Philippines growth forecast falls as exports offer support

AMRO sees Philippine growth easing to 3.4 per cent in 2026, with inflation rising to 5.4 per cent as demand weakens.
Exports and remittances offer support, but apparel sourcing teams face peso pressure, higher energy import bills and softer demand.
Risks include energy prices, extreme weather and delayed public investment; policy is set to stay data-dependent on inflation.

Bangladesh’s RMG exports rose by 11 per cent YoY to $10.10 billion during Q4 FY26, the Bangladesh Bank’s quarterly review of the sector said.The central bank cautioned that the sector faces rising production costs and stiffer competition from rival exporting countries amid persistent global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.The near-term outlook for the sector is moderately positive.

Iran-US tensions and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are adding risks around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb for Indian businesses.Experts warn longer routes could lift freight costs, war-risk premiums and transit times while tightening vessel capacity.Readymade garment exporters to Europe may see pressure on prices, margins, delivery commitments and supply-chain certainty.

Euro area broad money M3 grew 3.4 per cent in July 2026, after 3.3 per cent in June, with the three-month average at 3.2 per cent.
Adjusted loans to non-financial corporations rose 4.4 per cent, signalling credit conditions relevant to suppliers and buyers.
Household loan growth edged to 3.1 per cent, while M1 eased to 3.1 per cent from 3.5 per cent.

Australia’s babywear imports fell 1.38 per cent year on year to $92.732 million during January–June 2026, while average import prices increased.
China’s shipments rose 12.90 per cent to $52.159 million, lifting its share to 56.25 per cent.
India stayed second at $17.053 million, just $512,000 ahead of Bangladesh.
China, India and Bangladesh accounted for 92.48 per cent of imports.

ADB has approved a $400 million regional facility for CAREC border upgrades, targeting smoother movement of people and goods.
For exporters, importers and sourcing teams, the focus is on lower transport and logistics costs across trade corridors.
The BUILD facility will finance road and rail border points, digital systems, inspection equipment and harmonised procedures.

The deepening gas and electricity crises in Bangladesh have been compounded by a sharp rise in global LNG prices and supply shortages coinciding with high power demand.Industrial production has been severely hit, with 70 per cent of the production capacity of gas-dependent factories staying unutilised, pressuring the export sector.The energy crunch is no longer confined to power-intensive industries.

French industrial producer prices rose 1.3 per cent month on month and 4.3 per cent year on year in July 2026, extending June’s acceleration.
Home-market prices rebounded while foreign-market prices slowed monthly but rose faster annually, affecting export pricing signals.
Import prices of industrial products increased 0.8 per cent over a month and 6.6 per cent over a year.

France's manufacturing turnover fell 0.7 per cent in June 2026, after a 1.7 per cent drop in the previous reading, INSEE said.
Seasonally and working-day adjusted data point to weaker European production-linked turnover for textile and apparel sourcing teams.
As turnover indices reflect price and activity, INSEE advised using producer price and industrial production indices to separate the two.

China’s major industrial firms posted 17.6 per cent year-on-year profit growth in January–July, with combined profits reaching 4.58 trillion yuan.Manufacturing profits rose 18.8 per cent, while chemical raw materials and products manufacturing profits jumped 56.6 per cent.For sourcing and materials buyers, stronger high-tech and raw-material earnings point to firm but uneven factory-sector momentum.

Bangladesh plans to unlock the economic potential of its creative industries by bringing the sector into mainstream, raising its contribution to 1.5 per cent of GDP and creating 500,000 jobs.It plans to set up creative hubs for showcasing and marketing region-specific products.The government will support domestic content creators and companies in accessing international markets.

UK administrative tax data shows output per hour grew 1.1 per cent a year over the two years to Q2 2026, contrasting with a Labour Force Survey fall.
The pickup was broad, with 12 of 19 main sectors contributing, signalling economy-wide efficiency gains.
For retail and apparel supply chains, the report points to stronger output from similar workers and sectors rather than job shedding.

Germany’s general government deficit reached €71.3 billion (~$82.9 billion) in H1 2026, with the deficit ratio at 3.1 per cent of GDP.
Central government accounted for most of the rise as spending outpaced higher tax and social contribution receipts.
For apparel and textile supply chains, Germany’s fiscal pressure adds to demand and cost planning priorities.

China's domestic polyester filament yarn market ended the week higher across fine, mid and coarse denier bands, despite soft downstream demand.
TexPro prints show FDY 150D/96F up 4.02 per cent, FDY 75D/36F up 3.31 per cent and FDY 100D/72F up 1.69 per cent.
Higher crude prices, tight PTA availability and a firmer yuan drove the cost-push move.

Aramco signed agreements and a memorandum of understanding with French firms carrying a potential combined value of over $3.7 billion.
They target supply chain resilience, operational continuity, capacity building, technology transfer and innovation.
They cover drilling equipment, Oil Country Tubular Goods and potential Aramco Digital work on industrial AI and virtual/digital twins.

