Asian countries outside China this year lost shares on EU's apparel import market, according to first estimates by French Fashion Institute, IFM. Although shipments from China in restricted categories would decline in 2006, imports in other categories would continue surging, negatively affecting exports from competing nations, except India. The surge in EU's clothing imports from China negatively affected shipments from other countries in Asia and Africa, said the French Fashion Institute durin

Approaching Christmas eve, the rise in demand for goods pushes prices, as well, reveals a survey. Lagos, the Nigerian capital currently experiences this, as dramatic rise in textiles prices in particular have been registered.A five-yard of lace material that used to cost N6000 earlier, is priced today at N6500, while a guinea material of the same yard that cost N2500 last month, is now available for N2750. A short sleeve shirt, sold between N900 and N1000 sometime back, costs between N1200 and N

Any attempt that singles out cotton over farm trade negotiations during the meet at Hong Kong would be opposed by US cotton industry, said Gary Adams, Vice President for Economics and Policy Analysis of US National Cotton Council. The US would propose additional initiatives for cotton market entry at the WTO? ministerial meet in Hong Kong, said Rob Portman, US Trade Representative.Rallying behind the US cotton industry, 30 US Congressmen backed Gary Adams' statement to oppose efforts to single o

Indicating a double-digit fall since last six month in a row, total man-made fibre production in Taiwan plunged 10.4 percent in October. The production reached down to 260210 tons.From January to October, total man-made fibre production weakened 15.1 percent and went down to 2428551 tons.This weakness in production in 2005 reveals a remarkable reduction from the increase of 1.4 percent in 2004.During the same time span, Polyester filament fiber also went down 20.3 percent to 671919 tons. Fabric

Ecco, a Danish shoe manufacturing company, has established its first factory in China where the cost of production is far lower than that in Denmark, following several others, to survive competition. But, only if the production cost is less, has been the motto for Eccco and the likes.The company now fears anti?umping duties will affect their profitability in big way as EU may impose extra duties on cheap shoes imported from China and Vietnam. Duties may be go up as high as 60 percent from a low

Australia is facing a steep decline in wool output as all states except those in Western Australia experienced a slump. Yet, the experts consider it to be in a state of flux as Australia seems to have recovered a great deal, and is trying to return its wool production to normalacy. The estimated output of 467 million kilos this financial year signifies efforts infused to step up production.The Production Forecasting Committee says that though some have shifted to prime lamb production, Australia

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) announced the retail sales of London for November 2005.Retail sales in Central London during November were 2.1 percent higher, on a like-for-like basis, than in November 2004, when sales had picked up 1.4 percent. November's result was the first increase since June, before the July bombings. Nevertheless, the average monthly change so far this year is a 1.7 percent decrease, much worse than the 2.6 percent increase for the same months of 2004. The three-month

Turkey's apparel and textile exports slumped in October reflecting a general problem in industrial underperformance. Big earning categories such as non-knit apparel and made-ups brought in less revenue than the same month last year. Turkish producers are looking for favourable business conditions elsewhere. The value of Turkish apparel and textile exports slid 3.6 per cent in the month of October, according to data from the TIM Exporters' Union. Under performing Fibre and textile shipments f

Argentine cotton exports amounted to 22,606 bales against 4781 bales imports in October. The figures indicate slow trade movements in the industry.For the first time since 2001, Argentina has remained a net exporter of cotton through October.From January to October, exports reached 117,381 bales, recording a year-on-year increase of 213.6 percent.Chile, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam were leading export destinations. From January to October, imports reached 58,183 bales, which reflect 47.7 percent

India should aim to triple its garment exports to 18 billion US dollars by 2010 by empowering thehandicrafts industry that brings in the bulk of the earnings, Indian President A.P.J Abdul Kalam said here Monday. India currently exports 6 billion US dollars worth of garments,"whereas with the WTO (World Trade Organization) regime in place, we should aim to enhance exports to over 18 billion US dollars by 2010," Indo-Asian News Service quoted Kalam, in his address while presenting national award