Following a fall in growth of Indian leather exports in 2009, the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) said the market started to grow again from October 2009.
"Though exports increased towards the end of 2009 we expect the export turnover to reduce by 10% for 2009", said Habib Hussain, chairman, CLE. Despite the fall, the Indian leather industry should recover in 2010. An industry insider said India has been stealing market share from China and Turkey over the last few years.
Indian tanneries produce around 2 billion square feet of leather per annum (10% of the world total) with major tanning clusters in Chennai, Ambur, Ranipet, Kolkata, Kanpur and Jalandhar. India is home to 2091 tanneries (45% in Tamil Nadu, 26% in West Bengal and 18% in Uttar Pradesh.
Following a fall in growth of Indian leather exports in 2009, the Council for Leather Exports (CLE) said the market started to grow again from October 2009.
"Though exports increased towards the end of 2009 we expect the export turnover to reduce by 10% for 2009", said Habib Hussain, chairman, CLE. Despite the fall, the Indian leather industry should recover in 2010. An industry insider said India has been stealing market share from China and Turkey over the last few years.
Indian tanneries produce around 2 billion square feet of leather per annum (10% of the world total) with major tanning clusters in Chennai, Ambur, Ranipet, Kolkata, Kanpur and Jalandhar. India is home to 2091 tanneries (45% in Tamil Nadu, 26% in West Bengal and 18% in Uttar Pradesh.
With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are careful.
First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.
One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!
Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.
Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!
Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.
Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!
With all of the potential for scams concerning diamonds, buying diamonds online almost seems unthinkable! However, you actually can purchase diamonds online, without any problems – as long as you are careful.
First, think about your reasons for wanting to purchase the diamond online, as opposed to making a purchase from a local jewelry store. The most common reason is price. Due to low overhead costs, online jewelers and wholesalers are able to offer lower prices. However, you must be careful – sometimes a price that is too low is a sure indication of a scam.
One of the best things about purchasing online is the unlimited selection. When shopping offline, you are limited to the selection in the stores in your general area. Online, there are no limits. But again, you must use a great deal of care and consideration before handing your money over to someone that you cannot see and have never met!
Before shopping, learn as much as you can about diamonds – especially cut, color, clarity and carat weights. When you are knowledgeable about diamonds, it will be harder for a con artist to rip you off. Once you know more about diamonds, you will be ready to start shopping.
Take your time. Don’t purchase the first diamond that you see that interests you. Instead, look for similar diamonds for sale. Do some comparison shopping to find the lowest prices. Once you have found the lowest price, start doing your investigation. You know about diamonds, you’ve found a diamond that you love, and you’ve found the lowest price – but you are still quite a ways away from actually purchasing that diamond!
Ask about the seller’s credentials, such as professional jewelry associations that they belong to. View and print the seller’s return, refund, and upgrade policies. Also inquire about additional services, such as settings and mountings, sizing, and free shipping. Do a search for customer reviews on this particular company around the Internet. Also check with the BBB Online to see if there have been any complaints.
Ask for a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory such as GIA, HRD, EGL or AGS. You should see this before making a purchase. Finally, use a reputable escrow service for high dollar diamonds – preferably one that will have the diamond appraised while it is in their possession. The seller sends the diamond to the escrow service, and you send the money to pay for the diamond to the escrow service. The escrow service has the diamond appraised, sends the diamond to you, and sends the money to the seller. This is the surest way to protect yourself…again, make sure that you use a reputable escrow service!
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Thailand will host its 33rd Gemstone Gathering on Feb. 24. Richard W. Wise, a graduate gemologist and president of R.W. Wise, Goldsmiths, Inc., will share his experiences as a gem explorer and author.
Wise, who began his career as a goldsmith, has traveled from the ruby mines of upper Burma to the Australian outback and the Brazilian hinterland to the black pearl farms of Tahiti, in search of rare and beautiful gemstones. He has interviewed some of the world’s foremost gemstone experts and received entrée to many private collections. Wise recently completed his first novel, “The French Blue,” based on the life of 17th century gem dealer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier.
