Fashion
Philippines manufacturing PMI rebounds to 50.1 in Oct: S&P
Despite the slight rebound, the underlying data pointed to contrasting movements. New orders and export orders both recorded sharper declines, with panellists citing subdued domestic demand, weaker overseas interest, and weather-related disruptions affecting production. Output remained in contraction territory, though the pace of decline eased to only a marginal level, S&P Global said in a press release.
Purchasing activity fell for the first time in nearly two years, ending a 22-month growth streak, while delivery times lengthened to the greatest extent in three months. Yet, manufacturers displayed renewed optimism about future output and increased staffing levels, suggesting confidence in a gradual recovery.
The Philippines’ manufacturing sector stabilised in October, with the S&P Global PMI inching up to 50.1 from 49.9, signalling broadly steady conditions.
Output and new orders remained weak amid sluggish domestic and export demand, while purchasing activity declined for the first time in nearly two years.
Yet, cost pressures eased, staffing rose, and business confidence improved.
On pricing, cost pressures softened further in October, marking the weakest rate of input inflation in three months. Firms that reported higher costs attributed them to rising supplier and material prices.
The October PMI thus reflected a manufacturing sector in balance—holding steady between contraction and expansion—amid challenging demand conditions but improving business sentiment.
“A closer examination of the Philippines PMI data revealed a mixed picture in October. The two largest segments, new orders and output, indicated further declines. Additionally, fresh contractions were observed in new export orders and purchasing activity, highlighting underlying demand conditions,” said Maryam Baluch, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. “On a more positive note, manufacturers grew more optimistic about their growth prospects for output in the coming year. Companies also continued increasing their workforce numbers, with the latest rise in staffing numbers the strongest in three months.”
“Furthermore, cost pressures remain subdued and ebbed further, providing manufacturers with some flexibility in price setting. In response, several have opted to reduce their selling prices, in an effort to stimulate demand in a currently subdued market environment,” added Baluch. “The sector has now remained in sluggish territory for most of the second half of 2025 so far. Whether it can see a notable recovery in performance in the coming months will depend greatly on efforts to stimulate consumer demand.”
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
A total of 25 pilot investments led by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have progressed from the lab to near-market stage under RegioGreenTex, a three-year European Union (EU)-funded project that recently concluded. Most of these are expected to be commercialised within one to three years.
Twenty five pilot investments led by SMEs moved from lab to near‑market under RegioGreenTex, an EU-funded project that ended recently.
Most of these are expected to commercialise in one to three years.
Five regional hubs mapped SME needs and developed services and value chains as well as tools to help SMEs.
These are now open for collaboration and the pilot portfolio is primed for investors and adopters.
At least 70 per cent of the EU grant was allocated to SMEs. A total of 43 partners from 11 regions across eight countries participated in the project, leveraging their expertise towards a common goal of advancing industry and research.
RegioGreenTex was one of the first projects funded under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument programme that focused on process, service and business model innovation, developing advanced textile recycling technologies, regional recycling hubs, and a digital ecosystem for matchmaking and capacity building.
Five regional hubs mapped SME needs and developed services and value chains as well as tools that keep helping SMEs, an official release said.
The RegioGreenTex Digital Tool keeps matchmaking, sharing trainings and hosting the participants’ knowledge base.
The Waste Wizard shows how artificial intelligence-enhanced matchmaking can link leftover textiles with the right reuse or recycling routes.
From recycled-content yarn processes (Tintex) to Recycrom low-impact dyeing (Officina39), ultrasonic quilting for full recyclability (Rovitex) and hybrid recycled-fibre yarns (Hilaturas Mar), the pilots showed concrete, repeatable ways to cut impact without losing performance.
The hubs are now open for collaboration, the digital tools are live and the pilot portfolio is primed for investors and adopters.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
While trends in high frequency indicators for January-February 2026 appear favourable, the heightened uncertainty around the duration of the Middle East conflict casts a shadow on the near-term macroeconomic outlook for India amid high import dependency for items like crude oil, natural gas and fertilisers, it noted.
India’s FY27 GDP growth is likely to slow to 6.5 per cent from the projected 7.5 per cent in FY26 owing to the impact of higher energy prices and concerns around energy availability, ICRA Ratings said.
The heightened uncertainty around the duration of the Iran war casts a shadow on the near-term macroeconomic outlook for India.
If the conflict lasts longer, the adverse effects could widen across sectors.
If the conflict lasts for an extended period, the adverse implications of the same could widen across sectors, amid an uptick in input costs and the consequent impact on profitability of the India corporate sector.
Amid the projected uptrend in the consumer price index-based inflation in FY27 with risks tilted to the upside, ICRA Ratings expects an extended pause on the policy rates by the central bank’s monetary policy committee in the fiscal despite the anticipated softening in the GDP growth. However, it expects the Reserve Bank of India to continue to intervene on the liquidity front during FY27.
The available data for January–February FY2026 indicate a positive trend across most non-agricultural indicators, with the year-on-year performance of 12 out of 18 indicators improving compared to the third quarter of FY26, while the remaining six deteriorated.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Indonesia’s apparel exports rose modestly to $8.705 billion in 2025 from $8.316 billion in 2024, reflecting gradual recovery.
The US remained dominant, accounting for over 56 per cent of shipments, highlighting growing market dependence.
While Japan, South Korea and Europe offered stability, exports stayed concentrated in key products and segments.
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