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China Textile News - in Cooperation with Textile and Apparel
Weekly
Latest issues about the Chinese Textile and Clothing
Industry
In cooperation with the magazine (Textile and
Apparel Weekly) of our partner, the China
Textile Network Company you will find interesting topics
about the Chinese market:
Use our archives to learn more about the previous reports:
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2010/07/30
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Climate
Change, Carbon Mitigation And Textiles
 Over the past few years,
climate change issues have moved from the academic arena to front
page headlines in mainstream newspapers worldwide. Promoted by weather
events such as the European heat wave in 2003, Hurricane Katrina
in the United States in 2005 and melting icebergs, climate change
has itself moved up from public debates to the political agenda.
Climate Change
Climate change, or global warming, refers to the rise in the planet's
overall temperature resulting from the anthropogenic, or human-related,
increase of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly expressed in carbon
dioxide (CO 2) equivalents, in the atmosphere. The magnitude of
the problem has been addressed by the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. Since the onset of the Industrial Revolution, more
than 300 gigatonnes of carbon have been released into the atmosphere.
Stabilization of the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide
at around 450 parts per million (ppm) by volume may involve warming
exceeding 2?
These numbers have often been cited by the Kyoto Protocol, which
has targeted a 5.2-percent reduction of GHG emissions from 1990
levels by 2012. A further call for additional reductions of between
60 and 80 percent from 1990 emissions by 2050 has led to the adoption
of 2050 targets by the United Kingdom of 60 percent; France, 75
to 80 percent; and California, 80 percent. According to leading
scientists, the planet is in its danger zone with CO 2 concentrations
higher than 350 parts per million (ppm). The red line for danger
has already been passed, as the atmospheric concentration of CO
2 measured 390 ppm in 2009, with an annual increase of 2.5 ppm.
The climate changes to come will likely threaten access for many
people to shelter, food, and water. Additionally, with the irreversible
damage to the world's ecosystems, including the extinction of a
large portion of Earth's vulnerable species, diseases will have
the most extensive negative effects civilized humans have ever experienced.
The significance of climate change implies urgency that policy instruments
soon will have to be deployed worldwide. So climate change has been
identified as one of the greatest challenges facing nations, governments,
business and citizens over future decades.
The Energy Challenge
Today, 80 percent of global energy usage relies on fossil fuel.
Conservation and improvements in industrial energy, material efficiency
and reductions are the lowest-cost near-term measures to reduce
that usage. It also is possible to switch from fossil fuels to alternative
energy sources such as nuclear, wind, solar, biomass, and others;
but the availability is limited, and not yet all cost-effective.
Taxes and subsidies are likely to become more attractive for new
investments in carbon mitigation, and new regulations will be established.
...read
more
Source: Textile World via CNTEX
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2010/07/30
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China shows
strong resolve to develop clean energy
China had shown its commitment to
developing clean energy through its strong support for an international
alternative energy program, the head of the program's China office
said Wednesday. The program, known as the International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor or ITER, aims to emulate the power of the sun
to provide limitless clean energy, Luo Delong told Xinhua during
a telephone interview. "China's active participation in the
international nuclear fusion project reflects the country's determination
to promote the development of clean energy," Luo said. "It
is also in line with China's long-term energy strategy," Luo
said. In a bid to solve the energy shortage and maintain sustainable
development, China is working to develop fossil energy and fission
energy while vigorously seeking alternative energy sources, according
to Luo.
Now it seemed ITER might be a reliable answer to the problem of
energy in the long run, he said. "I can give you an example:
after ITER nuclear fusion, the deuterium extracted from one liter
of sea water can produce as much energy as that of 300 liters of
gasoline," and fusion energy had huge potential, "because
it uses the inexhaustible sea water as material," he said.
Moreover, the ITER process won't produce greenhouse gases or cause
any pollutants such as high-radiation uranium waste, which made
it an ideal energy source for both environmental protection and
security, Luo said. China had devoted a lot of effort and funds
to the project, he said. Luo said China had made great efforts in
helping establish the organization and the country would inject
about 10 billion yuan (1.4 billion dollars) to the project, about
10 percent of its total cost. China would also undertake nearly
10 percent of the project, producing various components and transporting
them to Cadarache, southern France, where the ITER's reactor units
would be constructed, he said. On Wednesday, the ITER Council, the
governing body of the ITER Organization, approved the baseline of
overall schedule and costs for the project. Representatives of the
seven ITER members -- China, the European Union, India, Japan, South
Korea, Russia and the United States, attended the meeting in Cadarache.