In his Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones, he presents a variation of the classic Four Cs applied to grading diamonds, which he calls “The Four Cs of Connoisseurship” or the four factors for quality grading colored gemstones and pearls. He will discuss the history and use of these four factors as they relate to grading ruby and sapphire.
The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Pacific Rooms 1-3 of the Pan Pacific Bangkok Hotel, on 952 Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10500. Light refreshments will be served.
Attendees will be eligible to enter a drawing to win an autographed copy of The French Blue.
The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Thailand will host its 33rd Gemstone Gathering on Feb. 24. Richard W. Wise, a graduate gemologist and president of R.W. Wise, Goldsmiths, Inc., will share his experiences as a gem explorer and author.
Wise, who began his career as a goldsmith, has traveled from the ruby mines of upper Burma to the Australian outback and the Brazilian hinterland to the black pearl farms of Tahiti, in search of rare and beautiful gemstones. He has interviewed some of the world’s foremost gemstone experts and received entrée to many private collections. Wise recently completed his first novel, “The French Blue,” based on the life of 17th century gem dealer Jean-Baptiste Tavernier.
In his Secrets of the Gem Trade: The Connoisseur's Guide to Precious Gemstones, he presents a variation of the classic Four Cs applied to grading diamonds, which he calls “The Four Cs of Connoisseurship” or the four factors for quality grading colored gemstones and pearls. He will discuss the history and use of these four factors as they relate to grading ruby and sapphire.
The event begins at 6 p.m. in the Pacific Rooms 1-3 of the Pan Pacific Bangkok Hotel, on 952 Rama IV Road, Bangkok 10500. Light refreshments will be served.
Attendees will be eligible to enter a drawing to win an autographed copy of The French Blue.
Crowley Maritime Corporation, working under contract with the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), successfully discharged 202 20-foot containers of relief supplies across a beach in Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday marking the largest post-disaster lightering operation to date. This successful, larger scale operation follows a trial shipment of 12 containers last week.
In addition to the two sailings of the Marcajama directly into Port-au-Prince, the ship also made a call in Rio Haina as did the Crowley Americas. Both ships discharged relief cargo into Rio Haina, which was then trucked to Port-au-Prince. Combined, these three sailings have resulted in 462 containers of relief cargo to the area.
Much like the first discharge, this most recent lightering operation involved lifting containers from the 820-TEU Marcajama, a Crowley container ship anchored in the harbor, to two smaller, shallow-draft landing vessels for transport and discharge over the beach to Port-au-Prince.
"This second, much larger shipment is a culmination of a lot of teamwork and professionalism from various members of the Crowley team," said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Latin America services. "With every voyage we are able to make, we bring much needed supplies to the people of Haiti allowing them to begin the process of rebuilding their lives, their country and eventually re-establish commerce."
Following the discharge, the Marcajama is enroute back to Florida where she will once again load cargo and return to Port-au-Prince under contract with USTRANSCOM. The ship is scheduled to make a return trip to Port-au-Prince in the middle of next week.
To continue to improve upon the temporary cargo operations, Crowley is mobilizing two 400-foot-long, 100-foot-wide flat deck barges, along with two Manitowoc 230-ton crawler cranes in the United States for USTRANSCOM that will be brought into Port-au-Prince to serve as a makeshift dock for future cargo operations. The first barge and crane departing Orange, Texas should arrive in Haiti on or about Feb. 4. The second barge is being outfitted in Lake Charles, La. and should arrive by mid-Feb.
Relief cargoes continue to be consolidated and stuffed into containers at Crowley's Miami warehouse and distribution center. Crowley's Jacksonville, Fla, warehouse and distribution center also stands ready should the need arise to have cargo consolidated in the northeast Florida area.
