...
The abnormal jump in prices and shortfall in supply of hosiery yarn have crippled the hosiery industry in the State, forcing many units to shut shop.
Non-availability of knitted fabric will in turn hit down-the-line processes such as bleaching and dyeing, cutting and tailoring units, affecting nearly 1.5 lakh workers, according to Mr K.B. Agarwala, Federation of Hosiery Manufacturers' Association of India (FOHMA).
“Since November 2009, the price of hosiery yarn in all counts has shot up abnormally.
In spite of absorbing the price rise, the supplies have shown a gradual declining trend.
The situation has deteriorated in the last 15 days, forcing virtual closure of some of the knitting units in the State,” said Mr Agarwal at a press conference convened to discuss the impact of price rise and poor availability of hosiery yarn here on Thursday.
Yarn prices have increased by about 40 per cent from Rs 140 a kg in October 2009 to Rs 195 a kg now, he said. “It is not just the price rise but the volatility and the unavailability of yarn that is causing a concern,” he added.
The prices rose by about Rs 22 a kg since April 2010, he observed.
Production in some of the knitting units in Bengal was down by almost 40-50 per cent. Bengal accounts for almost 60 per cent of the total hosiery market in the country.
“This situation was brought to the notice of the Union and State Government authorities through representations by various associations. Though the regional office of Textile Commissioner has conducted a quick survey, no corrective measures have been taken so far to solve the problem,” he said.
11 June, 2010 by admin