OEKO-TEX has announced a series of updates to its certification standards, coming into effect on October 6, 2025, in line with new European Union regulations on chemicals and consumer safety. Key changes include the introduction of stricter limits on PFOS and related substances across multiple
The Hercules twist number is a fascinating concept that helps quantify the optimal twist in cotton yarns-beyond which the yarn’s strength actually begins to decline. I always like to embrace new challenges, because they help us develop resilience, courage and perseverance. Additionally, we can develop new skills and gain valuable experiences. However, this time the […]
Nora Banaman Abbott, Chief Executive of Sleek Garments Exports Ltd, has warned that Ghana’s textile industry must “move quickly” if the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is not renewed. Abbott argued that the country’s survival strategy must start at home—with citizens and domestic demand. “Why do we advance-pay abroad but make our own […]
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has strongly urged Congress and the Administration to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) well ahead of its September 30 expiry, warning that failure to do so would derail billions in U.S. private-sector investment across Africa and threaten thousands of jobs both in the U.S. and […]
The Lenzing Group, a leading global producer of regenerated cellulose fibres for the textile and nonwoven industries, has expanded its renewable energy portfolio with the commissioning of a new 1.3 MWp photovoltaic (PV) plant at its Lenzing site, developed in partnership with Verbund. This addition increases the company’s total PV capacity to 8.3 MWp, strengthening […]
India’s cotton production for marketing year (MY) 2025/26 is projected at 24.5 million 480-lb bales (5.4 MMT) from 11.2 million hectares, down 2% from earlier estimates, according to the latest USDA report. The decline is attributed to farmers shifting acreage towards more profitable crops such as paddy, pulses and cereals. Despite the lower acreage, yields […]
Kenya has stepped up last-minute negotiations with the United States to secure a reciprocal trade agreement ahead of the looming expiry of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a cornerstone of Africa–US trade relations for more than two decades. A high-level Kenyan delegation, led by Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, traveled to Washington, D.C., […]
Lesotho’s textile industry, the country’s largest private employer and a pillar of its economy, is reeling from sweeping U.S. tariffs that have triggered mass layoffs, shut down factories and shaken one of Africa’s most vulnerable nations. The tariffs, introduced in April under U.S. President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal trade” policy, imposed levies of up to 50 […]
Sri Lanka’s garment exports climbed 5.2% year-on-year in June 2025 to US$ 439.39 million, up from US$ 417.71 million a year earlier, according to the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). The growth was powered by sharp gains in the UK and EU markets, which helped offset declines elsewhere. Exports to the UK surged 20.4% to […]
The Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) reported that U.S. imports of textiles and apparel reached 8.56 billion square metre equivalents (MSME) in June 2025, up 2.5% compared to the same month last year. Textile imports totaled 6.53 billion MSME, a 3.1% increase, while apparel imports edged up 0.5% to 2.04 billion MSME. For the […]





















