H&M's turnaround is boosting margins but not shopper share

H&M reported 1 per cent local-currency sales growth in Q3, but Consumer Edge data shows its share lower across 18-34, 35-54 and 55+ shoppers.
The 55+ share averaged 12.0 per cent in January-August, down from 13.8 per cent in the same 2025 stretch.
Zara is holding or growing, and Uniqlo's August share rose more than 20 per cent year on year in every age group.

The UAE and Egypt renewed a five-year currency swap valued at AED 5 billion (~$1.36 billion), equivalent to EGP 69 billion (~$1.32 billion).
The arrangement is aimed at supporting bilateral trade, investment and local-currency settlements between the two markets.
For exporters, importers and sourcing teams, it signals continued official backing for cross-border payment channels.

Germany had around 45.41 million residents in employment in August 2026, down 0.1 per cent month on month after seasonal adjustment.
The unadjusted count fell 0.2 per cent from July and 0.5 per cent from August 2025, extending the year-on-year decline since January 2025.
For apparel and textile employers, the data point to a softer labour market backdrop in Germany.

Turkiye’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.3 percentage point month on month to 7.8 per cent in August 2026, as the number of unemployed declined by 106,000 to 2.74 million.Employment increased by 136,000 to 32.507 million, while the employment rate edged up to 48.4 per cent.Youth unemployment dropped 1.1 percentage points to 13 per cent.

Nike has introduced Apex, its most advanced marathon racing system, pairing four Air Zoom units in two stacked pairs with ZoomX LT foam, Flyknit X and a redesigned carbon fibre Flyplate.
Designed with zero-drop geometry and a 40-millimeter stack height, the shoe delivers up to 40 per cent more energy return than Alphafly 3 in a men's size 10 while weighing over 10 per cent less, and arrives in January 2027.

Dutch manufacturing output prices were 6.8 per cent higher year on year in August 2026, after a 5.1 per cent rise in July, according to the CBS.
Export-market output prices rose 1.3 per cent from July, while domestic prices increased 0.8 per cent.Oil-linked petroleum derivatives and chemicals saw sharper annual price rises, relevant for buyers tracking input-cost pressure.

Kering Accademia per le Eccellenze has launched its first academic year, enrolling more than 1,500 students in over 40 programmes delivered by the Group's Houses and seven partner schools across six Italian regions.
The network offers approximately 62,000 training hours and more than 22,400 internship hours, supported by over 400 master artisans and professionals.

EU and euro area sentiment weakened in September 2026, with ESI at 97.9 in both and employment expectations below long-term average.
Consumer confidence fell and retail trade was stable, signalling softer demand visibility for suppliers to Europe.
Industry confidence improved, but higher price expectations and uncertainty keep cost and order planning mixed for manufacturers and sourcing teams.

China’s outstanding external debt rose 4 per cent from end-March to $2.4982 trillion at end-June, with trade credit and intercompany lending higher.
Goods imports and exports grew 18.4 per cent year on year in Q2, signalling active flows relevant to sourcing and shipment finance.
SAFE said debt-risk indicators stayed within safety thresholds, while yuan debt share rose to 56 per cent.

Asia-Pacific supplied $5.788 billion of the Netherlands' apparel imports in January-July 2026, lifting its share to 53.77 per cent.
Overall imports fell 13.60 per cent to $10.764 billion, while Europe supplied $4.097 billion for a 38.06 per cent share.
Cotton led fibre categories at $5.043 billion, and trousers and shorts led products at $2.638 billion.

Thailand’s economy strengthened in July 2026, with goods exports rising 22.3 per cent year on year and investment approvals increasing 37 per cent in H1 2026.However, rising inflation, softer imports and labour-market pressures kept the recovery uneven, creating mixed conditions for manufacturers and supply-chain businesses across the region.

CBIC has eased customs documentation for importers claiming preferential duties on UK-origin goods under the India-UK CETA.A valid Origin Declaration will generally suffice, with Form-I required only when customs identify specific origin risks.The move reduces paperwork and compliance burdens, potentially speeding up clearance for eligible shipments.

EU road freight carried 13.29 billion tonnes of goods in 2025, up 1.8 per cent from 2024.
Food, beverages and tobacco led transport performance at 311.1 billion tonne-kilometres, relevant for retail and consumer-goods flows.
Textiles, textile products, leather and leather products accounted for 50.83 million tonnes of goods transported by road.

Bangladesh’s RMG exports to the UK rose 3.74 per cent year on year to $915.63 million in July-August FY2026-27, supported by a 10.53 per cent increase in August that offset a 2.44 per cent decline in July.The two-month earnings were 20.86 per cent of full-year FY2025-26 UK RMG export earnings of $4.39 billion, indicating a stronger start to the new fiscal year.

Austria’s apparel imports rose nearly 2 per cent to $3.785 billion in January–June 2026, with Asia-Pacific shipments up 104 per cent to $788.673 million.
Europe remained the top source at $2.817 billion, but its share fell to 74.43 per cent from 86.56 per cent as imports declined by about 12 per cent.
Trousers and shorts led categories at $1.009 billion, or 26.68 per cent of total imports.

Turkiye’s retail trade confidence rose 1.1 per cent to 111.3 in September 2026, with sales expectations for the next three months increasing 3.5 per cent to 128.0.Construction confidence edged down 0.2 per cent to 83.0, while services confidence remained unchanged at 111.9, according to Turkstat.The data offers a snapshot of business sentiment across key sectors.

Turkiye’s fabric imports fell 8.3 per cent year on year to $978.502 million in January–July 2026, from $1.067 billion a year earlier.
China remained the largest supplier, with shipments up 7.7 per cent to $311.971 million and share rising to 31.88 per cent.
Imports from Egypt fell 47.9 per cent to $119.290 million, moving it from second to third among suppliers.

Can Tho Port JSC, Vietnam National Shipping Lines and Beibu Gulf Port Group welcomed the first vessel on a direct Nanning-Can Tho container service on September 24.
The route gives Mekong Delta and southwestern China shippers another river-sea freight corridor.
The service is planned twice monthly, with transit of about seven days and capacity of 500 TEUs.

European Union sea imports reached 1.1 billion tonnes worth €1,270 billion (~$1.44 trillion) in 2025, while seaborne exports totalled 0.5 billion tonnes worth €1,069 billion (~$1.21 trillion).
Maritime transport carried over 72 per cent of the bloc's goods trade by weight.
Air and road took smaller volume shares but higher-value cargo, shaping modal choices for sourcing and logistics teams.

Bangladesh Bank has given raw jute exporters until September 30, 2026 to seek restructuring of classified loans with a 2 per cent down payment.
Banks have until December 31, 2026 to settle applications under unchanged BRPD circular terms.
The move gives distressed jute shippers more time to regularise accounts amid sector-specific financial pressures.

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.