Fashion
Switzerland’s Rieter orders steady at $907 mn amid cautious market
The components division generated CHF 193.5 million (~$249.6 million) in orders amid cautious investment in new machinery, while the After Sales division posted a 6 per cent increase to CHF 163.6 million, supported by expanded service networks and stronger activity in Central Asia and China.
Rieter has reported stable 2025 order intake of CHF 703.4 million (~$907.4 million) despite market uncertainty, while sales fell 20 per cent to CHF 685.1 million (~$883.8 million).
Cost controls delivered positive operating EBIT, but Barmag-related charges led to a net loss.
The Barmag acquisition expands fibre capabilities.
For 2026, Rieter projects CHF 1.3-1.5 billion ($1.68-1.94 billion) sales.
Group sales declined 20 per cent YoY to CHF 685.1 million (~$883.8 million) from CHF 859.1 million, reflecting subdued market demand. Sales in Machines and Systems dropped 23 per cent to CHF 329.1 million, Components fell 19 per cent to CHF 200.8 million, and After Sales decreased 17 per cent to CHF 155.2 million. Order backlog stood at around CHF 510 million at the end of 2025, Rieter said in a press release.
Despite weaker sales, Rieter achieved a positive operating EBIT of CHF 2.5 million through cost control measures. However, restructuring expenses and transaction costs related to the Barmag acquisition, totalling CHF 54.2 million, resulted in a net loss of CHF 63.4 million for the year compared with a net profit of CHF 10.4 million in 2024. Free cash flow turned negative at CHF 40.6 million, although net liquidity improved to CHF 184.3 million following a capital increase completed in October 2025.
Given the negative earnings, the board has proposed no dividend distribution while reaffirming its long-term policy of paying at least 40 per cent of net profit. The equity ratio strengthened to 53.3 per cent at the end of 2025, reflecting the capital raise linked to the acquisition.
Rieter completed the acquisition of Barmag on February 2, 2026, integrating the business as its new Man-Made Fiber Division. The move expands the company’s capabilities beyond short-staple fibre machinery, positioning it as a system supplier across natural and man-made fibre processing and strengthening technological capabilities in automation and digitisation.
The company expects at least CHF 20 million in synergies from the acquisition and has outlined new medium-term scenarios. Depending on market conditions, annual sales could range from CHF 1.4 billion with 2-5 per cent operating margins in a subdued environment to CHF 2.2 billion with margins of 8-11 per cent under strong demand.
For 2026, which Rieter described as a transition year, the group forecasts sales between CHF 1.3 billion and CHF 1.5 billion ($1.68-1.94 billion) and a positive operating EBIT margin of 0-3 per cent as integration and restructuring initiatives progress. Financing for the combined entity’s development is fully secured.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Fashion
Top Vietnamese, Chinese leaders hold talks on advancing cooperation
China will step up building a higher-level China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Chinese President Xi Jinping said while holding talks with visiting Vietnamese President To Lam.
China and Vietnam are accelerating efforts to navigate bilateral trade towards a more balanced and sustainable course.
President Xi Jinping recently held talks with visiting Vietnamese President To Lam.
During the visit, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung called for a restructuring of production, trade and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.
Xi said both countries should work together in their modernisation drive, accelerate the alignment of development strategies and prioritise infrastructure connectivity.
While meeting Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao during the state visit, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung called for a restructuring of production, trade and supply chains alongside stronger investment cooperation.
Wang said both sides should focus on implementing the high-level common perceptions, including raising bilateral trade turnover to $500 billion in future.
Hung urged China to expand imports of Vietnamese goods, broaden the list of products eligible for tariff preferences and further open its market. He also called for the mutual recognition of quarantine results for agro-forestry-fishery products, facilitation of Vietnamese exports via cross-border e-commerce, and expansion of Vietnam’s trade promotion offices across Chinese localities, according to a Vietnamese news agency.
China will continue to support Vietnam in setting up additional trade promotion offices, following those already established in Chongqing, Hangzhou and Haikou, Wang responded.
China also expressed readiness to support Vietnam’s stronger exports through cross-border e-commerce, encouraging greater visibility of the Vietnam National Pavilion on Chinese e-commerce platforms beyond JD.com to better promote Vietnamese products to Chinese consumers.
China has consistently been Vietnam’s largest trading partner and second-largest export market, while Vietnam continues to be China’s biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Fashion
Hong Kong apparel imports stabilise after sharp dip last year
Fashion
Burberry unveils High Summer 2026 lido-inspired campaign
British actors Simone Ashley and Tom Blyth star alongside models Alva Claire, Babacar N’Doye and Sacha Quenby and a cast of synchronised swimmers and divers.
Burberry’s High Summer 2026 campaign captures Britain’s nostalgic lido culture through a sunlit film featuring Simone Ashley and Tom Blyth.
Blending heritage check with pastel tones, the collection spans swimwear, relaxed tailoring, raffia bags and lightweight layers, evoking effortless, poolside summer style.
Directed by Francis Plummer, the campaign reflects a warm, communal British summer mood.
The campaign film is directed by Francis Plummer and shot by photographer Ryan McGinley. The cameras move from loungers to diving boards, catching mid-air dives and friends stretched out in the hazy afternoon light. Before long, the best spots by the pool are claimed with a Burberry towel. Summer has begun. The film is underscored by the TONE remix of ‘Beating’ by Tirzah.
‘A lido holds a particular kind of nostalgia for the British. The moment the sun comes out, we make the most of the weather. We wanted to bring to life a warm summer’s day spent in and around the water’s edge with friends.’ said Daniel Lee Chief Creative Officer, Burberry.
Key styles
The High Summer 2026 collection features the Burberry Check in heritage-inspired sand beige and pastel shades of aubergine purple and cornflower blue.
The iconic Burberry Check bikini is the beach essential, alongside matching swimsuits and men’s swim shorts trimmed with check.
Poolside separates include tops, skirts and shirts cut from cotton voile, plus cover-up dresses woven with a tonal Burberry Check and deckchair-inspired stripes. Ruffled trims and ties at the neckline capture the floaty, effortless feel of the collection. Festival
tank tops in ribbed cotton jersey are trimmed with check straps, while looks are wrapped in lightweight wool silk scarves.
For men, collared shirts and shorts are tailored to relaxed lines and finished with fresh interpretations of the Burberry Check, from textural weaves to intricate embroidered designs. The co-ord set is crafted from lightweight cotton poplin printed with a playful seahorse pattern in honeysuckle pink.
The classic cotton piqué polo shirt comes in a spectrum of vivid and neutral colours. Burberry Check is subtly placed at the placket and trims the collar of T-shirts in soft cotton jersey.
Lightweight hooded jackets are ideal for cooler evenings and unexpected showers, the new-season designs woven in aubergine purple and cornflower blue check.
In shoes, the new Knight Runner sneakers offer a streamlined, low-profile shape for summer. Sandals are elevated in the form of the whipstitched leather Baez and check-trimmed suede Urchin styles, while Burberry Check slides and Pavilion sandals are made for the beach.
Lightweight Margate bags are handcrafted in Madagascar from locally sourced raffia palm leaves, dyed in signature sand beige Burberry Check. Accessories include crocheted bucket hats and wraparound sunglasses, designed to shield from the sun.
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 (JP)
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