Italy’s exports and imports rose in March 2026, while import prices also increased on a monthly basis, according to official foreign trade and import price data, according to the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat).

Seasonally adjusted exports grew 4.1 per cent in March compared with February, supported by higher shipments to both European Union (EU) and non-EU markets. Exports to EU countries increased 4.7 per cent, while those to non-EU countries rose 3.6 per cent, Istat said in a press release.

Italy’s foreign trade strengthened in March 2026, with exports rising 4.1 per cent and imports 4.8 per cent MoM.
Exports grew 7.4 per cent and imports 8 per cent YoY.
The country recorded a €4.709 billion (~$5.462 billion) trade surplus, rising to €8.643 billion (~$10.026 billion) excluding energy.
Import prices increased 2.5 per cent monthly but edged up only 0.1 per cent annually.

Imports also increased during the month, rising 4.8 per cent from February. Purchases from EU countries grew 5.7 per cent, while imports from non-EU countries were up 3.6 per cent.

In the first quarter of 2026, compared with the previous quarter, seasonally adjusted exports rose 4 per cent, while imports increased 2.3 per cent, indicating stronger trade activity at the start of the year.

On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, exports increased 7.4 per cent in March 2026, while imports rose 8 per cent. Exports to EU countries grew 9.6 per cent, outpacing the 5.1 per cent rise in shipments to non-EU markets. Imports from the EU area increased 8.1 per cent, while those from non-EU countries rose 7.9 per cent.

Italy recorded a trade surplus of €4.709 billion (~$5.462 billion) in March 2026. The country posted a deficit of €1.080 billion with EU countries, but this was offset by a surplus of €5.789 billion with non-EU countries. Excluding energy, the trade surplus stood at €8.643 billion.

Import prices increased 2.5 per cent month-on-month (MoM) in March, with prices from the euro zone rising 1.2 per cent and those from the non-euro zone increasing 3.9 per cent. Over the latest three-month period, import prices were up 1.4 per cent compared with the previous three months.

Compared with March 2025, import prices edged up 0.1 per cent. Prices from the euro zone increased 0.5 per cent, while those from the non-euro zone declined 0.1 per cent.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

India’s textile and apparel exports declined 3.42 per cent in the first month of fiscal 2026-27 (April-March). Apparel exports fell by 11.66 per cent, while textile exports gained by 3.59 per cent, resulting in an overall drop of 11.66 per cent year on year (YoY) in textile and apparel exports during the month. During fiscal year 2025–26 (April–March), textile and apparel shipments declined by 2.21 per cent.

In April 2026, textile and apparel exports dipped to $2.881 billion from $2.983 billion in the same month of the last year. According to an analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), apparel exports slipped to $1.211 billion in April, while textile shipment picked up to $1.670 billion.

India’s textile and apparel exports declined 3.42 per cent year on year to $2.88 billion in April 2026, as an 11.66 per cent fall in apparel exports outweighed a 3.59 per cent increase in textile shipments.
During FY26, overall textile and apparel exports also eased 2.21 per cent to $35.8 billion, reflecting pressure from weak global demand and geopolitical uncertainties.

Category-wise, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products increased 0.57 per cent to $968.38 million. Man-made fibre-based exports gained 2.34 per cent to $392.77 million. Carpet exports rose 9.93 per cent, while handicrafts excluding carpets rose 26.22 per cent, according to the latest trade data, released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Raw cotton and cotton waste imports dipped 6.10 per cent in March to $81.58 million. Imports of textile yarn, fabric and made-ups eased 7.17 per cent to $179.27 million in April 2026.

During FY26, India’s textile and apparel exports declined 2.21 per cent year on year to $35.799 billion, reflecting pressure from weak global demand and geopolitical disruptions. Textile exports fell 2.86 per cent to $20.027 billion, while apparel exports eased 1.36 per cent to $15.772 billion. The sector’s share in India’s total merchandise exports slipped to 8.10 per cent from 8.36 per cent, a year earlier. On the import side, raw cotton and cotton waste imports surged 54.91 per cent to $1.889 billion, while imports of textile yarn, fabric and made-ups rose 5.12 per cent to $2.602 billion, during April 2025-March 2026.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)

New Zealand recently expressed keen interest in continuing duty-free and preferential market access facilities for Bangladesh even after the country graduates from the least developed country (LDC) status.

This was conveyed by New Zealand’s non-resident high commissioner to Bangladesh David Pine during a meeting with Commerce, Industries and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir.

New Zealand is keen on continuing duty-free and preferential market access facilities for Bangladesh even after the country’s LDC graduation, the former’s non-resident high commissioner to the latter David Pine said.
Both sides discussed ways to further expand bilateral trade and investment ties, make use of existing regional trade frameworks and the possibility of signing a comprehensive bilateral FTA.

The two sides discussed ways to further expand bilateral trade and investment ties, make effective use of existing regional trade frameworks and the possibility of signing a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement (FTA).

Muktadir told the envoy the Bangladesh government is according top priority to industrialisation, employment generation and export diversification to strengthen the economy and sustain growth momentum, according to Bangladesh media outlets.

He urged investors from New Zealand to take advantage of Bangladesh’s business-friendly initiatives and invest.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)