Issue 214 of Textile Outlook International has now been published and contains the following reports…

Editorial: Sri Lanka’s apparel industry—a silver lining in a dark cloud? Buy this report now
Sri Lanka is in crisis. The economy is in dire straits, inflation has soared and there are severe shortages of basic goods such as fuel and food. On July 13, 2022, it was reported that the then president of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, had fled the country following angry protests in the streets of Colombo and he later resigned. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the then prime minister, was quickly appointed as acting president and on July 20, 2022, he was elected president by the Sri Lankan parliament. Against this background of descent into economic and political chaos, the apparel industry appears to be one of only a few silver linings. Apparel exports in June 2022 shot up to a record monthly high compared with the corresponding month a year earlier. Furthermore, the value of apparel exports during January-June 2022 was significantly higher than in the corresponding period a year earlier, and the secretary general of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), Yohan Lawrence, appears to remain broadly optimistic about the apparel industry’s future. The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) has signed agreements worth US$76 mn relating to new investments and expansions in the textile and clothing industry for 2022, and a number of investors are reported to be looking at opportunities for investment in backward vertical integration—including raw material production. Backward vertical integration would enable the clothing industry to make greater use of preferential tariff concessions. Also, it would help to reduce the clothing industry’s reliance on imports for its textile inputs and help to alleviate issues relating to the affordability of imported textile inputs following a plunge in the value of the Sri Lankan rupee. Furthermore, it would provide opportunities for the clothing industry to offer its customers shorter lead times. Much, however, will depend on the success of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding a programme for macrostabilisation.

World textile and apparel trade and production trends: South Asia, July 2022 Buy this report now
This latest report in our flagship series contains 28 pages of statistical data, information and insight into the textile and apparel industries in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The report includes detailed information on textile and clothing production by country and it highlights the fastest growing markets for textile and clothing exports from each country by product category. Also, it provides analyses of developments in the South Asia region and government measures relating to the countries featured. The report presents a wealth of information and is essential for anyone who is considering sourcing from, selling to, or investing in these countries. Clothing exports from Bangladesh were up in 2020/21 and also during July 2021-April 2022 compared with the corresponding period a year earlier, reflecting a recovery after exports had declined in 2019/20 as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Textile and clothing exports from India shot up in 2021, reflecting increases in sales to all of the country’s major geographical markets, and textile and clothing production in India was up during the country’s 2021/22 financial year. Similarly, textile and clothing exports from Pakistan rose in 2021, reflecting growth in sales to all of the country’s major geographical markets. They were also higher during January-April 2022 than they had been in the corresponding period a year earlier. Meanwhile, production of textiles in Pakistan was up noticeably in the country’s 2020/21 financial year, and it was slightly higher during July 2021-March 2022. Textile and clothing exports from Sri Lanka rose in 2021, reflecting increases in sales to all of the country’s major geographical markets. Textile production in Sri Lanka also rose in 2021 but clothing production fell.

Survey of the European fabric fairs for spring/summer 2023 Buy this report now
The latest update in this series of reports summarises the trends which were on show at the European fabric fairs for the spring/summer 2023 season. The fairs were held in a positive spirit, reflecting the fact that the events were the first physical spring/summer fabric fairs to be staged since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. That said, sporadic surges in COVID-19 infection rates made it difficult for organisers, exhibitors and visitors to plan for the fairs and, as a result, some organisers faced calls to cancel their events. The key topic at the fairs was that of environmental sustainability and there was a strong focus on biodegradable fabrics and recyclable fabrics. Indeed, many exhibitors and visitors acknowledged that the textile and apparel industry is facing mounting pressures to improve the recyclability of its products in order to move towards a circular economy. These pressures are being exacerbated by the introduction of EU laws—including regulations relating to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which will come into force in the 27 EU member states from December 2024. In response to these pressures, some manufacturers turned to the development of advanced mono material fabrics in order to optimise the recyclability of their collections while others looked to cellulosic fibres following recent advancements in recycling technology. In terms of colour, fabrics at the fairs were particularly restrained and mellow compared with previous seasons, and undyed fabrics in natural colour options were prominent. Print and pattern designs were heavily influenced by 1970s subculture, psychedelic imagery, folklore, geometry and traditional African and aboriginal imagery.

Prospects for the textile and clothing industry in Sri Lanka, 2022 Buy this report now
The textile and clothing industry in Sri Lanka is of major importance for the country’s economy. Textile and clothing exports accounted for almost 43% of Sri Lanka’s total exports in 2021, and the industry provided direct employment for about 350,000 people and indirect employment for about 1.0 mn people in support activities. However, these encouraging numbers mask marked differences between the textile industry and the clothing industry. In the textile industry there has been a sharp decline in the number of manufacturing facilities but in the clothing industry there has been significant expansion over the years, at least in terms of output. Success in clothing has been based on Sri Lanka’s growing reputation in international markets as a reliable supplier of competitively priced high quality products, and the establishment of strong and enduring links with Western brands and retailers. Looking ahead, Sri Lanka faces growing competition in Western markets from other Asian suppliers. But there are opportunities for the clothing industry to secure further advances. In particular, Sri Lanka has already made gains in the EU import market following the reinstatement of its GSP+ status under the EU’s General Scheme of Preferences (GSP). However, it is uncertain whether the country will continue to benefit from the arrangement from 2023 onwards when it comes up for renewal. More urgently, the industry is likely to be heavily impacted in 2022 from a deepening political and economic crisis in the country. Furthermore, a sharp depreciation of the rupee has increased the cost of purchasing imported textiles—on which the Sri Lankan apparel industry depends heavily. On the positive side, foreign direct investment in backward vertical integration looks set to increase sharply.

Home textiles update, July 2022 Buy this report now
This report provides information, analysis and valuable insight into business developments relating to the global home textiles industry. Also, it analyses some of the latest product innovations in the home textiles market, including those relating to: artificial leather materials, bedding, duvets, fabrics, mattress covers, mattress fabrics, pillows, shower curtains, softeners, and treatments. The report includes news from the following companies, brands and organisations: Archroma, BASF, Beaulieu Yarns, Bedgear, BekaertDeslee, Chilewich, Eastman, Furnico, GHCL, Green Theme Technologies (GTT), HeiQ, Indo Count Industries, Inter IKEA Group, La-Z-Boy, Lenzing Group (Lenzing), Lifelabs, Manchester Mills, Marimekko, Maxime Knitting, Microban International, Milliken & Company (Milliken), Neveon, Noble Biomaterials, Outlier, Polartec, Rester, Silvon, Spinnova, Texon, and Woolroom.

Trends in EU textile and clothing imports, 2022 Buy this report now
This 2022 update provides indispensable insight for any textile and clothing company supplying goods to international markets in general and to the EU region in particular. Also, it is vital for strategists looking to undertake competitor analysis. In this report, Textiles Intelligence reveals trends in imports and prices of EU textiles and clothing as a whole. Also, the report analyses trends in EU imports and prices of textile and clothing items in 14 major product categories, namely cotton yarn, fabrics woven from synthetic staple fibres, fabrics woven from synthetic filament yarn, T-shirts, pullovers, men’s trousers, women’s trousers, men’s denim trousers, women’s denim trousers, women’s blouses, men’s shirts, women’s overcoats, women’s dresses and women’s skirts. The report notes that EU textile and clothing imports fell in value terms in 2021 but in volume terms they rose to a record high. Meanwhile, the average price of EU textile and clothing imports fell sharply to its lowest level since 2014.

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TextileFuture

by Virginia