The 2009 Running State, Features and Development Trends in China's Textile Industry
August 27, 2010

In China's home textile industry of 2009, the added value of the above-scale textile enterprises has increased by 9.1% over the previous year and the growth rate declined by 1.2 percentage points compared with the same period last year. In the main women garments products, the yarn output is 23.94 million tons, the cloth is 74 billion meters and the chemical fiber is 27.3 million tons, which increase each by 12.7%, 4.2% and 13% over the previous year. From January to February of this year, the value-added of textile line increase by 13.4%. The yarn, cloth, chemical fiber production increase 26.6%, 51.2% and 17.1% compared with the same period last year, and the growth rate increase by 20.7, 56.2 and 13.2 percentage points year on year.

The international home textiles market share has remained stable. According to statistics, in 2009, China's textile and apparel share is 39.3% in the U.S. market and the sales are much better than Vietnam, India and other countries products; the share in the Japanese market is 78.6% which is 1.9 percentage points higher than the previous year. In the second half of last year, especially after October, the international orders increased significantly and the enterprise exports recovered rapidly. The pace of industrial upgrading accelerated. In 2009, China's own production of textile machinery and equipment share of 75% of the domestic market and increased by 5 percentage points over the previous year. Chemical fiber differentiation rate to 40% over the previous year increased by 5 percentage points. Eliminate the behindhand production capacity 1.37 million tons of chemical fiber women garments industry, and out of more than half of the behindhand printing and dyeing wedding dress equipment from Wuxi, Suzhou, Changzhou and other areas which around Taihu Lake.

The task of controlling capacity and eliminating backward would be a challenge. China's fiber processing volume is close to 50% of the total global processing. In recent years, with the rapid expansion of production capacity, the tendency of low-level redundant construction and a high level of homogeneity development is apparent. Affected by such factors as the international bridal dress market demand shrinking and the competitors rapid growth, competition in the international market is increasingly intense, so the overcapacity contradiction is obvious. Meanwhile, the backward production capacity is also accounted for a considerable proportion, they compete market with the advanced production watch capacity and loot resources, this hamper industrial development and product quality improving.

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The Export Situation of China's Glasses, Light Machinery, Sewing Machine Industry from Jan to Apr in 2010
August 24, 2010

The export of glasses industry increases steadily.

From Jan to Apr, the total export sum of the glasses industry is 860 million U.S. dollars, up 14.7% over the same sunglasses last year, but the growth rate decreased 2.1% compared with the first quarter. Thereinto, the export volume of Apr is 230 million U.S. dollars.

The eyeglass has total exported 300 million pieces from Jan to Apr with an increase of 21.1% over the same period last year; and the accumulative total export sum is 130 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 13.5% over the same period last year. 620 million pairs of glasses are exported, up 8.6% over the same period last year; and the wedding dress total export sum is 500 million U.S. dollars with an increase of 4.6% compared with the same period last year. In addition, the accumulative total export sum of glasses frames, glasses parts and eyeglasses is 230 million U.S. dollars, up 46.9% over the same period last year.

The light women garments industry export grows stably, but the special equipments for the plastics processing increase quickly.

From Jan to Apr, the export volume of China light machinery industry is 770 million U.S. dollars with an uv lamp increase of 24.6% over the same period last year, but compared with the first quarter the growth rate decreased 0.2%. And the export sum of Apr is 200 million U.S. dollars.

There are 841,000 units special equipment for manufacturing pulp and paper are total exported from Jan to Apr, down 9.5% compared with the same period last year; and total handbags export sum is 130 million U.S. dollars with an increase of 23.7% over the same period last year. The machineries of food and beverage manufacturing and processing have total tattoo machine exported 352 thousand units, up 7.6% compared with the same period last year; and the accumulative total export sum is 140 million U.S. dollars with an increase of 9.2% over the same period last year. The plastics processing equipment are total exported 10,000 units, up 59.7% over the same period last year; and the total export sum is 220 million U.S. dollars, increase 41.3% over the same period last year.

The sewing tattoo machine industry export increases fast, and the non-household-type sewing machine grows rapidly.

From Jan to Apr, the total garments export sum of the sewing machine industry is 420 million U.S. dollars with an increase of 26.2% over the same period last year, but the growth rate decreased 8.5% compared with the same period last year.

The household sewing machines are total jewelry exported 1.817 million units, up 36.7% over the same period last year; and the total watch export sum is 78.249 million U.S. dollars with an increase of 36.2% over last year. The non- household-type sewing machine are total exported 584,000 units, increase 63.6% compared with the same period last year; the accumulative total handbag export sum is 131.899 million U.S. dollars, and it increases 80.5% over the same period last year. The sewing machine parts have total buauty tools exported 11,000 tons with an increase of 45.0%; and the total export volume is 40.526 million U.S. dollars, up 64.6%.

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Running Shoes: Don‘t Pay More

Running-shoe buyers, beware! Whichever brand of running shoe you favor, the brand's most costly model is no better -- and may be worse -- than its lower-priced shoes. The warning comes from studies by Rami J. Abboud, PhD, director of the Institute of Motion Analysis and Research at the University of Dundee, Scotland, and colleagues. The researchers used sophisticated tests to measure the performance of various running shoes.

