Use jute geo-textile to pull back deteriorating sector

The International Jute Study Group (IJSG), in a bid to increase the usage of jute, is emphasizing on application of jute geo-textile in construction of roads, highways and to prevent soil erosion.

India has been using geo-textile successfully for quite some time now. Thus the demand of jute in India has increased by manifolds. Observing this opportunity Mr Sudripta Roy, Secretary General, IJSG, recommended the Government of Bangladesh to introduce the same.

In an exclusive interview with Fibre2fashion, Mr Sudripta Roy stated, “The jute fibre is used as a layer which is porous. This allows water to pass as a separator. After decomposition it acts as glue to allow stabilization. The durability of geo-textile layers in the construction of roads and highways is similar to the fully concrete made roads and highways.

“The use of jute geo-textiles for construction of road, riverbank protection and soil conservation is already being used as pilot projects in India by Jute Manufacturers Development Council (JMDC) in six states of India, Specialized mills on geo-textiles such as Cheviot and Gloster in Kolkata manufachzrel soil saver and non wovens. The material acts as a separator and later as binder. This is better than synthetics as it is non toxic.”

Presently, the jute industry of Bangladesh is passing through a rough phase. Although, the country produces jute in abundance, farmers are not getting their proper due. According to Mr Roy, if Government approves this proposal, it is definitely going to have a positive effect on the production of jute and in turn, poor producers will get fair prices as they will be able to sell these, in bulk amount directly.

source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com /news/association-news/ijsg/newsdetails.aspx?News_id=55830

Cotton market struggles to find direction

Cotton has been trading sideways the last several sessions as the market is struggling to find direction. The grains are also bouncing back and forth in a narrow range and giving little direction to cotton at the moment. Export sales are coming out tomorrow and we are not expecting them to reach last week’s record levels.

Good rain in West Texas has softened the market response to the good sales nearby as well as the lack of strength in grains. However, with oil prices hitting new record highs everyday, the trend is still alive for spec money to stay invested in commodities instead of jumping back 100% into stocks.

The USDA S&D report may help break this market out of the current trading pattern as we have been unable to break the trading range set a week ago on April 30th and continue to see little change in open interest.

Inquiries are slowing down as mills seem to be comfortable with the amount of cotton they have committed and we are still trying to get a handle on global consumption with several reports describing a very bearish textile mill picture. Economic growth is under pressure and the mills are struggling with the lack of demand.

NYF cotton prices are overall holding up well considering the bearish fundamentals. More rain has been seen in West Texas, which is a friendly news for the planting season.

Technically, we broke the strong support line at 70 cents in N’08 last week, but have closed above this level two days in a row. The cotton market feels like we are trying to put in a short term low near 69 cents as we have had four continuous inside trading days.

However, the 69 cent level has proved to be a strong support yet again. We are likely to trade sideways and in sync with outside commodities for the nearby trading sessions.


source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com /news/company-news/ecomusa-inc/newsdetails.aspx?News_id=55775

SBP pleads Govt to review textile R&D investment policy

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Shamshad Akhtar has informed the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet that the textile industry was grossly misusing the Research and Development (R&D) fund, and the government should review its policy of investing billions of rupees for protecting this inefficient sector of the economy.

In an exclusive interview with Fibre2fashion, Mr Athar Ahmed, Deputy Secretary General of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry stated, “While giving a report to the ECC on textile industry’s performance during first 9 months of the current fiscal year in its last meeting, Dr Akhtar said that the government had provided the textile industry Rs40 billion up to April 15 for R&D with a view to help it compete in the global market, and get more export share for the country. But its performance remained dismal during this period.”

Ms Shamshad presented Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) with figures on exports, indicating over 3 percent negative growth, in support of her claim. The report indicated that Pakistan textile exports dipped by 3.14 percent in nine months to US $7.765 billion from $8.017 billion than the same period of last year. Such a huge drop in textile exports resulted in serious repercussion on balance of payments as this sector traditionally contributes about 67 percent to total exports.

Previously, the textile industry was enjoying refund and rebate facility on exports. However, this policy was discontinued in 2006-07 on reports that a number of inefficient textile units were getting huge fake refunds, misusing the facility.

source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com /news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?News_id=55759

Taskforce provides updates on mulesing phase out

Don Hamblin, Chairman of the Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce Operations Group, has presented at a major international wool industry conference in Beijing on Australia’s progress towards the 2010 phase out of mulesing.

“The progress of the Australian wool industry towards the phase out of mulesing is understandably high on this year’s agenda,” said Mr Hamblin.

“The eyes of the world’s wool industry are very much upon Australia and how we are progressing with alternatives to mulesing. There is a lot at stake for everyone in the wool pipeline, not only Australian woolgrowers.”

Mr Hamblin represented the Taskforce at the 2008 International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO), an annual event hosting key players in the international wool pipeline. Attendees included everyone from woolgrowers to those involved in processing and retail.

Mr Hamblin also briefed attendees on the highly anticipated wool identification system, due out later this year.

“Without doubt the item of most interest was the new National woolgrower declaration system that has been put in place by the Australian industry from 1 July this year, which will allow growers to identify the mulesing status of their wool. Growers will be able to declare either that they have ceased mulesing on their property or that their wool is from sheep that were not mulesed,” said Mr Hamblin.

“This information will be recorded in sale catalogues and transmitted electronically to buyers. This major step was very well received by the international community and will be very significant in helping them to keep processing and selling woollen apparel.”


source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com /news/company-news/wool-is-best/newsdetails.aspx?News_id=55768

BÖNNIGHEIM Microcapsules, from textiles to skin

BÖNNIGHEIM (ri) Microcapsules play a vital role in drug delivery systems designed to transfer substances from textiles on to and into the skin.

If textiles equipped in this way are to be of practical use in medicine and cosmetics, the key criteria are the continuity and controllability of the substance release.

This is why scientists from the Institute of Hygiene and Biotechnology (IHB) at the international Textile Research Centre of the Hohenstein Institutes in Bönnigheim have carried out a research project (AiF No. 14708N_1) in which they investigated various microcapsule depot structures with regard to their mechanical strength, their capacity to release substances and their resistance to washing.

The Hohenstein specialists evaluated not only the properties of various casing materials but also current methods of applying microcapsules to textile bases such as cotton and polyester.

In order to be able to judge how effectively the substances were released and transferred to the skin, the team led by Dr. Dirk Höfer established a new kind of test method and then evaluated the results, including the effect of different climatic conditions, using specific verification methods.

The resistance of the microcapsule devices to washing was also studied after washing once and more than once in accordance with the EN ISO 6330 standard.

The parameters that were studied were fed into an evaluation matrix to assess the effectiveness of the different microcapsule systems and methods of application.

source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com news/textiles-association-organization-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=55829