Insights China's railway freight volume grew steadily in H1 2025. A total of 1.98 billion tonnes of cargo was transported, up 3 per cent year-on-year, with daily loaded freight cars rising 4 per cent. The Central Asia freight service saw a 25 per cent surge, while the China-Laos Railway moved 3.03 million tonnes, reflecting 9 per cent annual growth. The railway freight volume of China recorded stable growth in the first half (H1) of 2025, supported by enhanced service efficiency and op

Insights As trade deals near finalisation, the FDRA urges Ambassador Greer not to stack new tariffs on already high footwear duties, which hit working-class families hardest. With children's shoes already taxed up to 48 per cent, the industry said that added tariffs—like the 20 per cent on Vietnamese goods—could worsen inflation and threaten footwear jobs. As reciprocal trade deals near finalisation, footwear industry leaders led by the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of Amer

Insights China retained its position as the world's leading apparel exporter last year, with $165.24 billion in exports—up by 0.3 per cent YoY, the WTO said. Bangladesh ranked second, with export earnings worth $38.48 billion; its growth was 0.21 per cent. The global apparel market expanded to $557.5 billion in 2024—a 7.08-per cent growth. Vietnam saw the highest growth among the top exporters at 9.34 per cent. China retained its position as the world’s leading apparel expor

Insights China's textile companies with revenues above 20 million yuan (~$2.8 million) saw a 4.2 per cent YoY growth in value-added output in the first four months of 2025. However, overall sector revenue declined 0.5 per cent. Textile exports rose by 1.1 per cent YoY to $90.5 billion. Major retailers experienced a 5.9 per cent sales increase. Companies are investing in R&D and innovation to stay competitive. In the first four months of 2025, China’s textile companies with annual re

Key Takeaways Marine-based fibres like seaweed, algae, fish leather, and microbial materials provide sustainable, biodegradable alternatives to traditional fabrics. These fibres are renewable and environmentally friendly, but face challenges in sustainable harvesting, scalability, and ethical sourcing. With ongoing research, they could significantly contribute to a circular, eco-friendly fashion industry. In the quest for more sustainable alternatives to traditional textile materials, the

Insights Year-on-year inflation in the OECD fell to 4 per cent in May 2025, its lowest since June 2021. Despite easing inflation, average prices remain 33.7 per cent above December 2019 levels. Core inflation dropped to 4.4 per cent, with declines in most member countries. G7 inflation held at 2.4 per cent, while euro area inflation eased to 1.9 per cent. G20 inflation dipped to 3.9 per cent. Year-over-year (YoY) inflation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) a

Insights Intertextile Shanghai's Autumn/Winter 2026-27 Trend Forum, themed PUSH SENSATION, will explore bold fashion narratives driven by escapism and authenticity. Curated by global trend experts, the forum showcases four themes: gentle > raw, classic > theatrical, childish > bizarre, and pragmatic > dreamlike, spotlighting innovative, sustainable, and expressive fabrics. At the heart of the upcoming Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Autumn Edition, the Intertextile D

Insights US tariffs are projected to reach 15 per cent by end of 2025, triggering stagflation domestically and a global demand shock, according to Nomura. While central banks may cut rates, the Fed is likely to stay on hold. China faces export and property headwinds, Europe may benefit long-term, and Japan sees inflation easing. India emerges as a key winner from global supply chain shifts, the report noted. The average US tariffs levels will be around 15 per cent by end of 2025, marking the

Insights The WTO global goods trade saw a strong uptick in early 2025, driven by importers frontloading purchases ahead of anticipated higher tariffs. However, weakening export orders suggest this momentum may not be sustained. It rose to 103.5 from 102.8 in March, while the new export orders index fell to 97.9, pointing to weaker trade growth later this year. The raw materials index showed modest growth. The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) global goods trade posted a strong uptick ear

Insights KPMG forecasts global GDP to slow to 2.7 per cent in 2025 amid rising geopolitical, policy shifts, and economic uncertainty. Business leaders cite volatility, tariffs, and trade disruptions as key concerns. KPMG urges companies to treat geopolitical risk as a strategic asset and stay agile in a shifting, multipolar and uncertain global landscape. The gross domestic product (GDP) internationally is poised to slow from 3.2 per cent in 2024 to 2.7 per cent in 2025 before regaining some