The key industry has replaced worn-out equipment to face global competition after the 30-year quotas ended in January 2005. The quotas ensured that developing countries had access to the key European Union and US markets. But while their $5.5-billion investment over the past five years has given good returns, they say that cost overruns at home threaten their hopes for the future. The issue is enormous for debt-burdened and poverty-stricken Pakistan, which relies on textiles for about 67

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa and China have agreed in principle a pact to regulate the import of cheap Chinese clothing and textiles, but were still working to finalise a deal, the trade minister said on Monday. South Africa's powerful trade federation COSATU has demanded the government take action to stem the flow of cheap Chinese imports, which analysts say threaten the industry in South Africa. "There has been political commitment on the side of both governments to come up with an

Notice concerning the anti-dumping measures in force in respect of imports in to the Community of certain finished polyester filament fabrics originating in the People's Republic of China:modification of the name of a company subject to an individual anti-dumping duty rate(2006/C26/02). Imports of certain finished polyester filament fabrics originating in the People's Republic of China are subject to definitive anti-dumping duties,imposed by Council Regulation(EC) No 1487/2005 (1).Hangzhou

THE big chill now afflicting Australia's retailers is part of the longest downturn in the sector since the recession of the early 1990s. That startling fact will form the centrepiece of research set to be released today from a brokerage house which has attempted to put retail's current woes into some kind of historical perspective. These analysts say the decline started back in mid-2004, just as the housing boom started to cool, interest rates went up and petrol prices headed north. Hopes

China's textile sales reached 3.3 trillion yuan (408 billion U.S. dollars) in 2005, surging 115.7 percent from 2001, said the National Development and Reform Commission report. The textile industry has become an important industry with fairly tangible competitiveness in the international market, due to industrial restructuring and upgrading," the report said, adding that apparel exports reached 116 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, up 118.9 percent from five years ago. Major textile enterpri

Wool prices are now clearly rallying, boosted by a possible rebound in demand for wool apparel at retail. Prices further surged this week in Australia and South Africa, although they were expected easing. More is to come in the next week with fine-quality wool sales being held in Lauceston, Tasmania. Wool prices further surged this week in Australia. Benchmark Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) gained another 13 Australian cents at 704 cents per kilo clean, for the first time above 700 cents sinc

Mexico's apparel and textile producers have clearly been suffering in 2005. Latest figures confirm lower shipments to the US in a year dominated by trade tussles with China. The industry is in a panic and has been hemorrhaging jobs in a bid to reduce production costs whilst also losing out to Asia in restricted China categories. Mexico's apparel exports to the US have declined in 2005 under pressure from soaring Chinese shipments. Total volume of apparel shipments en route to the US has fa

Macau - Statistics and Census Service released External Trade Statistics for December 2005. In December 2005, Macao? total value of exports amounted to MOP2.15 billion, up 11.8 percent over the same month of 2004. Among this, the value of domestic exports increased 15.8 percent to MOP1.70 billion and the value of re-exports decreased 1.3 percent to MOP450 million. Value of imports amounted to MOP3.06 billion, up 17.2 percent over the same period of 2004. A trade deficit of MOP912 million

Statistics Finland released producer price indices for the last quarter of 2005. According to Statistics Finland, producer price indices for services rose in the last quarter of 2005 from the corresponding quarter of the year before in all industries except in washing and drycleaning of textile and fur products. Prices increased most in the year, or by 7.6 per cent, in accounting, book-keeping and auditing activities, and tax consultancy. Smallest year-on-year producer price increase

India? exports of cotton yarn, fabric and cotton apparel to the non-quota markets dropped sharply, during April-September, 2005, according to an ICRA report. Exports registered a 20 percent decline to non quota market compared to the corresponding period last year. Exports of these items to quota-restricted markets, such as the US, EU and Canada, have gone up by 13.5 percent. India? exports dropped by 22 percent of these items to markets in the West, South, South East and East Asia, t