HUMBOLDT, TN — November 11, 2025 — Jones Family of Companies, a leading manufacturer of sustainable, high-performance nonwoven materials, is pleased to announce that industry veteran Eric Delaby has been brought on board as the Senior Director of Sales. Delaby has more than twenty years of experience in the bedding industry, with a broad, distinguished career in sales spanning textiles, nonwovens, and specialty fibers.
Eric Delaby
“I am excited to join Jones and contribute to its ongoing success,” Delaby said. “As a leader in the industry, Jones has a great reputation for quality and innovation. I look forward to working with the talented team and helping shape the future of the company.”
In his new position, Delaby will be responsible for business development across all divisions in Jones. He will report to Dennis St. Louis, Chief Sales Officer of Jones Nonwovens.
“We are thrilled to welcome Eric to our team,” said St. Louis. “With his extensive background, he will bring a wealth of knowledge and fresh perspective. We’re confident that he will drive our continued success and growth, and further strengthen our commitment to delivering high quality products and exceptional service to our current and future customers.”
NEW YORK, NY — November 11, 2025 — Accelerating Circularity, the nonprofit building circular systems to turn used textiles into new raw materials, today announced Eileen Mockus will become Chief Executive Officer in November 2025. Founder and current CEO Karla Magruder will transition to the role of Board Chair, continuing to guide the organization’s strategic direction.
Eileen Mockus (right) Appointed CEO; Founder Karla Magruder (left) to Serve as Board Chair
This leadership transition marks an important milestone for Accelerating Circularity as it advances from proof-of-concept to commercial scale. The organization will focus on scaling textile-to-textile (T2T) circular systems, building tools, resources, and expanding education initiatives that accelerate the transition to circularity. Since founding Accelerating Circularity in 2019, Magruder has led the organization’s rise as a global leader in circular textile systems.
Under her leadership, ACP has:
Convened major brands, retailers and key supply chain actors in circularity T2T systems.
Brought post-consumer textile-to-textile products to market at scale,
Launched working groups for textile chemical recyclers and trim suppliers.
Established global recognition through a variety of forums including the UK House of Lords annual meeting of The Textile Institute, B.A.U.M Environment and Sustainability Award and the release of global reports on cotton and polyester.
Secured a Commitment to Action with the Clinton Global Initiative to divert 325 tons of textile from landfill.
“It has been the honour of my career to found and lead Accelerating Circularity,” said Karla Magruder. “With Eileen’s expertise and passion for low-impact textile systems, the organization is perfectly positioned to move from pilot programs to industry-wide implementation. I’m excited to continue supporting this mission as Board Chair.”
Incoming CEO Eileen Mockus brings over two decades of experience driving sustainable innovation in the textile industry. Formerly CEO of Coyuchi, she has also held roles at the Pottery Barn brands, The North Face and Patagonia. Mockus has been recognized by Vogue Business as an Innovator inSustainability and was part of the team that helped develop Patagonia’s first recycled PET product.
“I’m thrilled to step into this role at such a pivotal time,” said Eileen Mockus. “The groundwork has been laid, partnerships are strong, and the demand for scalable textile-to-textile recycling has never been greater. Together, we can ensure the transition to a future where textiles are no longer wasted.”
With a strong global team and expanding partner network, Accelerating Circularity will continue driving industry transformation through post-consumer textile programs, new tools for circular system development, and business models that make circularity commercially viable.
ALBSTADT, Germany — November 11, 2025 — Groz-Beckert, global supplier of industrial machine needles, provides solutions that enhance quality and efficiency in the embroidery process. The needle system DBxK5 impresses with its special technical features and broad variety of versions – and in its latest version, DBxK5 LGR, offers a reliable solution even for complex applications such as 3D embroidery.
Technically refined for demanding embroidery processes
Needle system DBxK5 has been specifically engineered for industrial machine embroidery. It ensures stable stitch formation even at high machine speeds. The large eye facilitates the smooth gliding of embroidery threads, significantly reducing the risk of thread breakage and skipped stitches – even when using thick or effect threads. The standard RG point provides excellent penetration across a wide range of textile materials without damaging them.
Another key feature is the needle’s high resistance to deflection, achieved through an optimized geometry. This ensures reliable loop formation and helps to prevent skipped stitches, thereby contributing to high process reliability. Additionally, a specially designed scarf minimizes contact between the needle and the hook – protecting the hook, extending needle life, and ultimately enhancing the quality of the embroidery.
