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Showing posts from November 25, 2008

The Global Clothing Market

25 November 2008 - China is increasingly dependent on US and EU clothing markets which still account for 64% of the gobal apparel trade, according to historical data from the WTO which are available for download. China's share of the global market surged since 2000 while although exports sharply increased from Vietnam, Turkey and Bangladesh. EU's clothing exports are far from negligible, by contrast with U.S. apparel exports, as reflected by our series of statistical tables.

China's Apparel Prices in 2000-2007: US Market

25 November 2008 - Chinese apparel prices dramatically fell in the past seven years on the US import market. The limits reimposed in 2005 however resulted in a rebound in prices in most important categories, forcing Chinese exporters in shifting to quality products. In already "freed categories" by contrast, Chinese prices continued falling to lower levels in 2005-07, as reflected by our series of statistical tables, a trend which may now threaten China's competitiveness on the US market.

PSF Prices stopped falling in China

25 November 2008 - Polyester staple fiber prices stopped falling in the last seven days in China while filament prices continued however declining. The stabilization in PTA and MEG prices may explain that PSF prices were similarly unchanged. Lower demand from the textile industry continues affecting the polyester market, however.

Cotton Prices May Have Reached A Bottom

24 November 2008 - Cotton prices may have reached a temporary bottom in New York, somewhere below 40 cents per pound, after the dramatic fall experienced in the last two months. Attention is now focusing on domestic markets in China and India where governments started officially supporting cotton prices. New Delhi would also be on the brink of subsidizing its textile industry by offering access to low-priced cotton and developing export rebates.

Polyester Intermediate Market Prices in Asia

24 November 2008 - Polyester intermediate prices stabilized in the last seven days with PTA even slightly rising in Asia for the first time in weeks. Crude oil and paraxylene prices significantly fell in the past week, however. A drastic decrease in PTA and MEG output may explain the price stabilization, although producers may find it difficult to resist another round of declines in their raw material costs.