American designer, developer, and manufacturer of premium footwear and apparel Rocky Brands, Inc has posted strong financial results for the third quarter (Q3) ended September 30, 2025, marked by higher sales, improved margins, and lower debt levels, with net sales increasing 7 per cent year-over-year (YoY) to $122.5 million.

The gross margin expanded 210 basis points (bps) to 40.2 per cent of net sales, up from 38.1 per cent last year, driven by full-price selling, selective price adjustments, and a favourable product and channel mix.

Rocky Brands, Inc has reported strong Q3 2025 results, with net sales up 7 per cent YoY to $122.5 million and gross margin improving 210 bps to 40.2 per cent.
Net income rose 36.6 per cent to $7.2 million, driven by strong brand demand and pricing strategies.
Debt declined 7.5 per cent YoY, while inventories increased 12.7 per cent to support future growth.

The income from operations rose 16.5 per cent to $11.7 million, while adjusted operating income grew to $12.4 million, or 10.1 per cent of sales. Net income surged 36.6 per cent to $7.2 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, compared to $5.3 million, or $0.7 per diluted share, a year ago. Adjusted net income climbed 33.4 per cent to $7.8 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, Rocky Brands said in a press release.

Interest expenses declined to $2.6 million from $3.3 million, aided by reduced debt levels and lower interest rates. Total debt decreased 7.5 per cent YoY, underscoring improved financial discipline.

Wholesale net sales increased 6.1 per cent to $89.1 million, supported by strong performance from XTRATUF, Georgia Boot, The Original Muck Boot Company, and Rocky. Retail sales grew 10.3 per cent to $29.5 million, reflecting sustained e-commerce momentum, while contract manufacturing improved 4.1 per cent to $3.9 million.

The gross margin expanded to $49.3 million, reflecting gains in both wholesale and retail divisions. Operating expenses rose to $37.6 million, or 30.6 per cent of sales, from $33.6 million, or 29.3 per cent, mainly due to higher logistics, selling, and marketing investments. Excluding acquisition-related amortisation, adjusted operating expenses were $36.8 million, or 30.1 per cent of sales.

Inventories rose 12.7 per cent YoY to $193.6 million, positioning the company to meet demand for the upcoming quarters.

“We delivered another quarter of solid results amidst a challenging operating environment,” said Jason Brooks, chairman, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Rocky Brands. “The improvement in our top line was led by XTRATUF, complemented by strong performances from Georgia Boot, The Original Muck Boot Company, and Rocky. Our price adjustments and sourcing diversification—including our facilities in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico—will help mitigate tariff pressures in the near term. We are confident our strong brand portfolio and agile supply chain will capture growth opportunities in 2026 and beyond.”

As of September 30, 2025, total assets stood at $494 million, compared to $475 million a year earlier. Shareholders’ equity increased to $246.1 million from $228.3 million in September 2024, driven by higher retained earnings, added the release.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

World cotton lint production for 2025 is estimated at 25.4 million tonnes, nearly unchanged from the previous season, surpassing global consumption by 392,000 tonnes, according to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). Global trade fell 7.4 per cent to 9.1 million tonnes in 2024-25, mainly due to a 65 per cent decline in China’s imports, offsetting gains elsewhere.

Tariff escalations have reshaped trade flows and forecasts, with lingering impacts expected into coming seasons. For 2025-26, global cotton area is projected at 30.4 million hectares, with yields averaging 835 kg per hectare—slightly above the decade average. Consumption will continue to be led by China (32 per cent), followed by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkiye, together accounting for 76 per cent of global use, the ICAC said in a press release.

Global cotton lint output for 2025 is estimated at 25.4 million tonnes, steady from last season and exceeding consumption by 392,000 tonnes, ICAC has said.
World trade fell 7.4 per cent to 9.1 million tonnes due to a sharp 65 per cent drop in Chinese imports.
For 2025-26, area and yields remain stable, while Cotlook A Index is forecast between 62–91 cents per pound, with a midpoint of 74 cents.

Additionally, in the 2025-26 season, the top cotton lint producers are estimated to remain the same as last season, with slight changes in their world market share.

ICAC forecasts the Cotlook A Index for 2025-26 in the range of 62–91 cents per pound, with a midpoint of 74 cents, based on current supply and demand conditions.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)

Vietnam’s manufacturing sector strengthened at the start of the final quarter of 2025, as the latest S&P Global Vietnam manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose sharply to 54.5 in October from 50.4 in September. The improvement—the strongest since July 2024—reflected growth across all five sub-components: output, new orders, employment, suppliers’ delivery times, and stocks of purchases.

The sector reported notable gains in output and new orders, while employment expanded for the first time in over a year. Purchasing activity increased, signalling renewed growth in inventories, and business confidence climbed to a 16-month high. At the same time, inflationary pressures intensified, with both input and output prices rising more steeply than in September, S&P said in a press release.

Vietnam’s manufacturing sector gained strong momentum in October 2025 as the S&P Global PMI rose to 54.5 from 50.4, the sharpest improvement since July 2024.
Output, new orders, and employment expanded, while confidence reached a 16-month high.
Input and output prices rose at faster rates amid supply challenges, though overall optimism remained solid despite inflationary and weather-related pressures.

New orders surged for the second month running, driven by improving domestic demand and a slight rebound in new export business—the first in a year. This led manufacturers to boost production at the fastest pace since July 2024, marking six consecutive months of output growth.

Business confidence strengthened to its highest level in 16 months as firms anticipated continued growth in new orders and planned production capacity expansions. In response to rising workloads, manufacturers expanded their workforce for the first time in over a year. Backlogs of work rose at the quickest pace in more than three and a half years, partly due to adverse weather and flooding disrupting operations.

Flood-related disruptions also led to longer supplier delivery times—the most pronounced since July. Despite supply challenges, firms increased purchasing activity for the fourth consecutive month, leading to the first rise in pre-production inventories in over two years. Stocks of finished goods, however, declined slightly as companies fulfilled strong order volumes.

Input cost inflation accelerated sharply in October, with about 27 per cent of surveyed firms citing higher raw material prices and supply shortages. Output prices also rose more steeply, hitting a 40-month high, as producers passed on increased costs to customers.

Overall, the October survey results suggest that Vietnam’s manufacturing sector entered the fourth quarter (Q4) 2025 with robust growth momentum and rising optimism, though escalating cost pressures and weather-related disruptions remain key risks to watch.

“The Vietnamese manufacturing sector moved up a gear in October, seeing much stronger increases in output and new orders during the month. Positively, the strength of the expansions were sufficient to enable firms to take on extra staff and build inventories of inputs,” said Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence. “Whether these growth rates can be sustained in the months ahead remains to be seen, but there is clearly some positive momentum in the sector at present.”

“Inflationary pressures built again, however, and are now relatively elevated. For now, customers are happy to look through price increases and commit to new orders, but this may start to wane should rates of inflation pick up further,” added Harker.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)