Textile Market News

India’s rising demand for natural fibres is creating major opportunities for New Zealand’s strong wool sector, says Wool Impact chief executive Andy Caughey. Fresh from the Bharat Tex 2025 exhibition in New Delhi, he emphasized the need for market expansion before establishing a long-term industry framework.

The global cotton market remains bearish as forecasts of increased production and concerns over weak consumption weigh on prices, analysts say. BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, expects strong harvests in key markets for 2024-25 to cap price gains, while demand struggles amid rising competition from man-made fibres.

Cotton prices in Brazil showed fluctuations in early March but maintained an overall upward trend, according to the Centre for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA). By mid-March, the CEPEA/ESALQ Index (payment in eight days) rose 1.92 per cent between February 28 and March 14, reaching BRL 4.2582 ($0.75) per pound, the highest level in a year.

Merger discussions between the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) and testing company AWTA Ltd have stalled despite potential annual efficiency gains exceeding $1 million. Talks, initiated late last year, faltered after AWEX sought a guaranteed $1 million yearly investment from AWTA for traceability proposals. AWTA agreed to consider such investments but insisted on board approval for individual proposals, leading to an impasse.

Uster Technologies recently convened textile industry leaders in Switzerland to discuss the challenges and opportunities of using recycled raw materials. Indian spinners met experts from Rieter, Santis-Textiles, Otto Yarns, Gherzi Textile Organization, and TVU to explore sustainability and business prospects in recycled yarns.

The cotton yarn market in South India is witnessing mixed trends, reflecting regional variations. In Mumbai, prices have declined due to weak demand and tight payment conditions, pressuring sellers and manufacturers. However, Tirupur’s market remains stable, with traders optimistic about potential price hikes next month as cotton prices rise and payment conditions improve.

India’s cotton arrivals on 18 March 2025 stood at 81,200 bales (170 kg each), according to the Cotton Association of India (CAI). The cumulative arrivals for the 2024-25 season have reached 23.7 million bales.

Bangladesh has initiated cotton imports from the US to deter potential tariff increases on its exports, says foreign affairs advisor Touhid Hossain. He made this statement at a workshop on cotton cultivation, jointly organized by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) and the Bangladesh Cotton Ginners Association on March 17.

The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry is setting up three textile parks in Andhra Pradesh under the Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP) to attract investments, generate jobs, and boost exports. These parks, located in Anantapuramu, Nellore, and Guntur, have come up with a total investment of over Rs 3.10 billion. A textile park in Visakhapatnam has already been completed with an investment of Rs 1.34 billion.

French biotech company Carbios has created the first plain white T-shirt made entirely from recycled polyester fabric, marking a major breakthrough in textile sustainability. The company's innovative ‘fibre-to-fibre’ recycling process uses enzymes to break down polyester waste into high-quality fibres, equivalent to virgin polyester derived from oil.

The global bio-based polymer market is set to grow at a 13 per cent CAGR through 2029, with Asia and North America leading expansion, reveals a Nova-Institute report. Production capacity reached 4.2 million tonnes in 2024, representing just 1 per cent of total polymer output, but the rapid adoption of bio-based materials signals a shift towards sustainability.

Romesh Khajuria, Chairman of the Wool & Woollens Export Promotion Council (WWEPC), has urged the Jammu & Kashmir government to introduce a comprehensive policy ensuring fair pricing for wool growers ahead of the April-May 2025 harvest.

The government has received investment proposals worth Rs 18,500 crore under the PM MITRA Park scheme to boost textile production, employment, and exports, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh informed the Lok Sabha.

The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) hosted the Textile Conclave 2025 on March 8 in Ahmedabad, bringing together industry leaders to discuss cotton productivity and the growing potential of technical textiles. Saurin Parikh, Head, GCCI Textile Task Force, highlighted the crucial role of technical textiles in fashion, construction, healthcare, and agriculture.

India’s ambitious ‘Make in India’ initiative, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing dependency on imports, is facing serious roadblocks as the implementation of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) stifles export competitiveness.

Pakistan's yarn imports have risen from 8 million kg in January 2024 to 32 million kg in January 2025. The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) warns that this trend, driven by sales tax disparities, is crippling local spinning mills, with over 100 already shut down.

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) is providing €26 million to support Burkina Faso’s vital cotton industry. The financing is part of a €100 million trade finance facility arranged by the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) to strengthen the sector.

India, with 12 million hectares under cotton cultivation, struggles with low yields compared to countries like the US, Brazil, and Australia, which leverage biotechnology and precision agronomy. Maharashtra, a key producer with 4 million hectares, has faced stagnant productivity, prompting experts to push for science-driven solutions.

India’s textile and apparel exports declined slightly in February 2025, but cotton and yarn-related trade showed mixed trends. The country’s total T&A exports fell by 2.27 per cent to $3.216 billion, while overall merchandise exports dropped by 10.85 per cent to $36.912 billion, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Trade.