"Our Miami warehouse team has worked around the clock to meet the warehousing and distribution needs of USTRANSCOM," said Steve Collar, senior vice president and general manager, logistics. "The transfer of loads from trucks to oceangoing containers upon arrival at the warehouse is an essential component to ensuring the loads are ready for sailing on time."
While Crowley has suspended its regularly scheduled commercial cargo services to and from Haiti, a Crowley customer service group has been formed to answer questions and assist the shipping public interested in getting relief goods into Haiti. All inquiries should be made to 1-800-490-3321, or HaitiReliefCargo@crowley.com. Due to the unstable situation in the country, no relief cargo bookings will be accepted without being qualified by this Haiti Team customer service group.
Those wishing to contribute humanitarian supplies to Haiti's relief effort should do so by contacting non-profit organizations such as Food for the Poor or Catholic Relief Services.
Crowley Maritime Corporation, working under contract with the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), successfully discharged 202 20-foot containers of relief supplies across a beach in Port-au-Prince, Haiti yesterday marking the largest post-disaster lightering operation to date. This successful, larger scale operation follows a trial shipment of 12 containers last week.
In addition to the two sailings of the Marcajama directly into Port-au-Prince, the ship also made a call in Rio Haina as did the Crowley Americas. Both ships discharged relief cargo into Rio Haina, which was then trucked to Port-au-Prince. Combined, these three sailings have resulted in 462 containers of relief cargo to the area.
Much like the first discharge, this most recent lightering operation involved lifting containers from the 820-TEU Marcajama, a Crowley container ship anchored in the harbor, to two smaller, shallow-draft landing vessels for transport and discharge over the beach to Port-au-Prince.
"This second, much larger shipment is a culmination of a lot of teamwork and professionalism from various members of the Crowley team," said John Hourihan, senior vice president and general manager, Latin America services. "With every voyage we are able to make, we bring much needed supplies to the people of Haiti allowing them to begin the process of rebuilding their lives, their country and eventually re-establish commerce."
Following the discharge, the Marcajama is enroute back to Florida where she will once again load cargo and return to Port-au-Prince under contract with USTRANSCOM. The ship is scheduled to make a return trip to Port-au-Prince in the middle of next week.
To continue to improve upon the temporary cargo operations, Crowley is mobilizing two 400-foot-long, 100-foot-wide flat deck barges, along with two Manitowoc 230-ton crawler cranes in the United States for USTRANSCOM that will be brought into Port-au-Prince to serve as a makeshift dock for future cargo operations. The first barge and crane departing Orange, Texas should arrive in Haiti on or about Feb. 4. The second barge is being outfitted in Lake Charles, La. and should arrive by mid-Feb.
Relief cargoes continue to be consolidated and stuffed into containers at Crowley's Miami warehouse and distribution center. Crowley's Jacksonville, Fla, warehouse and distribution center also stands ready should the need arise to have cargo consolidated in the northeast Florida area.
"Our Miami warehouse team has worked around the clock to meet the warehousing and distribution needs of USTRANSCOM," said Steve Collar, senior vice president and general manager, logistics. "The transfer of loads from trucks to oceangoing containers upon arrival at the warehouse is an essential component to ensuring the loads are ready for sailing on time."
While Crowley has suspended its regularly scheduled commercial cargo services to and from Haiti, a Crowley customer service group has been formed to answer questions and assist the shipping public interested in getting relief goods into Haiti. All inquiries should be made to 1-800-490-3321, or HaitiReliefCargo@crowley.com. Due to the unstable situation in the country, no relief cargo bookings will be accepted without being qualified by this Haiti Team customer service group.
Those wishing to contribute humanitarian supplies to Haiti's relief effort should do so by contacting non-profit organizations such as Food for the Poor or Catholic Relief Services.
