India yesterday announced that it would raise the quota on apparel exports from Sri Lanka under duty free concessions from five million pieces to eight million, while textile exports to India would be slapped a lower 5 percent duty from the earlier 11 percent. India also doubled the validity period for sanitary import permits for processed meat products from 6 months to one year. "During the visit of Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles, Government of India to Sri Lanka

The ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh continues to upset the country's garment sector as buyers are now arranging to meet apparel makers in India or China, to avoid the turbulences in Dhaka. Many buyers have already suspended trips to Bangladesh, and some have even expressed their intention to purchase garments from other countries at higher prices due to the uncertainties in Bangladesh. If the situation worsens further, it will be difficult to achieve the export target of US $21.53 bln a

Chinese fashion label Exception is leading an unexpected surge in interest in domestic fashion brands after Peng Liyuan was spotted wearing the label during a four-nation state visit with President Xi Jinping, also her husband. Footage of Peng stepping off a plane wearing a double-breasted black coat and carrying a leather handbag quickly went viral online, with Peng winning praise for her elegance and fashion sense. "Her handbag will become a hot item!" said "shishangbozhu-YY" on Sina Wei

China, the world's top cotton consumer, will increase sales from state reserves of the fibre from April, in a bid to boost dwindling domestic supply, a government official said in a speech published Wednesday. To help meet demand from textile mills, Beijing will step up sales from its bulging reserves, particularly of high-quality cotton, beginning in April, Li Yan of the country's top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, told a meeting on Tuesday, but gave no furth

Textil Only Star SAC, which has recently added a major dyeshop to its production line, has now invested in a Monforts Toptex 8000 Twin Shrink as the company becomes a vertical producer. Textil Only Star, one of Peru's top knitting producers and which has this year added a major dyeshop, has newly installed a Monforts Toptex 8000 Twin Shrink at its factory in Lima as part of a strategy to turn the company into a vertically integrated producer. The Toptex was ordered through Monforts' Peruvian

The state government on Tuesday launched a special package for weavers, artisans and silk farmers of the state at Aska, about 40 km from here. Chief minister NaveenPatnaik had announced the package on January 8. Under the special package, the government would bear the insurance premiums of the beneficiaries under the health insurance scheme and Mahatma Gandhi Bunakar Bima Yojana (MGBBY), provide Rs 45,000 to weavers in three phases for construction of work sheds and solar lantern to each family

Bangladesh's clothing exports to India is facing a serious setback as about two dozens local garment factories have failed to secure payment of nearly $5 million from an Indian buyer Liliput Kidswear Ltd, exporters said. They feared they would default on bank loans and would not be able to pay workers' wages, which might trigger labour unrest in their factories only because of the non-payment by the Indian company. This issue, according to sources, has put a break to the tempo in RMG exports

Business is slow at apparel factories as the political turmoil discourages buyers from visiting Dhaka and placing orders with local manufacturers. Photo: Amran Hossain The ongoing political unrest continues to upset the garment sector as buyers now call apparel makers to go and meet them in India or China, to avoid the turbulences in Dhaka. Many buyers have already suspended trips to Bangladesh although, in usual situation, they come to Dhaka, visit factories and place orders. Some buye

Chinese sportswear producer Li Ning Co announced Tuesday a huge loss for 2012, its first year in the red since it was listed in Hong Kong in 2004, amid a sluggish domestic economy and an industry downturn. The company said in an annual report that it suffered a 1.98 billion yuan ($318.8 million) loss in 2012, compared with a profit of 386 million yuan in 2011. Its stock price dropped 4.09 percent Tuesday to HK$4.46 ($0.57) following the news. The sportswear firm attributed the greater-than-

Workers at China-Tanzania Modern Agricultural Industrial Park. The park exports approximately 80,000 tons of cotton yarn each year. [Photo/ China Daily] Chinese firm sows seeds of success with Tanzania park Tanzania's cotton industry reaped in $81.52 million in exports last year. It employs nearly 16 million people in a nation of 45 million. It provides around 13 percent of the country's agricultural exports, second only to coffee. Still, the country's cotton farmers are suffering bec