The idea of the tests was not to see how cheap a shoe you can get away with. All of the shoes tested were brand-name shoes sold in stores that cater to runners. Retail price tags ranged from $81 to $152 (￡40 to ￡75) in U.K. stores. Nearly every brand of running shoe has models that are relatively low, medium, and high priced. The high-priced shoes claim to have more features. If they were put through a marathon, would the cushioning be better? We really couldn't find a difference there." In the study reported ahead of print today in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Abboud and colleagues tested a low-, medium-, and high-priced running shoe from each of three brands. Each shoe was fitted with specially made insoles filled with 99 sensors to measure pressures placed on the foot.
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Nike files suit over shoe logo

American sporting goods giant Nike is suing two Chinese shoe manufacturers for alleged copyright infringement and a French supermarket for displaying and selling the shoes. The infringement involves the use of a logo - silhouette of former basketball star Michael Jordan slam-dunking - on the sports shoes of the Chinese companies. The Shanghai No 2 Intermediate People's Court held its second hearing yesterday. No verdict was announced. Nike International Ltd is demanding the three - the shoe companies based in Jinjiang, Fujian Province, and the Shanghai branch of France-based retailer Auchan - to stop the infringement, make a public apology, and pay compensation of 1 million yuan ($131,000).

But the three contend the logo is not well-known in China though it might be in other countries, and therefore, no apology is necessary. They also contend the compensation is too high. As one of the most frequently copied brands, Nike has been fighting numerous counterfeits of its goods in recent years. Other major international brands are also doing the same.
Felicia Deng, Cartier's Shanghai representative, said the company is seeing counterfeits of its products worldwide. "We have a group of lawyers to deal with it."
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Nike and Apple announced a new line of "Nike+iPod" products

Today, Nike and Apple announced a new line of "Nike+iPod" products, the first of which is the Nike+iPod Sport Kit. This wireless system allows Nike+ shoes to talk to an iPod nano. Nike+ footwear will be connected to the iPod nano via the Nike+iPod Sport Kit ($29), and will calculate time, distance, calories burned and pace. The information will be displayed on the nano's screen. Real-time audible feedback also is provided through headphones.

"The result is like having a personal coach or training partner motivating you every step of your workout." Said Apple CEO Steve Jobs, in today's press release. Additionally, a new Nike Sport Music section is being added to the iTunes music store. "It's got a good beat and I can dance to it." -- Teenager listening to a song on a 45-rpm vinyl record on the American Bandstand TV show, circa 1960. "It's got a good beat and I can run to it." -- Jogger listening to a Sony Walkman cassette player, circa 1990. "It's got a good beat, I can run to it, and I can compile and share important data about my exercise regimen, too." -- Runner using a Nike+iPod Sport Kit, 2006. Members of Wharton's marketing department say it's a winning combination that will bolster each company's image and open the door to other co-branding opportunities.
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Shaq's China Shoe Deal Bad News for Nike and Adidas

In today's Wall Street Journal, Geoffrey Fowler and Mei Fong comment on NBA star Shaquille O'Neal's sneaker deal with China's top sports brand as it takes on Nike and Adidas in ADVERTISING: Chinese Firm Drafts NBA's Shaq. Shaq's line of basketball shoes, "Dunkman Game Shoes" sold at Payless ShoeSource haven't taken off despite their $39.99 price tag targeted at lower income consumers and families. So Shaq's next move is to take on the world's largest consumer market and a place where basketball's popularity is thriving.

Shaq has entered a five-year deal with China's leading sportswear brand Li Ning to market a "Li Ning Shaq" line of basketball shoes and apparel only in China. Shaq will bring both street level and international credibility to Li Ning, which has fallen to third place in the domestic market behind Nike and Adidas (note: China's NBA star Yao Ming has a deal with Reebok which is owned by Adidas). Nike said it has annual sales in China of about $600 million and it's estimated Adidas' totaled $385 million in 2005, versus Lin Ning at $300 million.
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Shock-Absorbing Shoes: Bad for Knees?

Study Shows Foot-Stabilizing Walking Shoes and Clogs May Put Strain on Arthritic Knees. Those shock-absorbing athletic shoes and clogs designed to protect and cushion the feet may be bad for arthritic knees. When researchers examined the effects of different types of footwear on people with knee osteoarthritis, they found that going barefoot put less stress on knee joints than wearing foot-stabilizing walking shoes or clogs. Flip-flops and a flexible walking shoe were also better choices for minimizing impact to the knees during normal walking. The researchers determined this by assessing a standard measure of knee joint impact, known as knee load.

"Knee loads play an important role in the progression of knee osteoarthritis," researcher Najia Shakoor, MD, of Rush Medical College, says in a news release. "Shoes have traditionally been engineered to provide foot comfort and little previous attention has been directed to the effects that shoes may have on loading of osteoarthritic knees." She notes that flat, flexible shoes were best for minimizing the impact on knee joints. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Boston.