Despite softer current conditions, business sentiment improved. Eurozone firms reported their strongest expectations for activity growth since May 2024, although confidence levels remained below the long-run average, S&P Global said in a press release.

Eurozone private sector growth slowed again in January, with the Composite PMI easing to 51.3, its weakest expansion since September.
Services-led softness offset manufacturing gains, while new orders and employment remained subdued.
Despite fragile demand, business optimism improved to its strongest since May 2024.
Inflation pressures intensified, with input costs and output charges rising sharply.

Input cost inflation rose for a third successive month to an eleven-month high, while output charges increased at their fastest pace in nearly a year. Both indicators remained well above their respective historical averages, pointing to a renewed build-up of inflationary pressures.

Among the major eurozone economies, Spain topped the index rankings with a reading of 52.9, despite marking a seven-month low. Germany followed with an index of 52.1, a two-month high but slightly below its flash estimate of 52.5. Italy posted a Composite PMI of 51.4, also a two-month high, while France slipped into contraction territory at 49.1, its weakest level in three months and below the earlier flash reading of 48.6.

“Service companies in the eurozone have expanded their business activities for the eighth month in a row. The growth trajectory can be described as decent, but the situation is still not comfortable. Companies hardly hired any new staff in January. The fact that new business barely grew also shows that the recovery in this sector is still fragile,” said Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank.

The survey data were gathered between January 12 and 27, 2025.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said the sharp tariff reduction is likely to provide an instant boost to sectors such as apparel, textiles, leather and footwear, where global buyers typically finalise summer-season sourcing by December. With improved price parity, greater tariff certainty and renewed buyer confidence, exporters expect a rapid pick-up in orders over the coming months.

India’s exporters have welcomed the India–US trade deal, which cuts US tariffs on Indian goods from around 50 per cent to 18 per cent, saying it will immediately unlock stalled orders.
Industry bodies expect a rapid rebound in textile and apparel exports, improved competitiveness in the US market, renewed buyer confidence, fresh investments, and stronger job creation across labour-intensive sectors.

Hailing the agreement as the ‘Father of All Deals’, S C Ralhan, president, FIEO, said the trade pact marks a major step forward in strengthening bilateral economic ties. “The finalisation of the India–US Trade Deal and the reduction of US tariffs to 18 per cent on Indian-made products is a landmark achievement. It reflects the growing strategic and economic partnership between India and the United States and opens up vast opportunities for Indian exporters, particularly MSMEs,” he said.

Ralhan added that sectors including engineering goods, textiles and apparel, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, leather products, gems and jewellery, and agricultural products are expected to gain significantly. “Lower tariffs will enhance price competitiveness and help Indian exporters integrate more deeply into US supply chains. This will encourage capacity expansion, attract fresh investments and support job creation in export-oriented industries,” he noted.

The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) said the rollback of the punitive US tariff has come as a major relief for India’s textile and clothing industry. SIMA noted that the sudden imposition of a 50 per cent tariff had severely disrupted the manufacturing value chain. SIMA chairman Durai Palanisamy said, “The reduction of the US tariff to 18 per cent, the lowest rate secured by any competing textile and clothing exporting nation, has restored confidence across the industry and is expected to improve India’s global competitiveness.” He added that the move, combined with India’s recent trade agreements with the US, the UK and Europe, is likely to revive export momentum and place the sector back on a sustainable growth path.

He said exporters, particularly in Tamil Nadu, were hit hard, with production levels falling by 30–70 per cent across several units and significant job losses following the tariff hike.

Anant Goenka, president, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), said the agreement marks a significant reset in bilateral economic ties. “The reduction of reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent, following months of negotiations, will materially improve the competitiveness of Indian exports in the world’s largest import market,” he said.

Goenka noted that sectors such as apparel, leather, gems and jewellery, and marine products are poised to benefit from the deal, which could strengthen business confidence and deepen economic engagement between the two countries. “If implemented effectively, the agreement can provide a meaningful boost to India’s export growth trajectory, broaden market access, and underscore the strategic importance of sustained cooperation between the world’s largest democracies,” he added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)