France’s apparel imports rose 7.5 per cent to $26.601 billion in 2025, reflecting steady demand and stabilising sourcing patterns.
China and Bangladesh retained dominance, while Vietnam gained share.
India slipped to seventh position despite marginal growth, highlighting rising competition and the shift towards diversified, resilient supply chains.

Australia’s textile and apparel imports showed a mixed trend in FY26 (July–January), with apparel down 3.77 per cent and textiles up 3.44 per cent.
Fibre imports and exports recorded modest growth, while monthly trends remained soft.
The broader trade reflects recovery in FY25 after a weak FY24 marked by lower prices, inventory correction, and logistics disruption.

The industry is seeking a temporary relief on the lines of the one granted last year, when the government waived cotton import duties between August and December to ease supply pressures. The prices of ginned cotton have increased 11-12% over the past one month, as per data from the Cotton Association of India. International cotton prices have risen 12-15% during this period, as cotton was the cheapest agricultural commodity available to investors, said industry experts.

Sri Lanka’s garment exports showed signs of demand softness in early 2026, declining 6.2 per cent.
While textiles and value-added segments remain resilient, apparel continues to face global demand pressure.
The sector still dominates industrial exports, highlighting structural dependence.
Rising imports suggest steady domestic activity but underline competitiveness challenges.

“The company has shown strong growth this fiscal year, crossing Rs 8,000 crore in revenue, up about 30 per cent from last year. PAT is expected to nearly double,” Sen told PTI.

TAG Heuer has opened its first franchise boutique in India in Noida, in partnership with Kapoor Watch Company and DLF Retail.

US trade body AAFA is concerned over proposals to reconfigure the 902-928 MHz (lower 900 MHz) band as that would create significant operational disruption and costs for apparel, footwear and travel goods companies.
These industries depend on RFID technology in the lower 900 MHz band for inventory tracking, logistics coordination, theft prevention, checkout and emerging retail technologies.

UniFirst reaffirmed its acquisition by Cintas, expected to close in the second half of 2026.
It reported a 3.4 per cent rise YoY in Q2 FY26 revenue to $622.5 million, driven by core segment growth.
However, profits declined due to investments and additional costs.
CEO Sintros highlighted operational efficiency gains and strong customer loyalty supported by its service-driven model.

SHR Lifestyles, the operator of the ethnic wear brand SHREE, is set for a major expansion. The company plans to more than double its retail stores to approximately 300 across India in the next three years. This strategic move aims to significantly boost revenue to Rs 900 crore by 2030.

Precious metal prices have fallen sharply amid the Iran war, as concerns about accelerating inflation due to supply disruptions, a stronger dollar and increasing expectations of interest-rate hikes have affected investor interest. Prices have been highly volatile in recent days, moving in tandem with news on the conflict.