Company Name: VIA METRO/MONAMEL Address: 201 E 12 STLos Angeles CA 90015-2532 Country: USA Tel: 213/749-1819 Fax: 213/749-2191 Contact Person: Fred Shabani Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: MOTHER PLUCKER FEATHER CO Address: 2511 W. 3rd ST., Los Angeles CA 90057 Country: USA Tel: 213/637-0411 Fax: 213/637-0417 Contact Person: Willie Zelowitz Web: www.motherplucker.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: N-FINI PLAYWEAR Address: 3069 Anderson Snow Rd. , # 121, Spring Hill FL 34609 Country: USA Tel: 800/395-6896 Fax: 800/395-6896 Contact Person: Robert Cooper Web: www.n-finiplaywear.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: MONIQUE ENCHANTE Address: 2165 S. Grand Ave, Santa Ana CA 92705 Country: USA Tel: 714/540-7808 Fax: 714/540-7809 Contact Person: Kathy Bailey Web: www.monique-enchante.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: TIA LYN LINGERIE Address: 244 Fifth AvenueNew York NY 53716 Country: USA Tel: 212/591-1336 Fax: 212/591-6326 Contact Person: Tia Lyn Web: www.tialynlingerie.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: THE SCREAMING O Address: 1206 W. Jon St.Torrane CA 90502 Country: USA Tel: 310/446-1632 Fax: 310/943-1956 Contact Person: Keith Caggiano Web: www.thescreamingo.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: X- GEN Address: 1 Pearl Buck CourtBristol PA 19007 Country: USA Tel: 877/450-9436 Fax: 215/689-4202 Contact Person: Andy Green Web: www.egenproducts.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: VS INTERNATIONAL Address: 8362 Rextown RoadSlatington PA 18080 Country: USA Tel: 610/767-0150 Fax: 610/767-0395 Contact Person: Charles Fleischmann Web: www.onlinevsi.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: TOP ROCK/PRIVATE DANCER Address: 23938 Craftsman RDCalabasas CA 91302 Country: USA Tel: 818/222-9966 Fax: 818/222-9967 Contact Person: Donald Kingston Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: MAIN DEAL/ MADAM D FASHION Address: 1326 S. Main St. #2, Los Angeles CA 90015 Country: USA Tel: 213/749-0379 Fax: 213/749-0380 Contact Person: Dee Eden Web: www.maindealapparel.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Company Name: MINOR CREATIONS Address: 693 W Grand River, Okemos MI 48864 Country: USA Tel: 517/347-2900 Fax: 517/349-5745 Contact Person: Steve Carpenter Web: www.minorcreations.com Products: Ladies Undergarments, Lingerie
Proile: Founded in 1991, China National Garment Association (CNGA) is a self-disciplining, nonprofit and nationwide intermediary organization of China’s garment industry. In line with the principle of promoting the development of China’s garment industry, CNGA provides garment-related services for government, industry and society.
Secretariat comprises Administration Department, Membership Department, Industry Department, Information Department, Exhibition Department, Liaison Department and Training & Co-ordinating Department. Additionally there are eight commissions, namely, Men’s Wear, Women’s Wear, Children’s Wear, Downwear and Related Products, Casual Wear, Accessories, Garment Auxiliary Material and Underwear. Other special entities like National Apparel Standardization Technical Committee, Research Institute of Industrial Economy and Beijing Fashion-Expo Co., Ltd. are also set up.
CNGA has over 1400 major members, which cover most of original apparel brands in China. Furthermore well-known apparel cities and townships in China are also appointed as Director Unit and drive the development of industry bases together with CNGA. CNGA’s service has covered thousands of companies.
CNGA takes on boosting the industry as its responsibility and commits itself to industrial structure adjustment and innovative growth pattern. On the basis of incubating, assisting and promoting China’s original apparel brands, CNGA enhances the communication and coordination with upstream and downstream industries, enterprises and governments, accelerates cooperation with international institutes and strives to create a favorable atmosphere for the development of Chinese apparel enterprises.
Profile: Industry Background The apparel and textile industry represent nearly 25% of Bulgaria’s foreign exports. The value of these exports exceeded 1.8 billion Euros in 2004. There are over 2,000 companies that specialize in the production of apparel in Bulgaria. Bulgaria boasts a tradition of high quality, reliability and competitive prices.
