INSIGHTS ICE cotton futures gained on Wednesday, supported by rising crude oil, though a stronger dollar discouraged buying. The March 2025 contract settled at 67.40 cents per pound, up 0.86 cents. Traders are rolling positions ahead of the February 24 delivery. The USDA kept US cotton exports at 11 million bales. Cotton prices fell 1.44 per cent in 2025. Currently, March 2025 cotton trades at 67.46 cents. ICE cotton futures continued to gain on Wednesday, supported by rising crude oil. Howev

INSIGHTS Fitch Ratings warns of rising global trade war risks as the Trump administration adopts a tougher US trade policy, with Mexico and Canada most vulnerable. Trade tensions pose a key threat to global credit, alongside US policy shifts in immigration, deregulation, and tax cuts. The 2017 tax cuts are expected to be extended, while inflation uncertainty and interest rate risks persist. The risks of a global trade war have increased significantly as the Trump administration adopts a more

INSIGHTS Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition will feature 3,000+ exhibitors across 190,000 sqm. The Econogy Hub and Functional Lab will showcase eco-friendly innovations, with major players like 3M, Henglun, Eastman, Esquel, and Grasim presenting sustainable textiles. Certification bodies will also participate, ensuring traceability across the value chain. Featuring over 3,000 exhibitors across 190,000 sqm at Shanghai’s National Exhibition and Convention Center,

INSIGHTS Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2025 is set to return with 3,000+ exhibitors from 25+ countries at NECC, Shanghai. Hall 5.1 will feature SalonEurope, Premium Wool Zone, and Verve for Design, showcasing top global textile suppliers. Country pavilions from France, Italy, Japan, and more will join. The fair will run alongside Yarn Expo and CHIC. In China’s garment manufacturing industry, imported textiles are often equated with quality output, boostin

INSIGHTS Though a ceasefire in the Middle East has raised hopes of a large-scale return of container ships to the Red Sea, most container ships are still sailing around the Cape of Good Hope and there is no guarantee the situation will change this year, Xeneta said. But if that happens, it could see freight rates collapse due to increased capacity in the market caused by carriers taking the shorter route. Though a ceasefire in the Middle East has raised hopes of a large-scale return of contai

INSIGHTS A study from the University of Buffalo's School of Management reveals that retailers are leveraging AI and subscription models to boost customer loyalty and growth. Hybrid shoppers, especially those using both online and in-store channels, are the most active subscribers, with Amazon Prime leading. AI tools like personalised shopping lists and smart carts are transforming services. Retailers are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence and subscription-based models to enhance custome

INSIGHTS China's consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.5 per cent YoY and 0.7 per cent month on month (MoM) in January. The core CPI (excluding food and energy) rose by 0.6 per cent YoY in the month, up from the 0.4-per cent YoY increase in December 2024. The country's producer price index went down by 2.3 per cent YoY in January, flat with that in December 2024. It dropped by 0.2 per cent MoM in the month. The consumer price index (CPI) in China rose by 0.5 per cent year on year (YoY) and 0.7

INSIGHTS Nigeria's Ogun state governor Dapo Abiodun has said the biggest cotton and apparel industry in West Africa will be soon set up in the state that can employ up to 40,000. The groundbreaking ceremony for it would be performed soon, and it will be located in the Special Agro-Processing Zone. His administration is working on generating power that would offer industries the cheapest source of energy. Governor of Nigeria’s Ogun state Dapo Abiodun recently said the biggest cotton and

China channelled $548.65 million into Cambodia's industrial sector in January, accounting for 73.35 per cent of the country's overall investment capital of $748 million in the month. Top FDI source China is followed by Vietnam at 5.52 per cent. Ongoing US tariffs on China, the pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions and rising costs are driving a partial shift of manufacturing out of China. China channelled $548.65 million into Cambodia’s industrial sector in January this year. The va

INSIGHTS The ITMF's January 2025 survey shows cautious optimism in the textile industry. The global business balance remains negative at -15pp but is improving, with South America at +21pp. Garment manufacturers turned positive at +3pp. Optimism is rising, with 43 per cent expecting better conditions, lifting the outlook to +29pp. Orders recover, but challenges like weak demand persist. The ITMF’s 30thGlobal Textile Industry Survey conducted in January 2025 reveals a cautiously optimis