The cotton textile industry in Zambia, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, has the huge potential to contribute a much bigger share to the country’s economy, says a Times of Zambia article. In Zambia, four provinces—Eastern, Central, Southern and Lusaka—account for majority of the cotton grown in the country. These provinces harvest an average of 500 kg of cotton per hectare. Last year, the country harvested 100,000 tons of cotton, but the production is expected to increase to 168,000

Pakistani textiles posted earnings growth of 26 percent in the six-month period ended December 31, 2013, an analyst said on Thursday. “This was due to improved demand and stable yarn margins. Further boost to the profits was provided by depreciating rupee and declining finance cost,” Tahir Saeed at Topline Securities said. The profits of the listed textile firms increased by 26 percent to reach Rs17.5 billion, while gross profits posted a growth of 14 percent to Rs39 billion in the first h

Pakistan's import of jute declined by over six percent to $25.756 million during July-January 2013-14, official statistics say. Jute import fell by $1.748 million from $27.504 million during the same period last fiscal year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said. In term of volume: jute import reduced by six percent to 50,025 metric tons in July-January 2013-14 from 53,214 metric tons in the same period last fiscal year, the PBS suggests. In January 2014, jute import, however, posted an i

India is still the largest producer of organic cotton in the world, accounting for two-third of the global organic cotton production. But, the total organic fibre production of the country has fallen by close to 50% as global brands shift to Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). A marketing-driven green alternative to conventional cotton grown using chemicals, BCI is growing rapidly and getting premium over the conventional cotton. From 1,95,797 metric tonne, its peak in 2009-10, to 1,03,004 metric

The relaxation of standards for organic clothing has opened up new avenues for the country's embattled garment sector. Organic clothing, a niche but lucrative market, requires strict adherence to organic farming and environmentally and socially responsible textile processing methods, which have so far been very restricting for the country's 5,000 garment producers. But on March 1, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) International Working Group has modified a host of rules, giving te

Textile entrepreneurs are not randomly accepting any t-shirts or shirts orders from legislative candidates. Even if they accept them, entrepreneurs request a number of requirements that have to be agreed by the candidates. "Out strategy is by increasing advance payments from 10 percent to 50 percent," said Ade Sudrajat, Indonesian Textile Association (API) chairman, to Tempo, Saturday, March 15. Besides increasing advance payments, he said, candidates also have to settle payments when they ar

A good number of garment factories are yet to implement the new wage structure for workers after more than three months of its announcement. Labour leaders said less than 50 per cent of the factories implemented the new wage announced by a government-formed wage board on December 5 last year. Factory owners, however, said that more than 85 per cent of garment units had so far implemented the new wage structure. Labour leaders said in some cases workers had been downgraded and they (work

The International Labour Organization launched Monday an online database showing how 51 garment factories performed in terms of key working conditions. A statement said 30 companies had complied with all 21 basic legal requirements. Among the other companies, the number of violations fell from 59 in December to 34 in February. "We are happy to see that improvements are being made and that the transparency database is now launched," said Anna Gedda, social sustainability manager at Swedish

Many large foreign firms have entered Vietnam’s garment and textile sector with an eye on export opportunities the Trans-Pacific Partnership is expected to bring. Jiangsu Yulun Textile Group of China recently got a license for a US$68-million textile, dyeing, and yarn plant in an industrial zone in Nam Dinh Province near Hanoi, Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon Online reported. Industrial zone managers said the factory would go on stream in the middle of 2016 and produce 9,816 tons of yarn and 21.6

Rupee appreciation, less orders from China, dumping of Indian yarn and 2%-17% tax on textile exports may exert pressure on textile sector in the coming months. PHOTO:FILE The textile industry – the largest export-oriented sector of the country – has posted a strong double-digit growth in the first half (Jul-Dec 2013) of fiscal year 2013-14 (1HFY14). According to a report compiled by Topline Securities, growth in the industry was witnessed because of improved demand and stable yarn margins