Application-specific variants for maximum flexibility
The various versions of the DBxK5 system enable precise adaptation to specific embroidery applications. For example, the DBxK5 KK variant was developed with a shortened shank for use in machines equipped with raised needle plates or integrated sequin devices. The reduced shank length prevents collisions with these components. When embroidering thick materials, it also ensures that the shank does not penetrate or damage the fabric.
The DBxK5 SS variant is primarily used in sequin embroidery. Featuring an even shorter shank, it prevents sequins or other delicate appliqués from being damaged by the shank’s penetration during stitching.
Developed for very fine sequins
A macro shot showing the fine detail of a ladies evening shawl, open weave with sequins attached, the material showing a hue of colours from the overall black.
When embroidering very small and delicate sequins, there is an increased risk of damaging them during the embroidery process. To address this challenge, the DBxK5 SAN™ 15 version was developed. It features an even shorter shank compared to the KK and SS versions, as well as a cylindrical blade design. This results in a maximized cylindrical working area on the needle—slim enough to apply even the smallest sequins reliably and without damage.
Even when stitching sequins onto thicker embroidery grounds, the particularly slim geometry of the SAN™ 15 needle ensures that the sequins remain intact throughout the process.
Robust and precise – perfect for resilient materials
For particularly demanding applications – such as embroidering caps, felt, or leather – Groz-Beckert offers the special application needle DBxK5 SAN™ 1. Its reinforced blade provides significantly enhanced needle stability, reducing deflection and effectively preventing needle breakage and skipped stitches. This is complemented by an optimized geometry in the area between the scarf and the eye, which improves loop formation, minimizes the risk of skipped stitches, and protects the hook.
An additional advantage of the SAN™ 1 needle is the GEBEDUR™ (titanium nitride) coating, which offers increased wear resistance – especially in the highly stressed eye and point areas. The needle’s profile is rounded out by an enlarged eye that not only facilitates easier threading but also enables the processing of thicker embroidery threads.
The new solution for 3D embroidery with thick foam materials
The needle deeply penetrates into the foam
3D embroidery presents a unique challenge: foam elements – commonly known as puffy materials – are used to create raised, three-dimensional effects. During the embroidery process, the needle must penetrate deeply into the foam, placing significant stress on the embroidery thread. With particularly thick foam materials, there is an increased risk of the thread becoming pinched between the needle and the foam – often resulting in thread breakage and skipped stitches.
This is where Groz-Beckert’s new DBxK5 LGR needle comes into play. Specifically engineered to meet the demands of 3D embroidery, it features an extended long groove that reaches into the shank area, providing enough space for the embroidery thread, even during deep needle penetration. The thread remains securely positioned within the groove and is protected throughout the entire process. The result: a significantly more reliable embroidery process, even on highly compressible materials, and clean, high-quality embroideries with a distinct three-dimensional effect.
Wide range of point styles and needle sizes
Needle system DBxK5 from Groz-Beckert is not only available in different versions for specific embroidery applications, but also offers a broad selection of point styles and a comprehensive size range – from Nm 60/8 to Nm 110/18. This allows for precise adaptation of the needle to both the material being embroidered and the intended application.
The R and RG point styles are particularly well-suited for woven fabrics and leather, with the RG point also being applicable for knitted fabrics. For fine knits such as T-shirts or polo shirts, the rounded FFG/SES point is ideal, while the FG/SUK point delivers clean results on coarser knitwear. The TR point, in turn, is the preferred choice for open fabric structures such as tulle.Supplementary solutions for special cases
As an alternative to system DBxK5, the standard lockstitch needle DBx1 can also be used in embroidery machines under certain conditions. This is particularly relevant when extremely fine needles below Nm 60/8 or specific point styles not available in the DBxK5 range are required. In such cases, the DBx1 system serves as a functional alternative.
Conversely, when the use of thicker needles starting from Nm 120/19 is necessary – as may be the case in technical embroidery applications – the 1738A needle system is a suitable option.
Quality makes the difference
With needle system DBxK5 in its different versions, Groz-Beckert offers a well-thought-out portfolio for both single and multihead embroidery machines. The wide range of point styles, needle sizes, and versions allows for precise adaptation to diverse materials, machine configurations, and embroidery applications. Whether in standard embroidery, sequin work, embroideries on robust materials, or complex 3D embroidery – Groz-Beckert is a reliable partner providing precise solutions that reduce downtime, minimize thread and needle breakage, and improve overall results.
