China's leading shoemaker, Aokang Group Co., Ltd, has won a lawsuit against European Union (EU) anti-dumping measures on Chinese leather shoes, according to the company. On Sunday, Aokang received the judgement of the European Court of Justice by which the Court set aside a General Court of the EU ruling in April 2010 which dismissed Aokang's action against the EU. The Court also ordered the Council of the European Union to pay the costs incurred by Aokang Group from the lawsuits. The E

US crude oil futures rose this week end as a fire on a Gulf of Mexico platform and the escalating conflict between Israel and Palestinians stoked supply concerns. The market was already on edge after Iraq's envoy to the Arab League said it would invite Arab states to use oil as a weapon to press for a halt to Israeli attacks on Gaza. The conflict has gripped oil markets, which have been looking for any signs it could impact Middle East supplies. A news of the fire at a Black Elk platform helpe

Ethylene prices in Asian slumped on sluggish downstream polyethylene markets while upstream naphtha too was not supportive. However, Korean markets saw a price roll over. In Europe, spot ethylene prices bowed to bearish pressure, due to easing feedstock naphtha cost, poor downstream demand and competition from imported materials. In US ethylene spot price declined on weakening buying interest. Asian paraxylene markets saw limited trading activity throughout the week and prices softening a bit du

Benzene price fell in Asian markets on weaker buying sentiment as downstream demand from caprolactum market was thin and trading was mute. In US, spot benzene tumbled due to the arrival of delayed imports and weak downstream demand while European spot NWE benzene prices moved up on Friday as the market moved higher at the end of the day following firmer indications from the US Gulf coast. Caprolactum markets were range bound as downstream demand was insipid. Trading was mute amid limited enqui

Asian propylene prices slipped amid a buyer-seller standoff while in Europe, November business was seen done and players likely try to keep inventories under control during a seasonally slow in December, when most downstream consumers shut down plants during the year-end holidays. In US, spot refinery-grade propylene prices softened amid minimal buying interest throughout the week. Acrylonitrile prices stabilized in Asia after falling for five consecutive weeks. In China, price hike was hinder

Although viscose staple fiber prices moved up continuing its uptrend but were strong resisted by buyers and trading prices were mostly sustained at the previous week’s levels. In China, VSF majors Tangshan Sanyou and Fulida announced a price hike of US cents 3 a kg which was subsequently followed up by other makers. By week end, a Jiangsu-based mid-to-high end VSF producer offered goods at low price which adversely impacted the market confidence. Similarly, the Asian viscose filament yarn mark

Cotton prices remained uncertain in major producing markets. The US cotton futures shot up to three-week high on Thursday for their largest daily gain in four weeks on an unexpected flurry of buying for prompt delivery from textile mills. The most-active December cotton contract on ICE Futures US settled up US cents 2.33, or 3.25% with volumes significantly higher than average. The Cotlook A index also shot up US cents 2.05 while the China Cotton Index was up 34 yuan a ton. East and west Texas

Victoria Beckham, Mulberry, and Alexander McQueen were among the British brands honored at last night’s Walpole Awards in London. Beckham, who debut her line in New York in 2008, was awarded the Emerging British Luxury Label prize while Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen took home the British Luxury Design Talent prize and Mulberry won the British Luxury Overseas category. Organized by British luxury organization Walpole, honor brands exemplifying excellence in design and craftsmanship both in

Hanesbrands Inc. is expanding a fabric-manufacturing plant in Woolwine, Va., just north of the North Carolina border, adding 50 jobs and retaining 215 employees. The company said today it would spend $1.6 million in capital investments, primarily adding high-speed equipment at the plant that spokesman Matt Hall described as currently “underutilized.” Bruce Duncan, Hanesbrands’ vice president of innerwear operations, said in a statement the company is adding “greater flexibility” to the Woolwin