...read
more
Source: Xinhua via CNTEX
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2010/07/30
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China to
continue exchange rate reform amid rise in production costs
A senior Chinese central bank official
said Wednesday China will continue to reform its exchange rate formation
mechanism to consolidate coordinated and sustained economic growth
amid a rise in production costs. "The current adjustment in
the price of production factors and the reform of the exchange rate
formation regime are in accordance with the correct direction of
our country's macro control policy," wrote Hu Xiaolian, deputy
governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank,
in an article published on the bank's website. The article was Hu's
third elaboration on China's exchange rate policies in the past
week. The PBOC announced June 19 it would further reform the Renminbi
exchange rate formation mechanism and allow greater exchange rate
flexibility. The prices of factors of productions - land, natural
resources, environmental protection, and in particular labor - have
risen rapidly in China. Local governments have raised their minimum
wage levels by 10 percent or more this year after workers in manufacturing
industries went on strike demanding higher pay. In the article,
Hu said the reform of the exchange rate formation regime and rising
production costs will accelerate China's technological innovation,
reduce energy over-consumption and promote economic restructuring
and sustained economic growth.
In the next five to ten years, she said, China's working population
will fall and the current labor over-supply situation will reverse,
which will put pressure on wages. Irrespective of whether China
maintains equilibrium in its international balance of payments or
not, hikes in production costs in China will continue as the global
price for energy resources rises over the long term, Hu said. She
said greater flexibility in the Renminbi exchange rate will create
a stable and low-inflation environment for the adjustments of production
costs. A stronger yuan will lower the price of imported goods and
materials, offsetting in part some of the inflationary pressure
following the hikes of production costs. Production factors' price
increases will also help ease yuan appreciation expectations, reduce
the inflow of short-term capital and relieve international pressures,
which will provide a better environment to accelerate the yuan exchange
rate reform Hu said. Therefore, the exchange rate reform and the
adjustment in production factors' prices can be better coordinated,
she said, adding: "This is essential for the stability and
development of the macro economy."
Source: Xinhua via CNTEX
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2010/07/29
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Frbiz Report:
China's Textile and Garment Export Statistics Remain Grim
Frbiz.com, one of China's leading
B2B search platforms, reports China's textile and garment export
numbers remain grim. The latest statistics showing China's total
exports during the first half of this year reveal significant decreases
in apparel, clothing-accessory, textile yarn and fabric product
exports. China's textile and garment exports this year should continue
to see declining numbers. In the first half of this year, Chinese
textile and apparel exports to the EU decreased, while exports to
the United States and Japan increased slightly. Meanwhile, private
enterprises' export status has further improved, while state-owned
enterprise exports dropped significantly. As the international market
for textiles and clothing has seen no significant improvement, China's
textile exports face the following negative factors:
First, external demand is still weak. Second, trade protectionism
is growing. In the first four months of this year, the EU has recalled
74 textile and clothing products, including 52 textile and clothing
products made in China. Year on year this is an increase of 643%.
Finally, the high cost of exports -- regulation of the cotton market
this year has led to higher overheads for China's domestic enterprises.
Textile and garment export competitiveness has been weakened. With
the international market downturn, the Chinese textile and garment
industry be more active in its exploration of the domestic market.
From the clothing consumer's point of view, although recently China's
per capita fiber consumption rate has risen from 7.5kg to 15kg,
in comparison with 30kg to 40kg per capita in developed countries,
there is still a large gap. Enterprise management pressure is likely
to increase in China's textile and garment industry in the near
future.
