Fashion
Philippines manufacturing PMI rebounds to 50.1 in Oct: S&P
Despite the slight rebound, the underlying data pointed to contrasting movements. New orders and export orders both recorded sharper declines, with panellists citing subdued domestic demand, weaker overseas interest, and weather-related disruptions affecting production. Output remained in contraction territory, though the pace of decline eased to only a marginal level, S&P Global said in a press release.
Purchasing activity fell for the first time in nearly two years, ending a 22-month growth streak, while delivery times lengthened to the greatest extent in three months. Yet, manufacturers displayed renewed optimism about future output and increased staffing levels, suggesting confidence in a gradual recovery.
The Philippines’ manufacturing sector stabilised in October, with the S&P Global PMI inching up to 50.1 from 49.9, signalling broadly steady conditions.
Output and new orders remained weak amid sluggish domestic and export demand, while purchasing activity declined for the first time in nearly two years.
Yet, cost pressures eased, staffing rose, and business confidence improved.
On pricing, cost pressures softened further in October, marking the weakest rate of input inflation in three months. Firms that reported higher costs attributed them to rising supplier and material prices.
The October PMI thus reflected a manufacturing sector in balance—holding steady between contraction and expansion—amid challenging demand conditions but improving business sentiment.
“A closer examination of the Philippines PMI data revealed a mixed picture in October. The two largest segments, new orders and output, indicated further declines. Additionally, fresh contractions were observed in new export orders and purchasing activity, highlighting underlying demand conditions,” said Maryam Baluch, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. “On a more positive note, manufacturers grew more optimistic about their growth prospects for output in the coming year. Companies also continued increasing their workforce numbers, with the latest rise in staffing numbers the strongest in three months.”
“Furthermore, cost pressures remain subdued and ebbed further, providing manufacturers with some flexibility in price setting. In response, several have opted to reduce their selling prices, in an effort to stimulate demand in a currently subdued market environment,” added Baluch. “The sector has now remained in sluggish territory for most of the second half of 2025 so far. Whether it can see a notable recovery in performance in the coming months will depend greatly on efforts to stimulate consumer demand.”
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
The pivot is urgent because the old model is under pressure. April **** looked strong: Ready-Made Garment (RMG) exports rose **.** per cent year on year to $*.** billion. But the ten-month picture is weaker. From July-April FY****–**, apparel exports stood at $**.** billion, down *.** per cent. Knitwear fell *.** per cent to $**.** billion; woven fell *.** per cent to $**.** billion. The rebound is real, but so is the drag underneath.
AWARE is the sharpest EU-facing signal: blockchain-backed product data for Digital Product Passport (DPP) readiness. Open Supply Hub adds the factory-identity layer, pushing production information into an open platform. GIZ brings the longer reform spine, from May **** to February ****, covering energy efficiency, circularity, chemical management, renewable-energy skills and textile-waste transparency.
Kenneth Straka, Senior Product Development Manager at Deckers Outdoor Corporation, said that Deckers places strong emphasis on sustainability, noting that founder John Luke often reminded the team that the French word for sustainability is durability. This idea aligned with discussions at the Global Fashion Summit, where the theme centred on “Building Resilient Futures” in the sustainable and circular economy.
Durability has helped UGG become one of the most sought-after boot brands and a key sales driver for Deckers, alongside its sportswear brand Hoka. “One of the things we think about in terms of circularity is making products that last a long time and remain with consumers throughout their lives. We want products that consumers can wear for ** or ** years,” Straka said in an interview with Fibre*Fashion on the sidelines of the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen.
In the Tiruppur market, cotton yarn prices increased by ****;*–* per kg in this week despite sluggish local demand. Prices were quoted higher because of limited supply from spinning mills. A trader from the Tiruppur market told Fibre*Fashion, “Domestic demand remained limited, but spinning mills are not relying solely on the domestic market for cotton yarn sales. They are focusing more on exports, where demand and prices remain attractive. Mills have raised yarn prices following higher ICE cotton prices and the CCI’s increase in auction base prices, although ICE cotton has witnessed a sharp decline over the past two days.”
In Tiruppur, knitting cotton yarn prices were noted as: ** count combed cotton yarn at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg (excluding GST), ** count combed cotton yarn at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg, ** count combed cotton yarn at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg, ** count carded cotton yarn at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg, ** count carded cotton yarn at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg, and ** count carded cotton yarn at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg.
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