The choice of the right needle is not a minor detail – it is a key factor for efficiency and quality in the embroidery process.
MILAN — November 11, 2025 — In the third quarter of 2025, the orders index for textile machinery – compiled by ACIMIT’s Economics Department (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) – recorded a 16% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. In absolute terms, the index stood at 41.8 points (base year 2021 = 100).
The decline reflects negative performances in both the domestic and foreign markets. Specifically, on the domestic market, orders fell by 17% compared to the same quarter of the previous year, with the absolute index value reaching 49.9 points.
Marco Salvadè ACIMIT President
Foreign orders also registered a 16% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2024, with an index value of 40.7 points. During the third quarter, the order backlog ensured four months of guaranteed production, slightly up from 3.9 months recorded in the second quarter.
Marco Salvadè, president of ACIMIT, commented: “The ACIMIT survey outlines a business climate where overall demand remains weak. In Italy the decline in order intake reflects the difficult period the textile supply chain is currently experiencing.”
Mr. Salvadè added: “On foreign markets, however, we can see some signs of recovery. Although total order intake is still down compared to the first nine months of 2024, Italian textile machinery exports — based on official data for the first half of the year — show growth in some key markets such as India, Pakistan, and Egypt.”
Finally, the main Asian trade show for textile machinery, ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025, has just concluded in Singapore, offering some reasons for optimism within the sector. Salvadè concluded: “I believe the 100 Italian exhibitors can be satisfied both with the number and quality of visitors and with the business prospects generated by the many contacts made during the exhibition. I hope that the work carried out at the trade fair will translate into a stronger order intake within a geopolitical context marked by reduced uncertainty.”
Posted: November 11, 2025
Source: The Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT)
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — November 11, 2025 — Syre, the textile impact company hyperscaling textile-to-textile recycling, today announces a multi-year agreement with leading sports brand NIKE, Inc., marking a milestone towards a circular materials future for the global apparel industry and beyond.
The partnership reflects Nike’s commitment to scaling sustainable innovation and Syre’s mission to accelerate the great textile shift. It will focus on step-by-step integration of Syre’s circular polyester into core Nike performance lines, with the first products expected within the next few years. Syre will be Nike’s lead strategic supplier for textile-to-textile recycled polyester.
The companies share a long-term ambition to expand the use of textile-derived fibers, supporting a closed-loop ecosystem where end-of-life textiles become the feedstock for the next generation of performance gear.
“Our partnership with Syre represents a shift in our materials strategy and how we source,” said Sitora Muzafarova, VP Materials Supply Chain. “Innovation is at the heart of Nike’s DNA and textile-to-textile recycled polyester is essential in our ambition to design and produce breakthrough products that both perform to the highest standards that our athletes expect and are more sustainable at the same time.”
For Syre, the partnership with one of the world’s most iconic brands marks a new chapter in scaling true circularity.
“Having Nike, the global leader in sportswear and innovation, commit to textile-to-textile generated polyester sends a powerful signal to the entire industry. This is not a one-off initiative or capsule collection, this is a moment when circular materials move from concept to commercial reality at scale and wider adoption. It’s a proud day for Syre, and for everyone working to make textile circularity the new normal”, said Dennis Nobelius, CEO Syre.
As Syre ramps up the planning for a global network of recycling plants – with its first large-scale facility intended to start construction in 2027 in Vietnam – this partnership further strengthens the foundation for its global expansion. It also adds significant momentum to Syre’s growing customer lineup, which already includes H&M Group and the Launch Partners – GAP Inc., Houdini Sportswear, and Target – announced earlier this year.
“Together, we are demonstrating how true collaboration and commitment can unlock circularity at scale,” added Dennis Nobelius. “Every new partnership helps accelerate the buildout of regional supply chains – enabling brands, suppliers, and consumers alike to take part in the great textile shift.”
SINGAPORE — November 7, 2025 — The region’s leading textile and garment technology exhibition, ITMA ASIA made a successful return to Singapore after two presentations in 2001 and 2005.
Combined with CITME, the four-day ITMA ASIA + CITME exhibition at the Singapore Expo concluded on 31 October 2025 with participants praising the international mix of visitors and strong turn-out of buyers from the region. From the supply side, the exhibition was well represented by companies from key textile technology manufacturing regions, thus offering buyers a balanced selection of solutions.