Source: prnewswire via CNTEX
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2010/07/28
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Chinese
garment manufacturers closely observe recent emergence of strikes
in China
Chinese garment manufacturers closely
observe recent emergence of strikes in China, they believe that
adequate compensation should be able to avoid street strikes by
workers. Industry analysts explained, as labor consciousness rises
in China and labor shortage appears in some provinces, factory workers
are more willing to take action demanding better pay and working
conditions, so increasing turbulences have affects foreign-funded
companies and Chinese factories. Hundreds of employees from the
Japanese electronics plant and Toyota auto parts supply factory
in Tianjin went out on strike in recent weeks, and according to
media reports, Chinese clothing and textile mills have also witnessed
several strikes in recent months, for example, Wantai Group in Zaozhuang,
Shandong province saw a collective labor strike, while workers from
Pingdingshan cotton factory protested for better salaries.
Spokesman of Hong Kong-based labor rights group - China Labor Bulletin
Geoffrey Crothall said, China Labor really feels gradual accumulation
of pressure in recent time, because their pay has been deliberately
suppressed. One strike leads to another strike, strikes show strong
momentum in China. Vice chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of
Industries and general manager of Milo knitting company Willy Lin
said, it is nothing new for the garment industry to hold salary
negotiation and talks for other topics, garment factories have to
increase wages before the Chinese New Year, if they want workers
returned back for work. Factories in Guangdong Province increased
wages by 20 percent this year and successfully attracted workers
back to factories. ...read
more
Source: ccfgroup via CNTEX
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2010/07/28
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Nonwovens
Consumption In China Will Increase By 12%
Research and Markets has announced
the addition of Textiles Intelligence's new report "Global
Technical Textiles Business Update, 2nd quarter 2010" to their
offering. Derma Sciences has established an international subsidiary
called Derma Sciences Europe. Zoltek Companies has set up a subsidiary,
called Zoltek Automotive, to accelerate its development of lightweight
carbon fibres for the automotive industry. The Hohenstein Institute
has opened an office in the Dominican Republic. Alexium is constructing
a new surface treatment facility in Greer, South Carolina, USA,
while Tredegar Film Products is building a new plant in India for
the production of films for the hygiene market, and SGL Automotive
Carbon Fibers is planning to build a carbon fibre manufacturing
plant in Moses Lake, Washington, USA. Consumption of nonwovens in
China has been forecast to rise by an average of 12% a year in volume
terms between 2008 and 2013.
In other developments, SwissTex Winterthur has acquired RITM, one
of its former members. Advanced Fabric Technologies has secured
the rights to Auxetixs Zetix fabric technologies for blast mitigation
and ballistic protection in North America. Shanghai Shenjiu Textile
Science and Technology (SSTS) and Fibretronic have entered into
a Chinese distribution agreement worth US$500,000. Polymer Group
Inc (PGI) has reported a decline in its sales from continuing operations
in 2009/10 but its gross profits were up. SGLs sales were up in
the first quarter of 2010 but its earnings were down. Rieter Textile
Systems has reported lower sales for the whole of 2009 but the company
is staying positive as orders taken in the second half of the year
picked up significantly. In other news, Fibertex is expanding its
capacity in Asia by investing in a new nonwovens line at its plant
in Malaysia. Daimler and Toray Industries are working together to
mass produce automotive parts made from carbon fibre reinforced
plastics (CFRPs). Roctest and TenCate Geosynthetics will jointly
develop a unique monitor for geotextiles. Meanwhile, Fiberweb and
Chisso are conducting a feasibility study with a view to setting
up a spunbond nonwovens joint venture company in China, while Devan
Group has appointed a new management team as part of its plan to
develop a specialised portfolio of chemical technologies for the
global textile industry.
Source: PRESSWIRE via
CNTEX
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2010/07/28
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Consumers,
rapid growth help China takes the lead
China ranks No. 1 among 27 emerging
economies due to its huge consumer market and rapid economic growth,
according to the Emerging Markets Opportunity Index released by
US accounting firm Grant Thornton. The index takes account of key
factors such as the size of the economy, zealth, involvement in
world trade, growth potential and levels of human development. China
scores 454 points, double the India's score (222 points) in second
place and almost triple that of Russia (163 points) in third place.
"China leads the way thanks to the country's huge consumer
market, an increasingly open economy and extremely rapid trade growth,
which offer a myriad of business opportunities for potential investors,"
said Xia Zhidong, partner and vice-chairman of Grant Thornton China.