Presently, Bulgaria is Europe’s most resilient market for the production of apparel. For the first six months of 2005, when compared to the same period one year earlier, only China and India posted higher rates of growth in the value of apparel exports (measured in Euros), ranking Bulgaria 3rd in the world and first in Europe. During this same period, production of clothing from the EU-25 was down 9.3% from the same period just one year earlier. These trends demonstrate that Bulgaria is the least affected market in Europe by the abolishment of import quotas from Asian markets, which took effect at the start of 2005.
7-2, East Tower, World Trade Centre, Echelon Square, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka Phone: 94 11 2 346 370 Fax: 94 11 2 346 376 E-mail: 200gfp@garments.lk Website: www.garments.lk Category: Readymade Garments, Apparels
Profile: The APPAREL EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION 200 GFP was established in 1993, and its membership comprises of enterprises, partnerships, sole proprietorships & limited liability companies, carrying on the business of manufacturing and exporting of garments from Sri Lanka.
The Primary Objectives of the Association, concisely, are as follows The promotion, fostering & protection of the rights & privileges of its members. The establishment, maintenance & conduct of a forum to resolve matters & affairs affecting its membership & their rights, particularly in the Garments industry. Representing its members before government departments, institutions & statutory bodies.
The policy of this Association briefly and in a nutshell is to propagate and promote the interests of its members in the Garment trade.
Our regular News Bulletins and circulars relays the latest news to the members and in addition you could reap a whole host of other benefits too by becoming a member of our association by being able to advertise your industry requirements such as buying/selling/renting machinery, finding sub contract export orders etc.
Profile: The Sri Lanka Garment Buying Offices Association was formed in 1993 with the primary objective of promoting and fostering the growth of the Garment Industry in Sri Lanka. The members of the Sri Lanka Garment Buying Offices Association represent international prestigious brand names and are responsible for the generation of approximately 70% of Sri Lanka’s exports of Textiles and Apparels. Our membership represents all major global importers and retailers from the USA, EU, Australia and Japan.
A majority of the Association’s membership has been carrying out operations in Sri Lanka for more than 8 to 13 years marketing the country and its merchandise effectively. The Association is also a strong lobby for the industry.
Profile: The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is the only recognized trade body that represents all the export oriented garment manufacturers and exporters of the country.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is the officially recognized apex apparel export trade body of 4,490 apparel manufacturing units.
The RMG sector earned over US$ 9 billion in 2006. The BGMEA helps to drive commerce by increasing sales of Bangladeshi-produced garments and pursues excellence in the Bangladeshi readymade garments (RMG) sector through its activities and programmers, including establishing and nurturing relationships with foreign buyers, businesses and trade associations, organizations, chambers, and research organizations.
The BGMEA also acts as a pressure group to protect the interests of the RMG sector and acts as a facilitator of trade negotiations with global trade bodies such as the WTO, ILO, and UNCTAD
Small brands that are mushrooming in small cities are now attracting the attention of private players. Brands such as Liverpool Retail India's Barcelona, Vir Retail's John Hill and Nahar Group's Cotton County that sell outfits at less than one-third the price of national brands are opening stores faster than the cautious national brands.
These brands have a price range of Rs150 to 600 and work on low margins and fast stock turnover. Their marketing efforts are mostly localised and they woo new consumers into the organised sector through discounted offers like 'buy one, get three.'
Mr Baqar Naqvi, associate vice-president for retail and consumer goods at Technopak, says: "Several regional brands are challenging the might of big players within the value segment where a significant proportion of Indian demand exists. Many of them will soon grow into national players and capture share from established brands."
Mr Sachin Sahni, vice-president of the Rs 200 crore Cotton County brand which has 600 stores, said: "Franchisees are also keen on partnering the discount model as the scale enables us to take back unsold stock and deploy it in markets where it would sell."
