The European Commission has approved a €6 billion (~$6.5 billion) Italian state aid scheme to boost renewable hydrogen production for transport and industrial use, aligning with the EU Hydrogen Strategy and Clean Industrial Deal. The programme targets an annual output of 200,000 tonnes, covering hydrogen produced via renewable-powered electrolysis as well as biogenic and thermochemical processes.

Support will be provided through two-way contracts for difference, where a competitively determined strike price ensures revenue stability. If alternative fuel prices fall below this level, the Italian government will compensate producers; if they exceed it, producers will repay the difference. The scheme will run until 31 December 2029.

The European Commission has approved a €6 billion (~$6.5 billion) Italian state aid scheme to produce 200,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually.
Using contracts for difference, the programme will support decarbonisation in transport and industry by ensuring price stability, while promoting investment, competitiveness, and emissions reduction across high-impact sectors.

The Commission concluded that the measure is necessary, proportionate, and incentivises investment that would not occur without public support. It also found that the environmental benefits, particularly in reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors, outweigh potential competition distortions.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)

Total apparel imports (HS ** and ** combined) stood at NZ$***.** million (~$***.** million) in January–February ****, down from NZ$***.** million in the same period of ****, marking a decline of **.* per cent year on year.

The country’s imports of knitted apparel (HS **) fell to NZ$***.** million (~$***.** million) in the first two months of current year, compared with NZ$***.** million a year earlier, registering a decline of **.** per cent. Similarly, non-knitted apparel (HS **) imports dropped to NZ$***.** million (~$**.** million) from NZ$***.** million, reflecting a decrease of **.** per cent. The parallel contraction across both segments indicates broad-based weakness in garment imports rather than category-specific pressure.

The Indian rupee’s breach of the ₹95/$ mark is more than a currency headline; it is a structural shift that will ripple across sourcing, costing, exports, and demand in the textile and apparel (T&A) industry. With the currency logging its worst annual fall in 14 years, nearly 10–11 per cent depreciation in FY26, the sector now faces a dual reality: short-term export gains and long-term cost inflation risks.

A perfect storm behind the rupee slide

The current depreciation is not cyclical; it is geopolitical and structural.

The Indian rupee’s sharp fall is creating a dual impact, boosting export competitiveness while simultaneously inflating input, energy, and logistics costs.
MMF segments are most exposed, as import dependence erodes margin gains from currency depreciation.
Demand weakness in the US and EU limits the benefit of improved pricing, creating a cost–demand mismatch.

• Oil shock from Middle East conflict: Brent crude surged past $110–115/barrel, sharply increasing India’s import bill
• Foreign capital outflows: Over $19 billion exited Indian equities, pressuring the currency
• Strong US dollar and high interest rates: Capital shifting towards dollar assets
• Trade and geopolitical uncertainty: Weakening investor confidence and export outlook

Together, these forces have pushed the rupee to record lows, with risks of further depreciation if conditions persist.

The Indian rupee’s fall past ₹95 per US dollar marks its steepest annual decline in 14 years, representing a critical moment for the textile and apparel (T&A) industry, reshaping cost structures, export competitiveness, and sourcing strategies simultaneously. While a weaker rupee traditionally boosts exporters by improving rupee realisations on dollar-denominated sales and enhancing India’s price competitiveness against peers like Bangladesh and Vietnam, the current depreciation is occurring alongside a sharp rise in crude oil prices and global uncertainty, creating a far more complex operating environment.

The industry’s heavy dependence on imported inputs, particularly in the man-made fibre (MMF) value chain, including polyester, PTA, MEG, dyes, and specialty chemicals, means that the currency shock is directly translating into higher raw material costs. This is further compounded by rising energy and logistics expenses, as fuel-linked inflation drives up power tariffs, freight rates, and processing costs across spinning, dyeing, and finishing segments. As a result, the initial export margin gains are already being diluted, especially for MMF-based manufacturers and vertically integrated players with significant import exposure.

At the same time, rupee volatility is intensifying working capital pressures across the value chain. Higher input costs are inflating inventory values, while fluctuating exchange rates are making export realisations less predictable and increasing the cost of hedging. For small and mid-sized enterprises, this could tighten liquidity cycles and increase dependence on short-term financing.

On the demand side, the situation remains equally challenging: key export markets such as the US and EU are grappling with inflation, cautious consumer spending, and elevated retail inventories, limiting order visibility despite improved pricing competitiveness from India. This creates a structural paradox where Indian suppliers are more cost-effective globally yet face subdued demand and heightened price resistance from international buyers.

Segment-wise, cotton textiles stand relatively insulated due to lower import dependency, whereas MMF and synthetic segments face the sharpest cost pressures, and garment exporters operate in a narrow margin band between currency gains and demand weakness.

In response, the industry is already undergoing strategic recalibration. Manufacturers are gradually shifting towards cotton and blended products to reduce exposure to volatile petrochemical inputs, while also strengthening foreign exchange risk management through increased hedging. There is a renewed push towards supply chain localisation, particularly for chemicals and trims, alongside efforts to renegotiate pricing with global buyers though with limited success in a demand-constrained environment.

Looking ahead, much will depend on the trajectory of crude oil prices, the potential for further rupee depreciation towards the ₹100/$ mark, and the effectiveness of policy interventions in stabilising currency markets. Ultimately, the rupee’s sharp fall is proving to be a double-edged sword for the T&A sector: offering short-term export advantages, but simultaneously accelerating cost inflation and exposing structural vulnerabilities, thereby forcing companies to prioritise efficiency, agility, and financial discipline in an increasingly volatile global trade landscape.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DL)