According to figures from the United Nations Conference on Trade
and Development, China attracts the most foreign investment among
the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries. Last year,
the inward foreign direct investment (FDI) flow to China was $95
billion, followed by Russia at $39 billion and with India and Brazil
posting $35 billion and $26 billion respectively. "In the future,
more opportunities will lie in improved infrastructure, enhanced
human capital, investments in R&D and the increasing middle-class
base," Xia said. However, a lack of skilled labor, increasing
labor costs and the low per capita gross domestic product (GDP)
pose major challenges to foreign investment in China. According
to Grant Thornton China, 23 percent of Chinese enterprises said
they faced a shortage of skilled labor, higher than the global average
of 21 percent. ...read
more
Source: CTEI News
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2010/07/27
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Clothes
CPI Kept Down, PPI Slightly Grew
In the first half, the customer
price index (CPI) of clothes went down 1.1%. For June, the clothes
CPI went down 1.0%. That's 0.2 percentage points lower than that
of May. While the producer price index (PPI) of clothes went up
1.8% in first half, and up 1.9% in June. The growth rate kept stable
for recent months. During this period, the price index of raw material,
fuel and power went up 10.8%.
Source: CTEI News
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2010/07/27
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Textile
Industrial Added Value Up 11.7% in June
The industrial added value of statistics-worthy
industrial enterprises over the country went up 17.6% in first half
2010. That's 10.3 percentage points higher than that of the same
period last year. By the catogery of industries, all the 38 industries
witnessed growth. By the catogery of regions, eastern region grew
16.7%; central region up 20.7%, western region up 17.6%. The textile
industrial added value went up 11.7% in the first half. That's 4.4
percentage points higher year over year. While the chemical industrial
added value grew 18.5%. That's 11.3 percentage points higher year
over year. For June, the textile industrial added value went up
9.9%. That's 1.4 percentage points lower than that in previous month.
While the chemical industrial added value grew 13.9% this month,
and 3.1 percentage points down.
Source: CTEI News
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2010/07/27
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China Famous
Brand Logo Suspended upon Expiration
The General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Qurantine recently published a notice
that the Chinese Famous Brands logo would suspend upon their expiration.
China Famous Brand Strategy Promotion Committee announced the list
of 493 Chinese Famous Brands in 2005, that were going to expire
on Sept. 2010. And in 2006, this committee announced another list
of 556 Chinese Famous Brands, that were going to expire on Sept.
2011. In 2007, it announced the third list of 856 Chinese Famous
Brands, that were going to expire on Sept. 2012. That's the deadline
for the license of using Chinese Famous Brand logo.
Source: China Daily via CNTEX
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2010/07/26
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China Textile
Leading Recovery amid Uncertain Future
Substantial progress has been achieved
by Chinese textile industry in all areas of statistics in the beginning
of 2010 thanks to strong domestic demand and global economic recovery.
However, an unrelenting rise in the cost of raw materials, yuan
appreciation as well as Europe's debt crisis could may pull down
the performance of Chinese textile industry in the second half of
2010.
Bullish on domestic market
Demands serve the major factor stimulating the growth of production,
sales and exports of the Chinese textile industry. In January and
May 2010, China's total retail sales increased by 18.2 percent y/y,
3.2 percentage points higher than the Jan.-May 2009 period. Of which,
retail sales for garments, shoes and hats were up 23.1 percent y/y.
Meanwhile, statistics-worthy enterprises in China have finished
the sales production value CNY1347.636 billion, increasing 29.80%
y/y. Textile industry exports showed significant rise in the beginning
of 2010, owing to international market recovery, buyers demand increases
as well as some domestic enterprises finishing shipment in advance
to avoid losses which brought about by the appreciation of the renminbi.
In January and May 2010, China's textile and garment exports amounted
to $72.205 billion, up 19.52 per cent y/y, 30.65 percentage points
higher than the Jan.-May 2009 period. Of which, China's textile
exports amounted to $30.552 billion, up 29.53 per cent y/y, 44.93
percentage points higher than the Jan.-May 2009 period; China's
garment exports amounted to $41.653 billion, up 13.12 per cent y/y,
21.27 percentage points higher than the Jan.-May 2009 period. ...read
more
Source: CTEI News
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