WASHINGTON — December 9, 2019 — Volume at the nation’s major container ports bumped up significantly in November as retailers imported merchandise ahead of new tariffs set to take effect this month, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“At this point, holiday merchandise is already in the country, so the direct impact of new tariffs won’t be seen until the season is over,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Nonetheless, tariffs are bad for both consumer and business confidence, and we hope that the December tariffs will be canceled or postponed as a sign of good faith. We need a deal with China as soon as possible so we can bring an end to the trade war that has put a drag on the U.S. economy for far too long.”

President Trump announced a tentative agreement on a partial trade deal with China in October, but the measure has yet to be finalized and a new round of tariffs on consumer goods is still scheduled to take effect December 15.

“The U.S. consumer has shrugged off the slowdown in the economy,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said. “Even though growth has slowed, low unemployment and higher wages have helped bolster purchases and, thereby, imports for consumer goods.”

Nonetheless, the trade war is “one of the factors that is impacting our forward-looking models as we continue to show slower long-term growth in import volumes,”  Hackett said.

U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 1.88 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units in October, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available. That was up 0.6 percent from September but down 7.5 percent from the all-time monthly record of 2 million TEU in October 2018. TEU is one 20-foot-long cargo container or its equivalent.

November jumped to an estimated at 1.95 million TEU, up 8 percent year-over-year as retailers frontloaded imports ahead of this month’s scheduled tariffs. That was the highest number since 1.97 million TEU in August, when retailers did the same ahead of tariffs that took effect in September. December is expected to drop to 1.79 million TEU both because of the new tariffs and the usual falloff in imports as the holiday season winds down. The projected December number is down 8.9 percent from high numbers seen a year ago during a similar pattern of bringing in merchandise ahead of new tariffs.

The first half of 2019 totaled 10.5 million TEU, up 2.1 percent over the first half of 2018, and 2019 is expected to see a new annual record of 21.9 million TEU. That would be up 0.8 percent from last year’s previous record of 21.8 million TEU.

January 2020 is forecast at 1.87 million TEU, down 1.2 percent from January 2019. February – traditionally the slowest month of the year because of Lunar New Year factory shutdowns in Asia – is forecast at 1.62 million TEU, down 0.3 percent from a year ago. March is forecast at 1.76 million TEU, up an unusually high 9.2 percent because of fluctuations in the Lunar New Year calendar, while April is forecast at 1.84 million TEU, up 5.6 percent year-over-year.

Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast.

Posted December 9, 2019

Source: The National Retail Federation (NRF)

OBERTSHAUSEN, Germany — December 6, 2019 — November 14-15, 2019, KARL MAYER ROTAL expanded its denim centre of excellence with an in-house show for its customers and celebrated at the same time the 50th anniversary of its birth. There is now a brand new competence centre featuring a GREENDYE pilot installation, academy, show room and meeting rooms in an area covering 500 square meters.

The expansion offers customers new opportunities to make their production more efficient and sustainable, as demonstrated by an event program that included a factory tour, machinery show and specialist presentations.

Around 34 representatives from international customers accepted the invitation to Mezzolombardo. The guests were particularly impressed by the 13-meter-long pilot installation. The equipment is used to simulate the environmentally friendly and efficient nitrogen dyeing technology in real-life conditions on a scale of 1:10.

In addition, KARL MAYER ROTAL stands out thanks to its comprehensive service. “The customers can come to us with their yarn. We dye and warp it, and working with our Italian partners, we then turn it into woven fabrics that are comparable with previous products. Many guests were I was even able to discuss some specific projects,” said Stefano Agazzi, chief of Technology and Products, when summarizing the event’s success.

Posted December 6, 2019

Source: KARL MAYER Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH

DHAKA, Bangladesh — December 6, 2019 — M&J Group comes back at the Denim Première Vison London (3-4 December) marking a positive end of the 2019, with new objectives for the future. The leading facility of the Group has affirmed itself as one of the most reliable international garment manufacturer, especially in denim market, and now it is time for another leap forward. The aim is to target more in depth the high fashion denim market in Europe with renowned proposals towards a more authentic, comfortable and sustainable denim offer.

The first output to underline the new approach is the high-end capsule collection realized in collaboration with PG DENIM, that premiered at the show.
A collection where the great industrial experience and quality in garment manufacturing of GENESIS meets, in a perfect and inspiring contamination, the 100% Italian artisanal craft and unique interpretation of PG DENIM fabrics. A complete co-branding that has given life to unique garments with dedicated tags and hangtags, to show a fashionable, sustainable and high-quality final output, entirely produced in Bangladesh. The perfect meeting to provide a great example of how this collaborative path with European top-quality player could lead to a new positioning for the company.

The improvements achieved by GENESIS are enhanced also in the s/s 2021 collection with new trends involving eco-conscious fabrics such as organic cotton, recycled fabric and polymer, realizing blends with natural fibers like hemp & linen while working also with a wide variety of biodegradable materials. Technical fibers are also on the spotlight with an increasing importance gained by proofed lightweights such as waterproof. Moods like hyper blue, natural cotton colors, flat bright indigo mid shades or urban grey and reactive layers dominates the feeling of the new collection. In terms of looks and treatments the collection has developed several unique interpretations such as engineered garments, digital laser patterns, wester silhouettes, workwear, soft dyes, contemporary stripes, dirty green cast and eco-acid wash. A kaleidoscopic collection where technology and tradition meet one unique big trend: more sustainable than ever.

The Social Responsibility Program of GENESIS: the other side of quality garment manufacturing.

One of the other recent developments of GENESIS: M&J Group is represented by the implemented Social Responsibility Program, a project undertaken in order to improve the living and working quality for all concerns by trying to achieve always higher standards. As an essential part of the company’s core values the main goal is to help people ameliorating living and work quality. Nevertheless, providing a competitive advantage of corporate reliability based on social and ethical behaviors. This program now includes several key-services such as Digital Payment, to facilitate financial empowerment of workers through a dedicated transparent mobile banking service for all employees. The Subsidized Shop in another key-activity to ensure authenticated and hygienic product directly from the mills at a very affordable price for all workers. Moreover, a Mini Fire Station in GENESIS Campus is on the go to, realized in collaboration with GIZ and Fire Service, Civil Defense of Bangladesh, to provide a point or reliability for the whole local community during emergency situations. The program is completed by a series of other services like the inside factory Medical Service, a half-yearly Free Medical Campaign, the Child Care facility, the HERhealthTM Project, the Khokon Memorial Hospital (established through GENESIS:M&J Group initiative), Sunflower USAID, Accord Certification, a dedicated hospital agreement, Khokon Charitable Foundation and the institution of an Elected Worker’s Participation Committee.

A unique panel of activities, completed by various programs like innovation award or best employee award, to provide a business model that can be an authentic inspiration for everyone in the business. Being aware that a true social responsible approach not only leads to better work and living conditions, but that is also a strategic improvement to provide all-round quality services. A constants strive towards excellence that represent the key to provide a successful proposal for modern consumers’ needs.

Posted December 6, 2019

Source: GENESIS: M&J GROUP