Fashion
US Upland cotton exports increased but Pima notably down: USDA
According to the weekly US cotton export sales report released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), net Upland cotton sales for the 2025–26 marketing year rose to 249,800 running bales (RB), each weighing 226.8 kg (500 pounds). This marked a 23 per cent increase from the previous week, though sales were 5 per cent below the prior four-week average.
US cotton export sales rebounded on renewed Upland demand, led by Vietnam, Pakistan and China, while forward bookings signalled cautious confidence in next-season coverage.
Shipments eased from peak levels but stayed well above recent averages, reflecting steady contract execution.
Pima cotton remained weak, underscoring divergent demand across fibre segments.
Vietnam emerged as the largest buyer with net purchases of 54,000 RB, followed by Pakistan (48,100 RB), China (36,600 RB), Turkiye (32,800 RB) and Bangladesh (31,800 RB). These gains were partially offset by modest reductions from South Korea.
Forward sales for the 2026–27 season strengthened sharply, with net sales jumping to 114,900 RB, compared with minimal volumes a week earlier. Malaysia led next-season bookings with 52,800 RB, followed by Indonesia (33,400 RB), Mexico and Nicaragua (8,800 RB each), and Turkiye (6,600 RB), signalling improved confidence in forward coverage.
Shipment activity softened from the prior week’s marketing-year high. Upland cotton exports declined 9 per cent week on week to 235,300 RB, though shipments remained 25 per cent above the four-week average. Vietnam remained the top destination with 84,300 RB, followed by Pakistan (29,100 RB), Bangladesh (19,500 RB), Turkiye (17,600 RB) and China (16,000 RB).
Outstanding Upland sales stood at 3.98 million RB, still significantly below the 5.20 million RB recorded a year earlier, indicating leaner forward order coverage despite accumulated exports rising to 3.82 million RB, ahead of last season’s pace.
The Pima cotton segment weakened notably. Net Pima sales for 2025–26 fell to 3,200 RB, down 87 per cent from the previous week and 79 per cent below the four-week average, with limited buying from Costa Rica, Djibouti, Thailand, Bangladesh and India. Pima shipments declined to a marketing-year low of 2,300 RB, down 48 per cent week on week, with exports mainly to China, Colombia, Thailand and India.
Overall, the latest data indicate a recovery in US cotton export sales driven by renewed Upland demand and stronger forward bookings, even as shipments moderated from record levels. However, lower outstanding sales compared with last year suggest global mills remain cautious about extending coverage amid price volatility and uncertain downstream demand.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Ukraine’s apparel imports increased from $***.*** million in **** and $***.*** million in ****, reflecting a steady recovery in demand. However, Turkiye’s exports dropped to $***.*** million in ****, reducing its share to **.** per cent from **.** per cent in **** and a dominant **.** per cent in ****, when it was the leading supplier, according to *fashion.com/market-intelligence/texpro-textile-and-apparel/” target=”_blank”>sourcing intelligence tool TexPro.
China emerged as the top supplier in ****, with shipments valued at $***.*** million, accounting for **.** per cent of total imports, only marginally higher than **.** per cent in ****. Bangladesh continued its strong growth trajectory, supplying $***.*** million and capturing a **.** per cent share, up significantly from **.** per cent in ****.
Italy confirms its position among the world leaders in the textile machinery sector, thanks to a solid and highly specialized production system. The industry stands out for its strong international vocation, with a predominant share of production destined for foreign markets (86% of its sales) and a consolidated presence in over 130 countries. This places the country among the top global exporters of textile technology, renowned for its quality, innovation, and reliability.
In the first eleven months of 2025, sales in Germany have already reached 81 million euros. Among the most requested technologies, accessories stand out (36%), followed by finishing machinery (33%)—the latter being essential for the production processes of the most innovative textile sectors.
Italy’s textile machinery sector will showcase advanced, customised technologies at Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, reinforcing its global leadership.
With 86 per cent exports across 130+ countries and €81 million (~$93.71 million) sales in Germany, innovation-driven SMEs and strong demand for accessories and finishing machinery continue to drive growth in technical textiles.
The strength of Italian textile machinery lies in its dynamic structure, composed of small-to-medium-sized companies that are heavily oriented toward Research & Development. This flexibility allows Italian manufacturers to collaborate closely with end-users, transforming customer needs into highly personalized and versatile technological solutions.
“The growing demand for innovative textiles across various industrial fields is further consolidating our manufacturers’ position,” emphasizes Marco Salvadè, President of ACIMIT. “At Techtextil 2026, the Italian offering will once again demonstrate how the combination of high technology and customization capabilities is the key to meeting the challenges of the technical textiles sector.”
Italian expertise, rooted in historic districts such as Bergamo, Biella, Brescia, Como, Milan, Prato, and Vicenza, continues to guarantee standards of quality and reliability that make Made in Italy a point of reference for the entire global industry.
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 (MS)
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