The International Labour Organization (ILO) has signed agreements with key industry bodies in Pakistan to strengthen the country's textile and apparel sector through improved labour standards and workplace practices, helping local enterprises remain competitive in global supply chains. On April 9, the ILO issued a press release in Islamabad announcing the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Towel Manufacturers Association (TMA) and the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturer

Researchers from the University of Portsmouth and the University of Manchester have successfully engineered a novel fusion enzyme that significantly accelerates the breakdown of PET under high-concentration conditions close to industrial application, offering a new pathway to tackle the global textile industry’s polyester waste problem, according to a study published in the journalBioresource Technology. Polyester fibres, due to their tight structure and highly ordered manufacturing proc

Thursday, April 9 — A high-stakes crop cultivation battle is unfolding in Pakistan's major cotton-producing regions. As sugarcane planting continues to expand into traditional cotton areas, the contradiction between the textile and sugar industries is intensifying. The friction between the two industries continues to escalate. The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) stated that reports indicate weak enforcement of regulations in cotton-growing zones has led to the construction

The first-ever Indian textile and engineering business delegation recently visited Indonesia’s two major textile hubs, Bandung and Jakarta, marking a joint commitment to deepening bilateral industrial cooperation. The delegation was organized by the Indian ITME Society and received support from the Indonesian Textile Association (API), APS yFI, and coordination from PUM International. The delegation brought together leading Indian textile machinery companies from sectors including spinning

Tunisia’s garment and textile sector is undergoing a major transition. On May 21, 2025, the Tunisian parliament passed Law No. 2025-9, introducing comprehensive reforms to the Labour Code,explicitly criminalising labour subcontractingand strictly limiting the use of fixed-term contracts. The law was published in the official gazette on May 23, 2025, giving employers a three-month transition period to regularise contracts and integrate subcontracted workers. President Kais Saied, in pushing

Recently, the U.S. and Iran reached a temporary ceasefire agreement, a core prerequisite of which was the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz — the world's "chokepoint" for energy transport. Its reopening has not only shaken global energy markets but also directly pressed the "restart button" for the continuously strained global textile supply chain. Although the ceasefire order promoted by the Trump administration brings short-term relief to the industry, the underlying risks of geopolitica

The 37th Global Textile Industry Survey by the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) shows that the global textile industry's operating situation continues to deteriorate, with geopolitics surpassing weak demand as the industry's top concern for the first time. Released in April 2026, the 37th ITMF Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS) indicates a significant worsening of global textile industry conditions, with the global business situation index falling to -25 percentage poin

On April 6, 2026, the Gujarat High Court, in a petition filed by Orilon Tectex Pvt Ltd, stayed the Indian government's earlier revocation of two Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for polyester mother yarn and monofilament yarn, thereby restoring the relevant quality standards until the final disposal of the case. On November 12, 2025, the Indian government announced the revocation of 14 BIS Quality Control Orders, covering purified terephthalic acid, ethylene glycol, polyester staple fibre, polyeste

In the lead‑up to the Easter holiday, the Australian wool auction market saw a strong rebound. After two consecutive weeks of declines, the market posted sharp gains in Week 40 (ending April 3), driven by active pre‑holiday buying. The Eastern Market Indicator (EMI) closed at 1,786 Australian cents per kilogram, up 62 cents (approximately 3.6%) from the previous week, marking a new high since June 2019. Adjusted for the Australian dollar–US dollar exchange rate, the EMI in US dollar terms

Since the start of April, ICE cotton futures have climbed sharply, breaking through the 71 cents per pound level to hit an 11‑month high. As of April 6, the most active May 2026 cotton futures contract settled at 71.67 cents per pound, the highest level since May 6, 2025. On April 7, futures continued to rally, briefly touching an intraday high of 72.15 cents per pound. The rally is driven by multiple factors.Droughtremains the biggest supply-side risk. According to the U.S. Department of Agricu