The Singapore exhibition attracted visitorship of over 26,600 from 109 countries and regions, reaffirming its reputation as the region’s most influential showcase of textile and garment manufacturing technologies.
Some 92% of the visitors came from overseas, with 35% of them from South Asia and 30% from Southeast Asia. The top three visitor countries were: India (19%), China (11%) and Indonesia (10%). Other countries in the top 10 list included Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam and Malaysia.
The show owners – CEMATEX (the European Committee of Textile Machinery Manufacturers), China Textile Machinery Association (CTMA), The Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT TEX) – attributed its strong showing to Singapore’s ideal location, conducive business environment and seamless visitor experience.
Mr Alex Zucchi, President of CEMATEX, said: “Exhibitor feedback has been very positive as the high-quality visitorship and serious business discussions are greatly appreciated. The exhibition has created a strong sense of optimism about the opportunities ahead amid current economic challenges.”
Mr Gu Ping, President of CTMA remarked: “Asia, the world’s largest textile hub, boasts a vast industrial scale and plays a key role globally. With the successful conclusion of the ITMA ASIA + CITME, Singapore 2025, it is clear that the Asian textile industry, encompassing regions such as East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, is experiencing rapid development. This also reflects the global textile industry’s demand for exploring emerging markets.”
Many of the exhibitors were elated by the outcome of their participation. Mr Tobias Schaefer, Vice President of Andritz Nonwoven & Textile, enthused: “The combined exhibition in Singapore proved to be a truly pivotal platform, bringing together a remarkably international audience. The high visitor numbers, the quality of discussions, and the strong focus on innovation and sustainability reflected the industry’s evolving priorities.”
Mr Stephane Picard, Sales & Marketing Manager at Pierret Industries, opined: “We are very pleased with the overall quality of the visitors at the exhibition. Despite the current market challenges, the event exceeded our expectations. The main objective of holding this show in Singapore was to attract people from Southeast Asia and Middle East markets, and the results were truly impressive.”
Sharing the same sentiment, Canlar Mekatronik Board Member Mr Kaan Cakici said: “We’re delighted with the overwhelming response received at the exhibition. The show days were filled with serious enquiries from buyers who came ready to invest and we concluded business deals during the show. The quality of discussions with visitors at our stand has given us confidence to expand our presence and support in the region.”
Underscoring the significance of the 2025 exhibition for the Indian market was Mr Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Textiles of India who led a 30-member-strong government delegation.
Mr Kansal remarked, “India is one of the largest participants and exhibitors in this exhibition here in Singapore. This reflects our strategic vision in driving our textile industry’s growth through innovation, manufacturing excellence and sustainability. The fair provides a good meeting ground for people to exchange ideas, to look at new technologies, discuss business propositions and to see the latest innovations.”
Later, speaking at the co-located ITMA Sustainability Forum, Mr Kansal highlighted the Indian textile industry’s green transformation.
The comprehensive showcase of textile and garment making technologies at ITMA ASIA + CITME, Singapore 2025 occupied more than 70,000 square metres of gross space and featured over 840 exhibitors from 30 countries and regions.
ITMA ASIA + CITME, Singapore 2025 is organised by ITMA Services and co-organised by Beijing Textile Machinery International Exhibition Company.
The next ITMA ASIA + CITME exhibition will be held in Shanghai, China from 20 to 24 November 2026. For more information, please visit www.itmaasia.com or www.citme.com.cn.
FRANKFURT, Germany — November 7, 2025 — With more than 840 exhibitors from 30 countries and thousands of visitors from more than 100 nations ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 was a truly international show. Visitors came with clear project ideas, leading to many inspiring and fruitful discussions. Numerous VDMA members reported closed orders and deals – a positive sign for the machinery sector. “Better than expected”: this was a frequent statement from exhibiting companies.
