Fashion news

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Sri Lanka’s Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings to B- from CCC+, with a stable outlook.
The agency cites macro-stabilisation reforms, stronger fiscal and external balances and modest foreign-exchange reserve rebuilding.
Exporters, importers and sourcing teams face improved sovereign risk signals, but high debt, thin buffers and rising external repayments remain concerns.

France’s wholesale and retail trade sales volume was virtually stable in July 2026, slipping 0.1 per cent after a 0.3 per cent rise in June.
Retail trade rose 0.8 per cent, supported by specialised and non-specialised stores, including clothing shops.
Wholesale trade declined, signalling uneven demand for suppliers, distributors and retail sourcing teams.

New Zealand’s apparel imports rose 5.8 per cent to NZ$180.01 million in August 2026.
January–August imports slipped 0.7 per cent to NZ$1.377 billion as the decline narrowed from 1.6 per cent.
Knitted or crocheted fabric imports fell 12.4 per cent in August but rose 12.5 per cent in January–August.
Apparel exports fell 5.8 per cent in August, though January–August exports edged up 0.1 per cent.

Germany’s economy is likely to lose momentum temporarily in the third quarter of 2026, with low Rhine water levels, weaker exports and subdued consumption weighing on activity, the Bundesbank said.Industrial output fell sharply in July, while higher energy prices pushed inflation to 2.9 per cent in August.The recovery is expected to regain pace in fourth quarter.

BASF is studying a potential MDI production complex in Dahej, Gujarat, after securing industrial land through BASF India Polyurethanes.
MDI is used in polyurethane products for furniture, consumer goods, insulation, refrigeration and automotive components.
Final decision depends on the study and approvals; BASF says the project could add local supply for India and neighbouring markets.

Egypt is developing eight international logistics corridors linking Red Sea and Mediterranean ports with the Suez Canal, dry ports and industrial, agricultural and mining zones.The projects aim to strengthen trade links with global markets, reduce cargo handling times and logistics costs, and support Egypt’s goal of becoming a major regional logistics hub.

Arkema has secured 3,000 m³ of Glacial Acrylic Acid storage at Ulsan's HDOT terminal, creating a Korean hub for its GAA business.
The capacity aims to improve reliability of acrylic monomer supplies for Korean customers and acrylic-based applications.
It connects production, supply and logistics across Northeast Asia, while ISCC+ certification supports lower-carbon and circular material sourcing.

Fashion and apparel M&A entered 2026 with Skechers’ $63-a-share take-private deal and Prada’s $1.375-billion Versace acquisition showing scale still attracts capital.
PwC says megadeals above $5 billion made up 47 per cent of consumer-markets M&A value through May 2026.
Mid-tier brands face valuation pressure, pointing to more take-privates, distressed sales and brand-IP transactions.

ASEAN and the UK have reaffirmed their economic partnership, with new commitments on trade, investment, supply-chain integration and resilience.Bilateral trade in goods and services reached £62 billion (~$82.7 billion) in 2025, up 17.4 per cent, while UK FDI in ASEAN stood at $9.1 billion.The sides also backed co-operation on digital trade, financial services and green transition.

ASEAN and EFTA adopted a 2026–2030 work plan in Manila under their Joint Declaration on Economic Cooperation.The framework covers free trade agreement implementation, MSMEs, e-commerce, intellectual property, innovation and sustainable trade.It also foresees exploring business missions and business-to-business dialogue, relevant for firms tracking cross-regional sourcing and market access.