South India cotton yarn was mixed; Mumbai prices rose ₹2-5 per kg for selected counts as shortages and higher cotton costs kept mills firm.
Tiruppur prices stayed stable amid subdued downstream demand, despite cost pressure on spinning mills from rising cotton.
Gujarat cotton was steady; arrivals fell to 12,000 bales, while Shankar-6 traded at ₹69,500-70,000 per candy.

KBR has secured a contract from KMG-Aero and KazFoodProducts for Kazakhstan’s first sustainable aviation fuel plant.
The deal covers licensing of PureSAF technology and proprietary engineering design using an alcohol-to-jet route.
The project is intended to use domestic agricultural feedstocks in low-carbon fuel value chains, aligned with Kazakhstan’s aviation hub ambitions.

Asian polyester filament yarn rose in the week to August 22, with Pakistan up 6.93 per cent, China DTY 150D/48F up 3.41 per cent and India up 2.16 per cent.
Crude, PTA and MEG costs, Hormuz risk and firm freight drove gains despite soft loom use and rising inventories.
Mills and exporters face margin and Q4 FOB pressure; prices may move sideways to firm unless risk eases or PTA supply recovers.

Acrylic staple fibre ended firmer, with both tracked ASF grades up 0.30 per cent between August 14 and 21 on higher input costs.
Caprolactam rose in most regions, while propylene gains in Europe, China and Korea reflected crude-led pressure from the US–Iran conflict.
Winter demand is adding support, but spinning-mill buying remains steady and need-based, keeping ASF in a gradual upward bias.

FedEx says it plans a $150 million integrated air cargo hub over 230,000 square feet at GMR Cargo City, Delhi airport.The company said the hub is designed to lift package processing from 600 to 5,000 packages per hour.Apparel and textile shippers in North and East India could gain stronger global links; construction is expected to start shortly.

Tioxide has recommissioned its Greatham titanium dioxide pigment facility in Hartlepool after LB Group acquired the site and related assets earlier in 2026.
Single-stream production has begun, bringing TIOXIDE and DELTIO pigments back to market for coatings, plastics and inks buyers.
A phased ramp-up targets full operational capacity by early 2027 at the 150,000-tonne-per-year site.

Marmaxx, TJX’s biggest segment combining TJ Maxx and Marshalls, posted second-quarter comparable sales growth of 1 per cent, down from 6 per cent in the previous quarter, after a self-inflicted store-mix slowdown.TJX’s other three divisions delivered 6-7 per cent comp sales increases, and the off-price retailer expects stronger third-quarter trading ahead of back-to-school and holiday selling.

German exports rose 3.9 per cent to €817.8 billion (~$950.9 billion) in H1 2026, while imports grew 4.7 per cent to €712.1 billion (~$827.0 billion).
The trade surplus eased 0.7 per cent as inbound goods outpaced outbound growth, affecting route and demand planning.
China stayed Germany's top trading partner, ahead of the US and the Netherlands.

Shell Lubricants and Hyundai Motor have renewed their global partnership for five years, the fifth renewal since cooperation began in 2005.
Shell remains Hyundai Motor’s recommended global supplier of aftersales lubricants, including Shell Helix engine oils.
The companies will work on e-fluids, thermal management, digital innovation, high-performance mobility and service marketing.

DOST is converting agricultural fibres in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, into yarn and textile products through training and a local Yarn Production Center.The programme gives rice and vegetable farmers added income beyond crops and connects local fibre extraction with weaving.
PWDs and community weavers are gaining skills as the government pushes local inputs and traditional Filipino designs.

Indorama Ventures, Suntory, Suntory PepsiCo Beverage Thailand and Iwatani are partnering to deploy circular PET packaging in Thailand.
The project will introduce patented Flake-to-Preform technology, producing recycled PET preforms equal to about 400 million bottles a year.
Supply to Suntory PepsiCo Beverage Thailand is due to begin in 2028, with potential future opportunities across Southeast

Germany's thyssenkrupp's Carbon2Chem has marked 10 years of developing technologies to use CO2 and renewable hydrogen as raw materials for chemicals, fuels and other products.The project involves over 20 industry and academic partners.Its next phase will include an additional electrolysis hall and a sustainable aviation fuel plant in Duisburg, supporting industrial-scale deployment.

Puma has announced that Johan Adamsson, VP Global Sports Marketing & Sports Licensing, will leave the company on August 31, 2026 after more than 25 years for personal reasons.CEO Arthur Hoeld will oversee Sports Marketing on an interim basis until a successor is named, with an announcement on future leadership expected soon.

China kept its benchmark lending rates unchanged in August, with the one-year LPR at 3 per cent and the over-five-year LPR at 3.5 per cent.The decision was in line with market expectations as H1 2026 GDP grew 4.7 per cent YoY.Monetary policy remains in an observation period, while policymakers are expected to maintain support and adjust tools as needed.

African countries are being urged to leverage China’s zero-tariff treatment to expand exports, attract investment and accelerate industrialisation.Stakeholders said the policy could help African economies move beyond raw-material exports by strengthening processing and manufacturing capacity, improving product quality and developing stronger logistics and trade infrastructure.