The testimonials from VDMA member companies reflect a successful trade fair:
“ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore has been a real INTERNATIONAL Textile Machinery Exhibition in Asia, attracting visitors from more than 100 countries. The numbers and quality hoped for have been exceeded. In this friendly and well organised city, smiles were also very much seen at the EXPO during the exhibition.” Dr. Janpeter Horn, Chairman, VDMA Textile Machinery Association
“ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore was a great success also for Mahlo. The show brought together the right people, the right ideas, and the right energy. A truly international event that delivered valuable insights and confirmed the industry’s commitment to innovation. We could discuss specific challenges and solutions with numerous industry professionals from across Asia.” Thomas Höpfl, Sales Director, Mahlo
“ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore was a great success for Trützschler. The event brought together an international mix of visitors and offered high-quality discussions with customers and business partners.” Alexander Stampfer, CSO, TRÜTZSCHLER Group
“Singapore was the ideal stage for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025, drawing a highly engaged global audience. The exhibition proved to be an outstanding platform for meaningful dialogue and networking. The strong visitor presence and the depth of discussions underscore the industry’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. With automation and future technologies taking centre stage, the event exceeded expectations by creating an environment where visionary ideas and practical solutions converged. Customers are once again ready to invest, signalling renewed confidence and growth opportunities. This positive momentum encourages us and strengthens our outlook for the future.” Werner Volkaert, Managing Director, Sedo Treepoint
“ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore proved to be a truly global platform, bringing together a remarkably international audience. The high visitor numbers, the quality of discussions, and the strong focus on innovation and sustainability reflected the industry’s evolving priorities. For us, the event reaffirmed the importance of personal dialogue in shaping the future of nonwovens and textile technology.” Tobias Schäfer, Vice President, ANDRITZ Nonwoven & Textile
“We were impressed by the high quality and diversity of visitors at ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore. The event proved to be an excellent platform for meaningful discussions and new connections across the entire Asian textile market. Singapore’s dynamic and well-organized setting provided the ideal environment to exchange ideas, explore innovations, and strengthen partnerships throughout the region. Focus topics were definitely increasing efficiency in the textile production at currently uncertain times.” Kathrin Pleva, Managing Director, PLEVA
“ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 Singapore was well attended and attracted qualified visitors. It’s strategic geographic location connected the Southeast Asian region and positioned the event as a central meeting point for the textile industry.” Riccarda Dilo, Member of the Executive Board, DILO Group
“Choosing Singapore as the location for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 was absolutely the right decision. Our expectations were exceeded both in terms of the quality and the number of international visitors.” Torsten von Koch, Sales Director, Georg Sahm
“ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore was worth a visit. The location was excellent for visitors from the ASEAN countries and Singapore offers an excellent infrastructure. We were impressed by the numbers of visitors and the quality of meetings with customers, who came mainly from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The focus of visitors was on the finishing of outerwear, denim and automation. Many customers plan to realize their projects in the course of 2026.” Hans-Gerhard Wroblowski, Sales Manager SEA, A. Monforts Textilmaschinen
From 16 to 22 September 2027, ITMA will return to Germany for the first time in 20 years. The leading international trade fair for textile machinery and clothing technology is expected to attract over 100,000 decision-makers from almost all textile-producing countries. Companies interested to exhibit in Hannover can already register here: www.itma.com.
On November 12, 2025, from 11:00 to 12:00, the VDMA, together with Deutsche Messe AG and the official hotel agency bnetwork, is offering a webinar on the topic of “ITMA 2027: Exhibiting Made Easy”. The webinar (in German language) is primarily aimed at “ITMA newcomers and returnees” from Germany and Austria. Visit for the program and registration: https://www.vdma.eu/en-GB/events-trade-fairs/-/event/view/119933
The VDMA represents 3600 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies. The industry stands for innovation, export orientation and SMEs. The companies employ around 3 million people in the EU-27, more than 1.2 million of them in Germany alone. This makes mechanical and plant engineering the largest employer among the capital goods industries, both in the EU-27 and in Germany. In the European Union, it represents a turnover volume of an estimated 870 billion euros.
Around 80 percent of the machinery sold in the EU comes from a manufacturing plant in the domestic market.
Posted: November 9, 2025
Source:VDMA — The German Textile Machinery Association
MINNEAPOLIS — November 6, 2025 — BOKSER Textiles, a premier supplier of high-performance hospitality textiles, is taking a major step into sustainable bedding with the launch of its Vermilion Sheeting Collection. This new line, blending 52% Polyester infused with CiCLO® technology and 48% Modal, provides hotels with an advanced solution to two of the biggest challenges in hospitality: reducing carbon emissions and tackling microplastic fiber pollution —tiny plastic particles that can enter waterways from washing fabrics.
Why This Matters for Hospitality
Hotels face unique sustainability pressures: constant laundry, high occupancy, and increasing guest expectations for eco-conscious practices. The Vermilion Sheeting Collection enables hotels to deliver the quality guests expect while taking meaningful steps to reduce environmental impact. Through carbon-neutral manufacturing and CiCLO technology, BOKSER is cutting carbon emissions and microplastic pollution. The Vermilion Collection lets hospitality brands deliver sustainable sheeting—without sacrificing comfort, cost or durability.
