Bangladesh's earnings from exports of readymade garments rose by almost 23 percent in January 2013, boosted by a shift in orders from China. In January 2013, Bangladesh exported apparels worth US$ 2.09 billion, as against exports of US$ 1.70 billion made during the corresponding month of last year, according to the Export Promotion Bureau. During the first seven months of the current Bangladeshi fiscal that began on July 1, 2012, the country's clothing exports totaled US$ 12.04 billion, re

Students in 21 primary and middle schools in east China's Shanghai were ordered to stop wearing their uniforms on Monday after a toxic dye was found in the products of a local garment firm. In a recent quality inspection campaign, aromatic amine dye, which can cause cancer, was detected in one batch of student uniforms produced in July 2012 by the Shanghai Ouxia garment company, said the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision. Six batches of the company's clothes pr

Work is on in full swing for the much-awaited Malwa Apparel Park coming up on Betma road, around 20 km from here. Board of Industrial Development Corporation (AKVN) Indore, has already given its approval for the readymade garment cluster being developed by Indore Readymade Garment Traders' Association. The cluster land, being offered by the government at Rs100 to Rs150 per sq ft, is in much demand from traders and manufacturers. Roads leading to areas like Sarafa and Rajwada, where most of the

Apparel exports are expected to be flat at $14 billion in 2012—13 due to demand slowdown in western markets, says AEPC. India’s apparel exports are expected to be flat at $14 billion in 2012—13 as there is a slowdown in demand in markets like the US and Europe . “Garment exports stood at about $14 billion in 2011—12. At the end of this fiscal, I think garment exports will arrive at the same figure as that of last year due to demand slowdown in western markets,” Apparel Export Promotion C

The Myanmar Garment Entrepreneurs Association has said that some local garment enterprises are changing their business tactics to appeal to foreign investors. Dr. Aung Win, vice chairman of the association said, “Over the past month, 10 or 15 locally-run garment enterprises have been developing their business tactics to appeal to foreign investment. We should welcome this kind of thing.” Local garment entrepreneurs have told Mizzima that hundreds of foreign garment enterprises have been attra

Arabian Gulf investors are pouring billions of dollars into petrochemicals in South East Asia as they chase new consumers outside a flagging China. Thanks to bumper years of high oil prices that buoyed oil and petrochemical revenues, companies from Abu Dhabi to Qatar have a pile of cash to spend in countries with growing populations and low labour costs. This week Qatar Holding announced it would invest up to US$5 billion (Dh18.36bn) in a Malaysian petrochemicals complex to rival Singapore’s i

Asian ethylene prices remained unchanged as market participants in both Northeast and Southeast Asia were absent from the market for the Lunar New Year holidays. In Europe, ethylene prices moved up as feedstock levels remained elevated. US spot ethylene was down as most participants described markets as uneventful and quiet. Asian paraxylene prices rose posting a US$3 day on day gain supported by firm buying interest for March. In Europe, paraxylene prices climbed US$3 day on day tracking the As

Prices of benzene declined across markets in Asia, Europe and US. Asian benzene was down tracking similar movements in the US market while the US March benzene prices slipped for the third consecutive day of trade. US spot benzene fell amid weakening European benzene levels and a producer heard selling product. The softening of benzene prices softened across markets eased cost pressure on downstream caprolactum market in Asia. The markets were also thin on the first day after the Spring Festiv

Propylene prices in Asia remained flat in China and Taiwan as the markets were shut for holidays, but rose in other regions as traders took long positions. In US spot propylene was down in turbulent markets which pulled down by lower PGP bids. In Europe, propylene prices were up tracking Asian markets. With propylene prices hitting a 9-month high, Asian acrylonitrile prices moved upwards in Far East while markets in China were still to warm up as players were yet to fully return with domestic

Asian viscose staple fibre markets were largely covered by the holiday sentiment after the Lunar New Year. The first day saw VSF offers stabilized to firm, with some producers pushing offers up in a quiet market. Some producers focused on the delivery of orders placed before the holiday. VSF markets in India and Pakistan were calm and prices rolled over. As China resumed back to business, there were no concrete offers from viscose filament yarn makers on the first day. Offers are likely to be