Fashion
India’s cotton production holds steady at 311.4 lakh bales: CAI
CAI’s August estimates are: 29.55 lakh bales in the North Zone, 186.50 lakh bales in the Central Zone, 89.50 lakh bales in the South Zone, and 5.85 lakh bales in Odisha and other states.
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has kept its August 2025 cotton production estimate unchanged at 311.40 lakh bales, with higher consumption projected at 314 lakh bales.
Total supply for the 2024-25 season is expected to reach 389.59 lakh bales, including 39 lakh bales of imports.
Exports are forecast at 18 lakh bales, down from 28.36 lakh bales last season.
State-wise estimates are: Punjab – 1.50 lakh bales, Haryana – 8.05 lakh bales, upper Rajasthan – 10.35 lakh bales, lower Rajasthan – 9.65 lakh bales, Gujarat – 77.50 lakh bales, Maharashtra – 90 lakh bales, Madhya Pradesh – 19 lakh bales, Telangana – 49.50 lakh bales, Andhra Pradesh – 12 lakh bales, Karnataka – 24 lakh bales, Tamil Nadu – 4 lakh bales, Odisha – 3.85 lakh bales, and other states – 2 lakh bales.
Total cotton supply until the end of July 2025 is estimated at 374.43 lakh bales, comprising pressings of 302.24 lakh bales, imports of 33 lakh bales, and an opening stock of 39.19 lakh bales.
CAI estimates domestic cotton consumption up to the end of July 2025 at 261.66 lakh bales, while export shipments during the same period are estimated at 16 lakh bales. Stocks at the end of July 2025 are estimated at 96.77 lakh bales, including 32.50 lakh bales with textile mills and 64.27 lakh bales with CCI, the Maharashtra Federation, and others (MNCs, traders, ginners, exporters, etc), including cotton sold but not delivered.
For the full 2024-25 cotton season (ending September 30, 2025), CAI projects total supply at 389.59 lakh bales, compared to the previous estimate of 380.59 lakh bales. This includes the opening stock of 39.19 lakh bales on October 1, 2024, production of 311.40 lakh bales, and imports of 39 lakh bales (up from 15.20 lakh bales in the 2023-24 season).
The CAI has also increased its domestic consumption estimate for 2024-25 to 314 lakh bales, from 308 lakh bales previously. Exports for the season are projected at 18 lakh bales, down from 28.36 lakh bales in 2023-24.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Directed by AJ Duan and photographed by Anton Gottlob in the streets of Shanghai, the hero film captures the poetry of movement in the city’s rush hour – a dance of anticipation as the four characters race towards a reunion. Amid the hum of the streets, fleeting moments of humour, warmth and surprise are revealed like hidden treasures.
Burberry marks the Year of the Horse 2026 with a capsule collection and Shanghai-set campaign starring Chen Kun, Tang Wei, Wu Lei and Zhang Jingyi.
The line reimagines the iconic Knight motif in painterly techniques, anchored in lucky red tones.
Store windows across China and Asia Pacific feature hand-painted designs created with de Gournay and artist Liao Wenjun.
The capsule collection
At the heart of the capsule collection – titled Burberry Year of the Horse Collection – is our house code, the Knight, playfully reinterpreted as a watercolour and ink sketch, brought to life through intricate techniques such as vibrant metallic embroidery, cross-stitch and appliquéd badges.
The horse is a significant motif for Burberry. The original Knight was the winning entry of a public public competition to design a logo for the house, circa 1901. Imbued with symbolism, it represents protection, innovation and Burberry’s forward-looking spirit.
The collection is grounded in red, a symbol of luck and prosperity in Chinese culture, with scarves and daywear in an exclusive new red Burberry Check.
Outerwear pieces include the Berryhill car coat and Floriston quilted jacket in iridescent nylon, while the gifting offering is expanded through soft accessories, bags and small leather goods detailed with the seasonal Knight.
Window and store display
Burberry has partnered with esteemed British hand painted wallpaper brand de Gournay on window designs throughout stores in China and Asia Pacific. The collaboration celebrates the craft and texture of Xuan paper – the traditional Chinese paper used for calligraphy and painting. Both surface and subject, the paper becomes a canvas for painterly expression and a reflection of artistry and heritage, by Chinese artist Liao Wenjun.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
By
Reuters
Published
January 15, 2026
India expects talks on a long-sought trade deal with the European Union to conclude this month, Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Thursday, in what would be New Delhi’s largest agreement as it seeks new markets amid US tariff pressures.