The Chinese government has agreed to end a range of subsidies that help boost sales of Chinese-branded merchandise around the world -- including apparel and textiles -- rather than face a fight with the United States at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The office of US Trade Representative said the deal marks the end of "numerous subsidies we identified as prohibited under WTO rules." The agreement between Washington and Beijing brings to a close legal action begun by the United States at the WTO last December.
In its case, the United States said it had identified more than 90 official measures "providing what appeared to be WTO-inconsistent financial support." These included cash grant rewards for exporting, preferential loans for exporters, research and development funding to develop new products for export, and payments to lower the cost of export credit insurance.
The subsidies, the United States said, were tied to exports, "giving an unfair competitive advantage to Chinese products and denying US manufacturers the chance to compete fairly with them."
Key to the case were three central government initiatives promoting famous Chinese brand merchandise -- the Famous Export Brand initiative, the China World Top Brand initiative and the China Name Brand Products initiative.
But the United States also identified several other subsidy programmes that appeared to benefit Chinese exports -- including textiles -- regardless of whether they were famous brands. US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said: "The termination of the subsidies will level the playing field for American workers in a wide range of manufacturing and export sectors."
Recent years have witnessed a drastic growth in the hosiery, and readymade garment production in the Indian textile sector. However, the textile sector is largely unorganised and dispersed.
Due to this, the industry is suffering from technological obsolescence and sub-sectors need up-to-date machinery for production of fabric, yarn, and ready-made garments, according to fibre2fashion.
India has taken several steps to boost the industrial growth in the textile sector. Initiatives such as Technology Upgradation Funds Scheme (TUFS), Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP), excise and import duty liberalisation of textiles and textile machinery are shots in the arm of the textile industry.
They have not only provided much required fillip for igniting growth but also have leveraged the growth of textile engineering industry which includes manufacture of complete machinery, accessories and parts.
Though the machinery industry is growing in a reasonable speed, some of the sector specific machines still have not been able to match the quality and productivity standards of the world-class machines.
The union ministry for textiles is all set to launch its cluster development scheme across five districts of Uttar Pradesh to impart training to weavers so that they can compete on international platform.
The programme is expected to offer a boost to handloom weavers of the region. Six to eight clusters will be formed in each of the five districts, including Barabanki, Varanasi, Bijnore, Azamgarh and Amroha with each cluster comprising of 300 to 500 weavers.
Designers from leading institutes such as National Institute of Design (NID) will impart training to the weavers to improve designs, while marketing entrepreneurs will offer them knowledge on market trends. This training will start after identifying the clusters, by the ministry’s office of development commissioner for handlooms.
Deputy director (processing) at the office of development commissioner for handlooms A.K. Shukla said that there are more than a dozen districts in the state where various handloom products are weaved.
But products manufactured here don’t witness demand in the international market as the weavers are still recreating old designs without bringing any improvement into it, in spite of having abundant manpower and raw material.
The continuing strike by the dyeing unit owners in Tirupur is giving jitters to the clothing exporting sector in the south India based textile and garment hub. At a time when the order position of most of the garment exporters seems to be improving, this strike could put a spanner in the works and dampen their spirits.
The dyeing units have struck work in support of their demand that the state and the central government share the cost of treating effluents discharged by these units. Dyeing process is a very important process within the value-chain of the textile and clothing sector and a disruption could cause delay in dispatching apparel export orders.
Tirupur is well-known for its cotton knitwear, the orders for which are processed during the current period. If the situation persists, these exporters could lose out on these orders.
There is also a possibility that the production process beginning from knitting could grind to a halt as inventories keep piling up at various stages of the value-chain. Around 600 dyeing and processing units have taken part in the strike, which together provide direct jobs to 50,000 to 60,000 people and indirectly to as many.
The other big worry for these units is that most of the workers have migrated to their home towns. As and when the strike gets over, it will take many more days to normalise operations.
