United Kingdom clothing exports fell 10.1 per cent year on year to £214 million (~$282 million) in August 2026, ONS data showed, easing from £235 million in July.
Textile fabric exports dropped 10.41 per cent to £172 million, while fibre exports rose year on year to £39 million but fell from July.
In Q2 2026, clothing exports slipped 1.93 per cent to £711 million, with 2025 exports down 9.17 per cent.

The backdrop is a record-priced metal. Between April and June, India’s jewellery demand fell 15 per cent by volume, even as total spending on gold hit a record Rs 1.98 lakh crore. The quarter’s average domestic price was Rs 1.51 lakh per 10 grams, against Rs 94,876 a year earlier, before duty and GST. In May, the Prime Minister asked households to avoid buying gold jewellery for a year unless needed, and the effective import duty rose from 6 to 15 per cent.

A report by Bernstein indicates that the luxury goods industry faces challenges due to reduced Chinese consumer demand. Economic factors such as falling property prices and youth unemployment are contributing to a weakened market. Companies may need to adjust their pricing strategies to meet consumer expectations for affordability and value.

India’s 1,200-tonne gold refining industry could unlock new export opportunities through GIFT City, following the introduction of responsible sourcing and audit guidelines by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). The framework sets standards for refiners seeking Good Delivery accreditation to trade gold through the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX).

Volume growth is expected to remain subdued at 2-3 per cent in FY27 as travel demand moderated in the first half amid inflationary pressures, slower growth in travel activity and weak rural sentiment. A recovery during the festive and holiday season is unlikely to fully offset the first-half weakness. Revenue growth will therefore depend on a projected 3-4 per cent increase in realisations, supported by demand for premium and feature-rich products.

Halwasiya is the chairman and managing director of Cupid Ltd, a listed company operating in the healthcare and consumer products segments.

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Metro Brands said consumer demand was affected by a shift in the festive calendar, with a larger share of festive-season sales expected to fall in the third quarter. E-commerce sales, including omnichannel transactions, grew 12 per cent year-on-year and contributed 14.2 per cent of revenue.

UK clothing imports fell 10.37 per cent YoY to £1.494 billion (~$1.966 billion) in August 2026 but rose 4.76 per cent from July.
Fabric imports dropped 4.33 per cent YoY and 18.79 per cent monthly to £419 million; fibre imports stood at £22 million.
Q2 2026 clothing imports fell 3.67 per cent, while full-year 2025 imports rose 6.05 per cent.

The government has announced a reduction in duty drawback rates for gold and silver jewellery exports. The rates for gold jewellery have decreased by 3.1% while silver jewellery rates have been cut by about 9%. Earlier in July, the government had nearly doubled these rates to enhance exporter competitiveness. The latest adjustments reflect ongoing fluctuations in global input costs and market conditions.