
last few months. Prices have come down from all the main
exporters making imports cheaper than a year ago. TOP |
US
imports of Pakistan's textiles increase slowly in January
to July 2005
Imports into the United States of Pakistani apparel and
textiles grew slightly in the first seven months of the
year, according to US data. The slight increase has caused
concerns in Pakistan where competing countries, such as
India and China, out-performed their Asian rival. TOP
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Higher
cotton prices in China and Pakistan. Polyester prices further
falling
Cotton prices continued falling in New York as the correction
is going on. Prices rose on domestic markets in Pakistan
and China, however. Polyester prices further fell in China,
as shown by our series of tables below. TOP |
Govt
revises cotton crop production estimate downward
The federal government has revised its cotton crop production
estimate downward by conceding that the crop was likely
to be short by about 2.5 million bales of its ambitious
original target of 15m bales. TOP
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Govt
admits cotton production target could not be attained
The government admitted on October 25 that the cotton production
target of 15 million bales could not be attained and the
output was estimated at 12.5 million bales in 2005-06 against
last year’s achieved production of 14.6 million bales.
TOP
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Govt.
to hire firms for lobbying to access of textile products
in EU markets
The government of Pakistan is considering hiring the services
of two reputed international foreign firms for lobbying
in the European Union countries by the end of this month
to ensure access of textile products in EU markets besides
resolving the various issues. TOP
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Textile
products’ export increases 13.34%
Textile products export has shown a rise of 13.34 percent
in the first two months of the current fiscal year, according
to a provisional data released by the Federal Bureau of
Statistics here on October 08. TOP |
Textile
exporters seek extension in shipment
The value-added textile associations have urged the government
to extend the date of export shipments from September 30
to December 31 for getting sales tax refund, considering
the difficulties faced by manufacturers-cum-exporters. TOP
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Fixation
of utilities tariff proposed
The Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters
Association (Prgmea) has proposed that the utilities tariff
should be fixed for at least three years so that exporters
can plan their export commitments for longer period. TOP |
Textile
sector's profit grew by 48pc in 9 months
Textile sector's profitability during the first nine months
of the post-quota regime (January-September 2005) grew by
an impressive 48 per cent owing to improved gross margin
from 11 per cent recorded in the same period last year;
sources said here on October 13.
The
lower cotton prices and higher exports of value-added goods
(to a lesser extent) are the main reasons for the improvement.
However, analysts are of the view that the performance on
the sales front was less than impressive, with a meager
growth of five per cent year-on-year. TOP |
