Fashion
ICE cotton futures ease as harvest progress matches 5-year average
ICE’s most active December 2025 contract settled at 66.22 cents per pound (0.453 kg), down 0.07 cent. The contract hit an intraday low of 66.11 cents, its weakest level since September 8. Other contracts closed between 62 points lower and 4 points higher.
ICE cotton futures slipped after touching a two-week low, with December 2025 settling at 66.22 cents per pound.
Improved US harvest progress, now at 12 per cent, and weak grain markets pressured sentiment, partly offset by a softer US dollar.
Analysts said demand remains steady, but traders stay cautious ahead of peak harvest.
Brazil’s September exports fell 13.61 per cent year-on-year.
A weaker US dollar, which ended a three-day winning streak against the euro and Swiss franc, lent some support to cotton. However, falling crude oil prices exerted downward pressure, as lower polyester production costs weighed on sentiment.
Total trading volume stood at 32,669 contracts, compared with 27,722 on Friday. Average daily volume for the week was 32,928 contracts. CFTC data showed speculators cut net short positions by 9,139 contracts, leaving 65,507 contracts short as of September 16. ICE-certified deliverable cotton stocks were unchanged at 15,474 bales as of September 19.
US harvest progress reached 12 per cent, up from 9 per cent last week and matching the five-year average, though slightly behind 13 per cent last year. USDA’s weekly crop progress report pegged cotton quality at 47 per cent, down from 52 per cent last week but above 37 per cent a year earlier.
Analysts said demand expectations remain decent, but traders are cautious ahead of the main harvest.
Brazil’s Secex reported exports of 104,616.47 tons in the first three weeks of September, averaging 6,974.43 tons per day, down 13.61 per cent from last year’s 8,073.20 tons per day.
US stock markets saw all three major indices hit record highs for the third consecutive day, supported by an interest rate cut and expectations of further easing in 2025. Wheat futures hit a new contract low on uncertainty over Chinese demand, while CBOT soybean futures fell to a six-week low amid a weak US export outlook.
Currently, ICE cotton for December 2025 is trading at 66.16 cents per pound (down 0.06 cent), cash cotton at 64.22 cents (down 0.07 cent), the October 2025 contract at 64.32 cents (down 0.62 cent), the March 2026 contract at 68.08 cents (down 0.10 cent), the May 2026 contract at 69.49 cents (down 0.08 cent) and the July 2026 contract at 70.59 cents (down 0.01 cent). A few contracts remained at their previous closing levels, with no trading recorded today.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Fashion
Vietnam targets GDP growth of at least 10% in 2026
The Ministry of Finance is giving the final touches to a draft resolution that lays out an initial road map to achieve these numbers.
Vietnam’s National Assembly recently approved several socio-economic targets for next year that include GDP growth of at least 10 per cent, GDP per capita of $5,400-$5,500, a rise in consumer price index of around 4.5 per cent and labour productivity gains of 8.5 per cent.
Exports are expected to rise by about 8 per cent in 2026, while retail sales of goods and services are targeted to rise by 11 per cent.
Total social investment is projected at nearly 4.93 quadrillion VND ($189 billion)—up by 18.7 per cent year on year (YoY) and equivalent to 33-33.7 per cent of GDP.
Exports are expected to rise by about 8 per cent in 2026, delivering a trade surplus of around $28 billion, while retail sales of goods and services are targeted to rise by 11 per cent, with a stretch target of 12 per cent.
Industrial hubs like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Da Nang and Dong Nai are also chasing double-digit gains.
Less affluent provinces like Son La, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Vinh Long, Dong Thap and Ca Mau are also targeting 8-per cent or better regional GDP growth, a domestic news agency reported.
The National Assembly has outlined 11 key task groups and solutions. The government has instructed relevant agencies to break these down into concrete, actionable plans under the resolution.
Core focuses include accelerating institutional reforms for greater transparency, consistency and equity in investment and business rules to unlock productive forces and pool resources; advancing a new growth model and economic restructuring; and ensuring timely delivery of strategic and critical infrastructure projects.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Fashion
China’s electricity demand remains robust in November
Power use rose 6.2 per cent year on year (YoY) to 835.6 billion kilowatt-hours in November. Electricity consumption in the secondary industry increased by 4.4 per cent, reflecting stable industrial activity.
China’s electricity consumption grew steadily in November, indicating resilient economic activity, as per official data.
Power use rose 6.2 per cent YoY to 835.6 billion kilowatt-hours, with secondary industry consumption up 4.4 per cent.
Residential demand increased 9.8 per cent.
In the first eleven months, total electricity consumption climbed 5.2 per cent YoY to about 9.46 trillion kilowatt-hours.
Residential electricity uses also remained robust, rising 9.8 per cent to 105.7 billion kilowatt-hours during the month, as per Chinese media reports.
In the first eleven months of the year, China’s total electricity consumption grew 5.2 per cent YoY to approximately 9.46 trillion kilowatt-hours, pointing to sustained demand despite broader economic challenges.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Fashion
Climate change may hit RMG export earnings of 4 nations by 2030: Study
This translates to a 22-per cent reduction in export earnings versus a climate-adaptive scenario.
The apparel industries in Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan and Bangladesh may lose up to $65.8 billion in export earnings by 2030 and create a million fewer jobs due to the impact of climate changes if they make no efforts to manage heat stress and higher flooding, a study revealed.
Under the no-adaptation scenario, estimates for export earnings by 2050 are 68.8 per cent lower than in the adaptation scenario.
The estimates for 2050 are even worse. With the compounding effect of slower growth under the no-adaptation scenario, estimates for export earnings are 68.8 per cent lower than in the adaptation scenario.
The analysis also predicts that in these four countries, the employment levels in a no-adaptation scenario would be 8.64 million lower in 2050 than in the adaptative scenario.
The International Labour Organization’s Better Work team offered inputs for the study.
Extreme weather is already disrupting production, delaying orders and threatening workers’ health and incomes. As heat waves and floods become more severe and frequent, worker health, productivity, job creation, and earnings are increasingly at risk, Better Work said in a release.
Despite these challenges, there is reason for optimism. Action is under way across the apparel sector. Governments are introducing and enforcing new standards on workplace heat, ventilation, rest breaks, and access to water.
Global brands are adopting voluntary standards to better manage extreme heat and flooding risks across their supply chains. Manufacturers are training workers to identify and respond to heat stress and related illnesses.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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