The deal, under discussion for years, is seen as a chance for both sides to deepen economic ties and cut reliance on China and Russia. Bilateral trade between India and the EU totalled 120 billion euros ($140 billion) in 2024, making the bloc India’s biggest trading partner. Agrawal said the two sides were “very close” to finalising the pact and were exploring whether it could be wrapped up before leaders meet in New Delhi this month.
He said talks on a US trade pact were continuing and a deal would be reached when both sides were ready. Negotiations collapsed last year after a breakdown in communication between the two governments.
The president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will visit India on January 25–27 and co-chair an India–EU summit on January 27, India’s foreign ministry said. If concluded, the deal would open India’s vast and heavily protected consumer market of more than 1.4 billion people to European goods and could reshape global trade flows as protectionism rises and a US-India pact remains stalled.
Both sides have been pushing to close a broad agreement after von der Leyen and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to fast-track negotiations in an effort to close a deal in 2025. Talks, relaunched in 2022, gained momentum after US President Donald Trump imposed tariff hikes on trading partners including India.
Brussels has recently signed deals with Mexico and Indonesia and stepped up talks with India, while New Delhi has reached agreements with Britain, Oman and New Zealand.
Some sensitive agricultural items have been excluded from negotiations, an Indian trade ministry official said. India will not open its agriculture or dairy sectors in any trade pact, officials have said, citing the need to protect millions of subsistence farmers.
The EU is pushing for steep tariff cuts on cars, medical devices, wine, spirits, and meat, along with stronger intellectual property rules. India is seeking duty-free access for labour-intensive goods and quicker recognition of its autos and electronics sectors.
Beyond goods, the agreement is expected to expand services trade, investment and cooperation in digital trade, intellectual property, and green technologies, as well as spur European investment in Indian manufacturing, renewable energy ,and infrastructure. Challenges remain over regulatory alignment and the protection of sensitive sectors. The EU’s carbon border levy, which requires importers to account for emissions in steel, cement and other carbon‑intensive products, has started to hit some Indian exports and is a key concern for New Delhi, exporters said.
© Thomson Reuters 2026 All rights reserved.
Louis Vuitton posted modest growth of 2 per cent, taking its brand value to $32.9 billion, though its ranking slipped to third among the world’s most valuable brands. Hermes held on to fourth place, underpinned by its disciplined scarcity approach, craftsmanship-driven positioning, and steady demand across leather goods, apparel, and accessories.
Chanel emerged as the fastest-growing luxury fashion brand in 2025, with brand value surging 45 per cent to $37.9 billion, ranking second globally, as per a recent report.
Apparel-led brands dominated nearly 69.7 per cent of total value.
Louis Vuitton slipped to third despite growth, while Dior was named the strongest brand.
France remained the global luxury hub, followed by Italy and Germany.
Apparel-focused luxury brands dominated the rankings, accounting for nearly 69.7 per cent of total brand value, underscoring fashion’s pivotal role in shaping the global luxury landscape.
Dior strengthened its standing as one of the sector’s most influential fashion houses, with brand value rising 18 per cent to $17.3 billion. Beyond value growth, Dior was named the strongest luxury and premium brand globally, achieving a Brand Strength Index score of 93.5 out of 100. Brand Finance highlighted Dior’s exceptional reputation scores, including a perfect score in the US, alongside strong consideration and recommendation metrics in Europe and North America.
Gucci, despite a 24 per cent decline in brand value to $11.4 billion and a drop to ninth place, remained firmly within the global top 10. Brand Finance noted that while the brand faces a period of transition, its scale, heritage, and global recognition continue to anchor its long-term relevance in luxury fashion.
Geographically, France remained the epicentre of luxury fashion, accounting for 48.7 per cent of total luxury and premium brand value, followed by Italy at 18.4 per cent and Germany at 13 per cent, added the report.
Five of the top 50 brands have earned an esteemed AAA+ brand strength rating—the highest rating awarded by Brand Finance.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
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