Amid escalating geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, Indonesia's textile industry is being squeezed by both surging raw material prices and a surge in imports, casting a dark shadow over the sector's outlook. The Indonesian Fiber and Filament Yarn Producers Association (APSyFI) noted that the Middle East conflict has pushed international oil prices to approximately $110 per barrel, directly triggering a sharp rise in polyester raw material prices. Paraxylene (PX) prices have reached $1,300

Bangladesh's textile industry is under mounting pressure from both trade policy headwinds and domestic financial turmoil, casting a shadow over the sector's outlook. On March 12, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) initiated two investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, targeting 60 economies including Bangladesh. One investigation focuses on global industrial overcapacity, the other on forced labour practices. The probes will assess whether any cou

On April 11, 2026, the China (Inner Mongolia) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) was officially inaugurated, marking the 23rd pilot FTZ in the country. The same day, the Autonomous Region held a ceremony and mobilization meeting to deploy high-standard construction of the FTZ. As the first new FTZ under the State Council's strategy to upgrade pilot FTZs, Inner Mongolia FTZ was established at the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period to further improve the overall layout of FTZs and expand high-level

Amid political deadlock stalling the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement,Wools of New Zealandhas joined a business coalition calling on parliament to approve the deal without delay, aiming to lower trade barriers and boost returns for wool growers. Wools of New Zealand CEO John McWhirter pointed out that India is home to world‑leading manufacturers of high‑end handmade carpets and rugs. An FTA would bring significant benefits to the country's wool sector and farmers. He noted that the compa

Amid multiple pressures from geopolitics, trade policies, and rising costs, the global textile sourcing landscape has undergone a profound restructuring in early 2026. The performance of Vietnam, India, and China has sharply diverged. Vietnam solidifies its position as the top supplier to the U.S. market.In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam accounted for 19.3% of total U.S. textile imports, maintaining a clear lead. The country's textile and garment exports reached $10.54 billion in the fi

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