Insights UK will relaunch trade talks with China after 7 years as Business & Trade Secretary Peter Kyle leads JETCO in Beijing. The visit seeks £1 billion (~$1.35 billion) in market access wins over 5 years, easier exports in key sectors, and stronger growth. Talks will also address human rights, fair competition, decarbonisation, digital economy, and boost UK-China cooperation. The UK is set to relaunch formal trade talks with China for the first time since 2018, in a move expecte

Insights CITI and GRI have launched the Improving Transparency for Sustainable Business (ITSB) initiative to boost ESG compliance in India's textile and apparel sector. Supported by Sida, ITSB will equip MSMEs and exporters with tools for impact reporting, transparency, and sustainability, offering training, frameworks, and global-standard disclosures to enhance competitiveness and growth. The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) on September

Insights Functional Fabric Fair Fall 2025 in Portland opens Nov 11 with the Day 0 Sustainability Workshop, followed by exhibits and Expert Talks on November 12–13. Highlights include a focus on textile-to-textile recycling, the debut of the Future Fabrics Expo Innovation Hub, 300+ sustainable suppliers, curated forums, live demos, and networking, making it the fair's most impactful edition yet. The fall edition of Functional Fabric Fair powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS has officially opened

Insights At ITMA Asia Singapore 2025, Savio will showcase its AI-driven innovations in winding and spinning with three flagship machines: Proxima Smartconer, Phoenix assembly winder, and Lybra Smartspinner. Highlights include real-time monitoring, adaptive automation, precision yarn preparation, digital integration, and versatile on-the-fly fiber blending. At ITMA Asia Singapore 2025, Savio will showcase its latest advancements in winding and spinning technology, with a strong emphasis on ar

Insights If US tariffs continue, ICRA expects the revenues of Indian apparel exporters to drop by 6-9 per cent in FY26 in spite of the implementation of the FTA with the UK and diversion of supplies elsewhere. ICRA recently revised the outlook on India's apparel exports industry to negative from stable. Lower exports and pressure on pricing is expected to contract industry operating margins by 200-300 bps in FY26. If the recently-imposed US tariffs continue, ICRA expects the revenues of India

Insights Many Chinese companies are investing in Bangladesh to leverage Dhaka's comparatively lower tariffs and cost-effective manufacturing environment. Over $160 million in Chinese-backed projects, including garment and accessory factories, are being developed in Bangladesh. Retaliatory tariffs reached 145 per cent from the US and 125 per cent from China, before reaching a 90-day truce between the two sides. The economic conflict between China and the United States, which began in 2018, ha

Insights ICE cotton futures rebounded on Monday as a weaker US dollar and firmer crude oil supported buying. December 2025 cotton closed at 66.21 cents per pound, up 0.18 cent, while open interest rose for the 40th time in 47 sessions. USDA rated crop quality at 54 per cent, with harvest progress at 8 per cent. Overseas buyers continued preferring Brazilian and Australian cotton. ICE cotton futures bounced back on Monday, closing higher as US cotton gained support from a weaker dollar and str

Italy's retail sales stagnated in July 2025, with values flat and volumes down 0.2 per cent from June. In the three months to July, sales edged up 0.6 per cent in value and 0.1 per cent in volume, as inflation dampened demand. Year-on-year, sales rose 1.8 per cent in value but stayed flat in volume. Large-scale retail grew 2.8 per cent, e-commerce 2.9 per cent, while non-food trends were mixed. Italy’s retail sector showed signs of stagnation in July 2025 as seasonally adjusted sales stay

US textile and apparel imports from India rose 11.4 per cent in January–Jul 2025 to $6.22 billion, trailing Vietnam's 17.7 per cent and Bangladesh's 21.1 per cent growth, CITI data shows. In July, imports from India were up 9.1 per cent, while Vietnam and Bangladesh maintained stronger momentum. China's shipments fell 19.9 per cent, reflecting shifting sourcing trends. US textile and apparel imports from India grew more slowly than from Vietnam and Bangladesh during January–July 202

The European Parliament is set to approve new rules to cut textile waste in the EU, introducing extended producer responsibility schemes obliging manufacturers to manage collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling. The EU produces 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste yearly, with clothing and footwear making up 5.2 million tonnes, while less than 1 per cent of textiles are recycled globally. The European Parliament is expected on Tuesday to give its final approval to updated EU waste legislation