The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA), in collaboration with India ITME Society, today formally launched the UK–India Textile Machinery Coalition (UKITMC) at the India ITME Centre in Mumbai, establishing a structured bilateral trade corridor between the United Kingdom and India’s textile machinery sectors. The initiative marks the first dedicated coalition of its kind focused exclusively on textile machinery collaboration between the two countries.

The launch was inaugurated by Chief Guest Vrunda Desai, Textile Commissioner of India, in the presence of Mark Birrell, Trade Counsellor for South Asia, Department for Business and Trade (DBT), British Deputy High Commission. Senior industry leaders including Jason Kent, Chief Executive Officer, BTMA; Ketan Sanghvi, Chairman, India ITME Society; Mark Jarvis, Chief Strategy Officer, Fibre2Fashion; and Amol Monga, Director, Strayfield Ltd, also participated. Parik Goswami, Director — Technical Textiles at the University of Huddersfield, joined the proceedings online.

The British Textile Machinery Association and India ITME Society have launched the UK–India Textile Machinery Coalition (UKITMC) to strengthen bilateral collaboration in textile machinery, technology transfer and sustainable manufacturing.
The platform will connect Indian mills with advanced UK machinery providers through trade forums, webinars and partnerships.

The UKITMC is designed as a long-term platform to connect Indian textile manufacturers with advanced UK machinery and technology providers. It aims to facilitate technology transfer, encourage joint partnerships, and accelerate the adoption of automation, digitalisation, and sustainable manufacturing practices across India’s textile value chain.

India’s textile and apparel industry is targeting a market size of $350 billion by 2030, supported by policy initiatives such as the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) parks and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for technical textiles. With around 53 per cent of Indian mills planning machinery upgrades within the next one to three years, access to advanced and reliable technology is becoming increasingly critical. The coalition seeks to address this need by enabling informed investment decisions and strengthening industry capabilities.

Speaking at the launch, Vrunda Desai highlighted the importance of global partnerships in supporting India’s modernisation journey. She noted that initiatives such as UKITMC align closely with the government’s focus on enhancing productivity, sustainability, and export competitiveness.

Mark Birrell, Trade Counsellor for South Asia, DBT, emphasised the growing importance of the UK–India trade relationship, particularly in the context of the expected implementation of the bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) this year. He noted that zero-duty access on key UK textile machinery imports creates a strong foundation for deeper collaboration and technology exchange.

Jason Kent, CEO of BTMA, described the coalition as a practical step towards building long-term industry linkages. He stated that UK machinery is globally recognised for precision, consistency, and performance, and the coalition would enable Indian manufacturers to leverage these strengths as they move towards higher-value production.

Ketan Sanghvi, Chairman of India ITME Society, added that the initiative complements India’s broader push towards modern, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing. He highlighted that the coalition would help bridge the gap between technology availability and industry adoption.

Amol Monga, Director of Strayfield Ltd, shared his perspective as an Indian-origin leader of a British textile technology company, highlighting the opportunities for deeper industrial collaboration between the UK and India and the growing demand for advanced machinery solutions in the Indian market.

Meanwhile, Mark Jarvis, Chief Strategy Officer at Fibre2Fashion, spoke about the rationale behind the launch of UKITMC, emphasising the need for a structured platform that can connect technology providers, manufacturers and industry stakeholders to accelerate innovation, modernisation and sustainable growth across the textile machinery ecosystem.

The platform will offer multiple engagement formats, including technical webinars, trade delegations, exhibitions, and industry forums, providing stakeholders with opportunities to exchange knowledge, evaluate technologies, and build strategic relationships. It will also promote collaboration around energy-efficient machinery and circular textile solutions, aligning with global sustainability goals.

The launch of UKITMC comes ahead of India ITME 2026, one of the world’s leading textile engineering exhibitions, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for industry collaboration and innovation. By creating a structured framework for engagement, the coalition is expected to support India’s transition towards future-ready manufacturing while strengthening bilateral trade ties between the UK and India.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)

US cotton export sales weakened in the week ending April 30, 2026, with both Upland and Pima cotton witnessing lower demand and shipments compared to the previous week, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) weekly export sales report.

Net sales of Upland cotton for the 2025–26 marketing year declined to 123,300 RB (running bales each weighing 226.8 kg), down 24 per cent from the previous week and 35 per cent below the prior four-week average. The slowdown followed the previous week’s strong rebound, when sales had climbed to 162,900 RB.

US cotton export sales weakened in the week ended April 30, with both Upland and Pima cotton posting lower demand and shipments, according to USDA.
Upland sales fell 24 per cent week on week to 123,300 RB, while Pima sales declined 47 per cent to 11,500 RB. Asian markets, led by Pakistan, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, continued to dominate US cotton buying activity.

Pakistan emerged as the largest buyer during the latest reporting week with purchases of 38,800 RB, followed by India (27,200 RB), Vietnam (18,800 RB), Indonesia (14,400 RB), and Bangladesh (9,100 RB). Reduced demand from South Korea partly offset the gains. The data also showed active switching activity between Asian buyers, including volumes redirected from Vietnam and South Korea.

New crop Upland sales for the 2026–27 marketing year totalled 48,400 RB, led by Guatemala (35,200 RB) and Indonesia (19,000 RB), while reductions for Vietnam limited overall growth. This was lower than the previous week’s 105,700 RB, which had been driven by strong buying from Turkiye, China, and Guatemala.

Export shipments of Upland cotton also softened. Weekly exports fell to 327,500 RB, down 15 per cent from the previous week and 1 per cent below the prior four-week average. Vietnam remained the top destination with 135,000 RB, followed by Bangladesh (29,600 RB), Pakistan (29,100 RB), Turkiye (27,700 RB), and China (20,400 RB).

Pima cotton exports also lost momentum during the week. Net sales for the 2025–26 marketing year declined to 11,500 RB, down 47 per cent from the previous week and 35 per cent below the four-week average. India continued to dominate buying activity with purchases of 6,700 RB, followed by Egypt (1,800 RB), Italy (800 RB), Thailand (600 RB), and Pakistan (600 RB). New crop Pima sales for 2026–27 were limited to 1,300 RB, all destined for Egypt, compared to 11,500 RB in the previous week.

Pima export shipments totalled 14,800 RB, down 17 per cent week on week, although still 52 per cent above the four-week average. Vietnam remained the leading destination with 8,400 RB, followed by India (2,700 RB), China (2,200 RB), Bangladesh (500 RB), and Colombia (400 RB).

Overall, the latest USDA data indicate that US cotton export demand moderated after the previous week’s recovery, with Asian markets continuing to dominate buying activity. Vietnam, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Turkiye remained the key drivers of Upland exports, while India retained its position as the leading buyer of US Pima cotton.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)

Canada’s total apparel imports stood at $*.** billion in January-February ****, down from $*.** billion in the same period last year, indicating slightly softer demand. China’s exports declined sharply to $***.** million, reducing its share to **.** per cent from **.** per cent a year ago, a significant drop in a short span, according to *fashion.com/market-intelligence/texpro-textile-and-apparel/” target=”_blank”>sourcing intelligence tool TexPro.

In contrast, other Asian suppliers strengthened their positions. Bangladesh emerged as a key gainer, with shipments rising to $***.** million and its share increasing to **.** per cent. Vietnam also expanded its footprint, accounting for $***.** million and a **.** per cent share. Cambodia continued its upward trajectory, reaching $***.** million and **.** per cent share. India recorded a marginal increase to $**.** million, with its share improving to *.** per cent.