Trade & Market

Rising crude, Freight Costs Squeeze India’s textile sector

Textile Insights March 20, 2026

India’s textile industry is facing renewed pressure as rising crude oil prices and surging freight rates drive up input costs, tightening margins across the value chain. Raw material costs have increased by 20–25% in recent weeks, tracking crude oil prices crossing the US$ 100 per barrel mark.

Trade & Market

West Asia Conflict Risks Disrupting Trade, Energy Supplies: Assocham

Textile Insights March 18, 2026

A prolonged conflict in West Asia involving the United States, Israel and Iran could significantly disrupt global trade and impact India’s energy security, supply chains and export flows, the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has warned. The chamber highlighted the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of […]

Trade & Market

Textile Prices Show Mixed Trend In February WPI Data, Apparel Costs Edge Up

Textile Insights March 17, 2026

India’s latest wholesale price index (WPI) data for February 2026 indicates a nuanced trend for the textile and clothing sector, with selective inflationary pressures emerging across fibre, yarn and apparel segments, even as broader price stability persists in parts of the value chain. According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry data release yesterday,

Trade & Market

PTA, MEG Price Volatility Pressures Polyester Value Chain

Textile Insights March 16, 2026

Rising prices of key polyester raw materials have begun to impact downstream textile manufacturers, as volatility in global crude oil markets continues to influence the synthetic fibre value chain. Prices of Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) and Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG), two major inputs used in the production of synthetic fibres, filaments and yarn, rose by […]

Trade & Market

US Import Cargo Volumes Seen Lower In H1 2026 Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Textile Insights March 16, 2026

Imports at major US container ports are expected to remain below last year’s levels during the first half of 2026, amid continued uncertainty around tariffs, according to the latest Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation in partnership with Hackett Associates. According to Jonathan Gold, Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs […]

Trade & Market

India, Switzerland Signal Stronger Trade Ties Under EFTA Pact

Textile Insights March 4, 2026

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a high-level meeting with Guy Parmelin in New Delhi, highlighting a shared commitment to expand cooperation under the India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) and deepen long-term economic engagement. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, focused on strengthening

Trade & Market

India, GCC Launch FTA Negotiations To Deepen US$ 178 Billion Trade Partnership

Textile Insights March 4, 2026

India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have formally launched negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a significant step toward strengthening one of India’s most strategic economic partnerships. The joint statement on the India–GCC FTA was signed in New Delhi on February 24, 2026, by Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and […]

Trade & Market

RoDTEP Rates Slashed by 50%: Exporters Face Immediate Margin Pressure

Textile Insights February 24, 2026

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification announcing a sharp rationalisation of benefits under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme. With immediate effect, RoDTEP rates across all HS Codes have been reduced to 50 percent of the existing notified rates. In cases where value caps were […]

Trade & Market

US Unveils First US$ 36 Bn Projects Under US$ 550 Bn Japan Trade Deal

Textile Insights February 23, 2026

The United States has launched the first set of investment projects under a newly announced trade agreement with Japan, with the White House unveiling initiatives worth US$ 36 billion as part of Tokyo’s broader US$ 550 billion commitment to invest in the US economy. President Donald Trump described the pact as a massive trade deal, […]

Trade & Market

US Trade Pact To Power Gujarat Exports, Textiles To Lead Surge

Textile Insights February 19, 2026

The India US trade agreement is set to unlock strong export growth for Gujarat, with officials projecting a 100–150 percent rise in medium-term shipments across key sectors. The steep cut in US tariffs on Indian goods from 50 percent to about 18 percent, is expected to sharply improve price competitiveness and stimulate fresh demand in […]