The 2015 AATCC Technical Manual is now available and includes two new test methods, ten significantly revised methods, and nine editorially revised methods. Published each January, the AATCC Technical Manual contains nearly 150 test methods and evaluation procedures used worldwide to evaluate and characterize fiber and textile materials. Order the 2015 AATCC Technical Manual as a cloth-bound book (Item #03015) or searchable CD (Item #3015CD) at www.aatcc.org/products. AATCC members receive a

The retail sales of clothing commodities of 100 large-sized retailers grew 0.9% year-on-year in November in value term, 0.7 percentage point faster than same period of last year, but 3.4 percentage points lower than October. The retail sales grew 6.0% year-on-year in November in quantity term, 6.4 percentage points faster than October and 5.5 points faster than same period of last year. Source: China Textile Leader Express

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the government would discuss with the United States about duty and quota-free access of Bangladeshi garment products under the Bali decisions of WTO. The discussion could be held at a next WTO meeting, he told reporters yesterday after a meeting of the high-level committee on reviewing and monitoring of World Trade Orgainsation activities. Commerce Minister presided over the meeting, attended, among others, by Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon nd

The textile sector gained 1.5 percent to stand at Tk 9,160 crore in market capitalisation yesterday, compared to the previous day, thanks to steady growth in exports last year. Textile exports rose 5.78 percent year-on-year to $24.6 billion in 2014. The price earnings ratio of the sector stood at 19.4, where the average market PE was 15.51. The PE ratio is a valuation of a company's current share price compared to its per-share earnings. A lower PE means investment is less risky. The po

According to CEPEA, cotton quotes have dropped significantly in the Brazilian market in 2014, especially after February and are lower than the government floor price since mid July. The CEPEA/ESALQ Index for cotton type 41-4 has dropped 27.62 per cent till December 28 as against that observed in 2013, when the Index rose 33.84 per cent.This is a result of significant increase of 32 per cent in Brazilian cotton production in 2013/14 compared to the season before, along with a quality decrease in

Turkey has been experiencing difficult times with its exports to Russia which has declined by 14.6 percent, dropping to $6.57 billion in 2014 compared to $7.96 billion in 2013 due to the decrease in the value of the ruble. According to the records of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TİM), Turkey's total exports rose to $157.62 billion with an increase of 4 percent in 2014. Unlike the increasing export rates in 2014, big losses occurred in the Russian market, having a large impact on all

The government of India has agreed to provide all necessary assistance to develop Afghan textile industry and assist in skill development, research and development, technical collaboration in product development and manufacturing, testing and certification and organize joint trade missions for mutual collaboration. The commitment was made at the time of signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Afghanistan and Indian Ministry of Textiles o

The government will again demand duty-free market access for garments to the US, as Bangladeshi businesses have to pay exorbitant duty for exporting apparel items to America. The demand will be placed at the second meeting of Ticfa (Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum Agreement) in Washington this May. The Ticfa, signed in November 2013, is a platform to resolve trade-related disputes between the two countries through discussions. “We will start preparing our agendas for the meeting

In the last five months of 2014, Ethiopia imported more than 3,000 tons of cotton to meet the demand of domestic textile industry, according to the Textiles Industry Development Institute (TIDI). Ethiopian Government resorted to importing cotton in mid-2014 as a short-term measure to address the challenge of scarcity of raw material. In addition to allowing import, the Ethiopian Government has introduced a new system, wherein companies owning textile mills are allowed to cultivate cotton,

In what may mark an end of high-quality extra long staple cotton, the Egyptian Government has decided to stop paying subsidy of 350 Egyptian pounds per qintar (160 kg) of cotton to producers, from the next agricultural season. Last season, Government subsidies for cotton touched nearly 520 million Egyptian pounds, according to the Ministry of Finance statistics. There is very limited demand, both in domestic and global markets for Egyptian cotton, particularly the long staple variety, and