US benzene market will structurally remain short and given that the derivative markets are weak and inventories rising, with the financial year0end on the horizon and underlying hydrocarbon prices softening, there is a strong case for believing that benzene prices will correct in the short term. In Europe, export prices for caprolactum from East Europe to Asian markets were at US$2,180-2,220 a ton and deals largely concluded at around US$2,200 a ton. This will change as negotiation for November

Cotton prices will hold stable in December, as harvesting is now well under way in the northern hemisphere and the expectation is that global ending stock will be higher than earlier predictions. But there does not appear to be significant pressure on prices. This is to a large extent result of China taking an active role in both its domestic market and as buyer in the international market. Chinese purcheases are also supporting the market for cotton yarn, and spinners throughout Asia report the

Piles of clothes are seen alongside sewing machines in the Tazreen Fashions garment factory, where 112 workers died in a devastating fire last month, in Savar November 30, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Andrew Biraj A factory fire that killed more than 100 garment workers in Bangladesh has led the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc, to concede that it needs to do more to control its supply chain and keep unauthorized manufacturers out, reports Jessica Wohl of Reuters in Chicago, USA.

Christmas shoppers stand to be taken by surprise this month as campaigners take action in shopping centers around Europe to raise awareness of poverty wages of Cambodian garment workers. With these 'fashion mobs', they pressure H&M, Inditex (Zara), Levi’s and Gap to introduce a living wage in Cambodia. Shoppers and brands will be surprised by Christmas street actions and undercover awareness mobs. The fashion mobs take place in at least 10 countries all over Europe, among them Switzerland

Five new measures will be proposed at Friday's meeting of the committee on alleviating the impact of the nationwide Bt300 minimum wage, which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong. The measures include hotel and accommodation fee discounts for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); labour-skills development mobile clinics; an increase in the expense allowance for seminars; and the arrangement of low-priced product caravans for workers at business estab

The federation said it expected up to 100 SMEs to go out of business every year if the government failed to offer any assistance. Thailand’s export of lifestyle products is only expected to increase by 2 per cent this year mainly due to the global economic crisis, which diluted the export value of lifestyle products by 50 per cent. The federation predicts the value of total export of lifestyle products to reach about US$3 billion or between Bt90 billion and Bt100 billion this year. Next year's

Lao silk approaches crisis due to a low number of sericulture-and-mulberry raisers but a high market demand. (KPL) The investment of business sector should take more involvement in mulberry and sericulture cultivation after raisers are going downward. Lao silk comes near crisis when so many local raisers who relying on planting mulberry and producing sericulture have shift to other cultivation of lucrative plants while market demand is high. Head of Mulberry and Sericulture Cultivation

DAK Americas' will increase the price for all Polyester Staple Fiber (PSF) products by $0.04 per pound effective January 1, 2013. This increase is necessary due to the continued upward movement of global raw material costs. DAK is committed to the polyester staple fibers business and will continue to supply quality products, services and innovation to its customers. Source: DAK Americas .

The declining trend in the world cotton prices has taken its toll on Pakistan’s textile and clothing exports as almost all textile categories have undergone dip in the average unit price (AUP), suggests the data issued by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). According to the details, the average unit price of raw cotton decreased by 19.05 percent during July-October 2012-13, cotton yarn by 10.62 percent, hosiery by 7.18 percent, and bedware by 5.07 percent, while average unit pr