Insights China's retail sales of consumer goods went up by 4.5 per cent YoY in the first three quarters this year to 36.5877 trillion yuan ($5.16 trillion). The growth rate was 1.2 percentage points higher than that during the same period last year. In September, retail sales rose by 3 per cent YoY. Online retail sales climbed by 9.8 per cent YoY in the first nine months. China's retail sales of consumer goods went up by 4.5 per cent YoY in the first three quarters this year to 36.5877 trilli

Insights Kapok is gaining global attention for its sustainability and performance, thanks to Flocus' patented spinning and exclusive sorting technology. Once seen as unworkable, kapok is now scalable, consistent, and OEKO-TEX certified safe. With product ranges Clarus and Fina, plus its KRAF tree-planting initiative, Flocus positions kapok as a sustainable, ethical, high-performance fibre. Kapok is finally entering the spotlight—long praised for its sustainability as a regenerative, pes

Insights China's fiscal revenue rose by 0.5 per cent YoY to 16.39 trillion yuan ($2.31 trillion) in the first nine months this year. The central government collected 7.08 trillion yuan—down by 1.2 per cent YoY, and local governments 9.3 trillion yuan—up by 1.8 per cent YoY. The tax revenue was 13.27 trillion yuan—up by 0.7 per cent YoY, while the non-tax revenue fell by 0.4 per cent YoY to 3.12 trillion yuan. China's fiscal revenue increased by 0.5 per cent year on year (YoY

Insights A 2023 ITC report found Bangladesh had the highest average number of audits per facility globally, surpassing China, Vietnam, India, and Turkiye. To address this, the BGMEA has launched an initiative to streamline the audit process and is developing a credible framework to reduce manufacturers' burden without compromising compliance or sustainability. For garment manufacturers, working with a mix of buyers and brands across different geographies is not an option; it is a business imp

Insights With the future of the US African Growth and Opportunity Act in limbo, Kenya is seeking to diversify its export markets by attracting Turkish textile and garment manufacturers. It is citing its existing preferential access to the EU market through the Economic Partnership Agreement to attract Turkish investment. Kenya expects Turkish companies to set up manufacturing units in its territory. With the future of the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in limbo, Kenya is seeking

Insights Chinese company October 4128 (BD) Ltd will invest $19.72 million to set up a high-end garment manufacturing factory at the BEPZA Economic Zone in Mirsharai, Chattogram. The company will annually produce 3 million pieces of ski, snow sports, hunting and motor riders' gear, insulated winter coats, down jackets and pants, rain gear, work wear, running wear, yoga wear and water sportswear. Chinese company October 4128 (BD) Ltd will invest $19.72 million to set up a high-end garment manuf

Insights Worldwide manufacturing business conditions improved in September, though upturns in new orders and production were insufficient to encourage a net increase in staffing levels, S&P Global Market Intelligence said. India and the ASEAN bloc led the global upturn. As India, Thailand and some eurozone economies saw strong expansions, especially sharp downturns were noted in Taiwan, Russia, Brazil and the UK. Worldwide manufacturing business conditions improved in September, though up

Insights France's CPI dropped by 1 per cent month on month (MoM) in September after a 0.4-per cent MoM rise in August. Consumer prices went up by 1.2 per cent YoY in September after a 0.9-per cent YoY rise in August. Clothing and footwear prices increased by 3.3 per cent MoM and 0.6 per cent YoY in September. Prices of energy fell by 4.4 per cent YoY in September 2025, after a 6.2-per cent YoY drop in August. France’s consumer price index (CPI) decreased by 1 per cent month on month (Mo

Insights Bangladesh's RMG sector accounts for over 80 per cent of total exports, driving foreign exchange earnings and employment, but over-reliance on this sector poses economic risks, including vulnerability to global market fluctuations. With Bangladesh set to graduate from the LDC group in 2026, experts warn that the failure to diversify exports could undermine its post-graduation competitiveness. The Bangladesh readymade garment (RMG) industry is the cornerstone of the nation’s eco

Insights India's textile and apparel exports dropped 10.34 per cent in September following the 50 per cent reciprocal tariffs imposed in August. Total exports for April–September reached $17.74 billion. Apparel shipments rose 3.42 per cent while textile exports eased 1.85 per cent. Imports of raw cotton and waste surged 41.75 per cent, reflecting increased dependence on inbound materials amid trade pressures. India’s textile and apparel (T&A) exports plunged 10.34 per cent in