BEIJING: A Chinese leading manufacturer specializing in textiles auxiliaries and organic silicone products has joined hands with local partners to bring technological innovation support to the textile printing and dyeing industry in Pakistan.
“The textile industry, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economy, is currently facing two major challenges: energy shortages and a shortage of cotton yarn. Some local printing and dyeing factories are increasingly shifting towards a significant use of polyester in their fabric categories. Chinese chemical fiber suppliers can offer the most suitable chemical fiber raw materials tailored to unique textile categories,” stated Xing Pingping, Overseas Sales Manager of Ningbo Runhe High-tech Materials Co., Ltd.
Punjab Province is home to over 60 percent of Pakistan’s textile companies, with Faisalabad serving as the central hub for the textile industry, boasting nearly 300 dyeing factories of various sizes.
Xing explained that his company recently partnered with the Pakistani agent FairChem International to organize a textile seminar in Faisalabad. During the event, Chinese and Pakistani partners collaboratively discussed the future trajectory of the local textile printing and dyeing industry, attracting over 150 local practitioners keen on exploring new opportunities.
In fiscal year 2022, Pakistan’s total textile exports amounted to USD 19.32 billion, marking a 25.3 percent year-on-year increase. This sector accounted for nearly 61 percent of Pakistan’s overall merchandise exports. Pakistan’s comprehensive industry chain includes over 2,000 cotton binding, spinning, and textile factories, as reported by China Economic Net (CEN).
However, Xing pointed out, “Pakistan’s textile category structure differs significantly from that of other South Asian countries. Many major fabric categories rely heavily on cotton but yield lower profit margins. This has significantly impacted the competitiveness of Pakistani textiles in the international market.”
To address the energy shortages mentioned earlier, future growth will be primarily driven by the digital textile printing market. The demand for digital textile printing in Pakistan is on the rise due to its superior high-definition textile print design capabilities, reduced water and effluent usage, lower emissions, and energy efficiency.
Furthermore, the technological capabilities of Pakistani textile enterprises continue to advance, with even small-scale factories adopting advanced textile materials and technologies, such as polyurethane coating, aramid finishing, waterproof finishing, and digital printing machinery.
Regarding the current shortage of cotton yarn, local companies have increasingly turned to polyester applications. To support these chemical fiber materials, their cutting-edge chemical fiber silicone emulsion can be highly beneficial. Additionally, they offer professional chemical fiber finishing solutions and solutions for achieving polyester cotton-like and wool-like finishes to assist their local partners.
The Sales Manager highlighted that since officially expanding into the Pakistani market in 2021, they have forged strong partnerships with two chemical traders: FairChem, specializing in dyes, and Biochem, an expert in printing paste. Later on, they signed an agreement with Farbstoffe Intl, a comprehensive manufacturer and marketer of textile chemicals.
Looking ahead, their plans include establishing a laboratory in Pakistan with facilities for basic chemical property testing, fabric finishing, application R&D, and warehousing capabilities. Overall, their objective is not only to provide testing and warehousing functions but also to engage in research and development and local talent development. They aspire to bring technological innovation to Pakistan’s textile industry through the combined efforts of both countries. —APP
