China’s foreign exchange reserves declined to $3.3421 trillion at the end of March 2026, down $85.7 billion, or 2.5 per cent, from the end of February, according to official data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

It attributed the decline to a combination of external financial factors. In March, the US dollar index strengthened, while prices of major global financial assets fell, reflecting shifts in the global macroeconomic environment, monetary policy adjustments by major economies, and evolving market expectations.

China’s forex reserves fell by $85.7 billion to $3.3421 trillion in March 2026, impacted by a stronger US dollar and declining global asset prices.
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange cited exchange rate and valuation effects, while noting that steady economic performance continues to support overall reserve stability.
The reserves remain among the world’s largest.

It also noted that exchange rate conversion effects and changes in asset prices together led to the reduction in reserves during the month. 

Despite the decline, China’s economy maintained steady and improving performance, supported by emerging higher-quality development drivers. This stability has provided a solid foundation for keeping the country’s foreign exchange reserves broadly stable, said Chinese media reports. 

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) monetary policy committee (MPC) today decided to keep the repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 5.25 per cent.

Consequently, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate remains at 5 per cent and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate remain at 5.5 per cent.

India’s central bank has decided to keep the repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility unchanged at 5.25 per cent.
Elevated energy and other commodity prices coupled with supply shock due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz would act as a drag on FY27 domestic production.
India’s FY27 real GDP growth is projected at 6.9 per cent, while CPI inflation for the fiscal is projected at 4.6 per cent.

The committee, which held its 60th meeting from April 6 to 8 under the chairmanship of RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra, also decided to continue with the neutral stance, the monetary policy statement released after the meeting said.

Elevated energy and other commodity prices coupled with supply shock due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz would act as a drag on domestic production in fiscal 2026-27 (FY27), the statement noted.

Heightened volatility in global financial markets with its spillover on domestic financial conditions would weigh on growth prospects, it said.

Merchandise exports may be adversely affected from disruptions to key shipping routes and the concomitant rise in freight and insurance costs in case the conflict is long-drawn, it added.

India’s FY27 real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected at 6.9 per cent, with the first quarter (Q1) at 6.8 per cent; Q2 at 6.7 per cent; Q3 at 7 per cent; and Q4 at 7.2 per cent.

Further escalation of the conflict, its continuation over a wider geographical spread and uncertainty regarding the damage to the energy infrastructure, apart from weather related events, pose downside risks to the domestic growth outlook.

Consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation for FY27 is projected at 4.6 per cent, with Q1 at 4 per cent; Q2 at 4.4 per cent; Q3 at 5.2 per cent; and Q4 at 4.7 per cent. Persistently elevated energy prices due to the Middle East conflict and possible El Nino conditions pose upside risks to inflation.

Core inflation is projected at 4.4 per cent for FY27 and, excluding precious metals, it is even lower, indicating that underlying inflation pressures are expected to remain contained, the statement observed.

With the rupee depreciating, RBI would then work to keep inflation within its target range of 2-6 per cent.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

India’s demand for textiles saw robust growth during the last 15 years, with its market size increasing from ₹4.89 trillion ($52.54 billion) in 2010 to ₹14.95 trillion ($0.16 trillion) in 2024—a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3 per cent, according to a new report on domestic demand of textiles.

Out of total market size, the contribution of households has increased from ₹4.18 trillion in 2010 to ₹8.77 trillion in 2024 and played a pivotal role in driving the domestic demand of textiles in the country.

India’s demand for textiles saw robust growth during the last 15 years, with its market size increasing from $52.54 billion in 2010 to $0.16 trillion in 2024—a CAGR of 8.3 per cent, according to a new report.
Households played a pivotal role in driving the domestic demand.
Cotton maintained its position as the second most important fibre.
Women contributed 55.5 per cent of textile product purchases.

Indian Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh released the report titled ‘Market for Textiles & Clothing: National Household Survey 2024’. The study was conducted by the Textiles Committee under his ministry.

At the same time, the per capita demand increased from ₹2,119 in 2010 to ₹ 6,066 in 2024 experiencing a CAGR of 7.8 per cent, reflecting a strong growth trajectory.

Man-made fibre (MMF)- and blended fibre-based products are contributing 52.2 per cent, followed by 41.2 per cent by cotton based products. On the other hand, silk- and woollen fibre-based products are contributing 5.2 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively to the product basket, a release from the Ministry of Textiles said.

In absolute terms, the demand for MMF and blended textiles recorded the most significant growth, with demand increasing from ₹1.47 trillion to ₹4.47trillion, with a CAGR of 8.28 per cent.

Cotton maintained its position as the second most important fibre, with aggregate demand increasing from ₹0.87 trillion to ₹3.53 trillion, with a CAGR of 10.53 per cent.

The demand for silk- and wool-based products increased at CAGRs of 8.93 per cent and 7.02 per cent respectively during the period.

While cotton-based products retained their position as one of the major contributors in terms of preference patterns of consumers, the preference towards MMF-based products increased substantially during the period.

Women consumers contributed 55.5 per cent of textile product purchases compared to 44.5 per cent by men.

Shirts, sarees, trousers, salwar kameez, men’s denims, T-shirts, ladies dress material, shirting, dhoti, vests and underwear remained the most widely demanded products in the domestic market.

Men’s denims emerged as the fastest-growing category with a robust growth in the menswear segment, while products like leggings emerged as preferred products among women.

There is a growing demand for sustainable textile products among Indian consumers. The total demand for sustainable textile product was estimated as ₹370 billion in 2024, out of which reused and retailored products accounted for around 58 per cent of the consumption basket.

The report also highlighted increasing adoption of technical textile products like masks, sanitary napkins, tents, seat covers, wipes, diapers, bandages and surgical disposables in household consumption basket, both in rural and urban areas.

Rural households account for nearly 58 per cent of the consumption of technical textile products.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)