Responsible Manufacturing: Built on a Carbon-Neutral Foundation
The Vermilion Collection is finished in certified CarbonNeutral® facilities, certified by Climate Impact Partners. For roughly every one million sheets produced, these facilities reduce an estimated 528 tons of carbon emissions. In addition, nearly 1.9 million gallons of water is saved through a zero liquid discharge system that prevents industrial wastewater from entering the environment.(EPA calculations). BOKSER will also introduce additional sheeting collections finished in these same carbon-neutral facilities, further expanding their commitment to responsible manufacturing.
CiCLO Technology: Reducing Microplastic Pollution
Hotels’ frequent commercial laundering makes them especially prone to microplastic fiber pollution, which can range from 500 to 367,000 microfibers per liter of wastewater[1]. Vermilion’s polyester fibers incorporate CiCLO technology, accelerating the biodegradation of synthetic fibers. This ensures that fibers biodegrade at rates comparable to those of natural fibers like wool, preventing them from persisting in the environment for centuries.
“This launch is a blueprint for the hospitality industry,” said Ed Guzek, CEO of BOKSER. “With CiCLO technology and our certified carbon-neutral facilities, our customers with carbon and plastic reduction goals now have sheeting options that help achieve both.”
A Scalable, Industry-Wide Solution
“Our partnership with BOKSER brings CiCLO technology’s innovation to scale,” said Cheryl Smyre, vice president of Parkdale Advanced Materials. “Integrating best-in-class responsible manufacturing with CiCLO technology accelerates the environmental impact achievable, allowing hotels to now make a more meaningful difference at scale.”
Source: [1] Posacka, Anna M. and Ross, Peter S. Tackling Microfiber Pollution Through Science, Policy and Innovation: A Framework for Canadian Leadership (November 2024). Ocean Diagnostics and Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
HOUSTON — November 7, 2025 — Orion S.A., a global specialty chemicals company, announced today that Jonathan “Jon” Puckett will succeed Jeff Glajch as chief financial officer, effective Dec. 1, 2025.
Jonathan “Jon” Puckett
Puckett brings to Orion more than 30 years of financial leadership experience – much of it within the chemical industry. He joins the company after 14 years with Celanese, where he recently served as vice president and CFO for the Acetyl Chain segment.
While at Celanese, Puckett also held a series of other senior financial business unit and corporate roles of increasing responsibility.
Before Celanese, Puckett served in senior financial roles at Affiliated Computer Services, Inc.; PWC LLP; and KPMG LLP.
Orion CEO Corning Painter said, “Jon’s broad functional skillset, deep financial expertise and demonstrated success in helping businesses execute on both financial and strategic goals make him an excellent fit for our company, particularly as we navigate our next phase of growth and profitability.”
In July, Glajch announced his intention to retire as CFO at the end of 2025. He will remain as a full-time employee of Orion through Dec. 31, 2025, and will provide consulting services during the first quarter of 2026 to ensure a seamless transition.
WASHINGTON — November 7, 2025 — With tariff uncertainty continuing but most holiday merchandise already in stores or warehouses, import cargo volume at the nation’s major container ports should see its usual end-of-year slowdown in November and December, according to the Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.
“We’ve spent most of the year worried about the impact of tariffs on both inflation and the supply chain but the holiday season is here and mitigation efforts appear to have paid off,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Store shelves are well stocked and the effect on prices has been minimized, largely thanks to retailers taking steps like frontloading imports during times of low or delayed tariff increases or absorbing the costs themselves. Consumers should be able to find the products they want at prices they like.”
A 20% “fentanyl” tariff on China will be reduced to 10% on Nov. 10 and a twice-delayed significant increase in “reciprocal” tariffs on China that were set to take effect the same day has been delayed for a year. An existing 10% reciprocal tariff on China imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act remains in place, but the Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on the legality of tariffs under IEEPA.
Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said on-again, off-again tariff policy has made long-term planning difficult for importers and ocean carriers alike.
“These conditions make market forecasting highly uncertain,” Hackett said. “Our trade outlook is for a small decline in imports this year compared with 2024 and a further, larger decline in the first quarter of 2026.”
The developments come as NRF is forecasting that 2025 holiday sales will increase between 3.7% and 4.2% compared with 2024 to just over $1 trillion.
U.S. ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.1 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units — one 20-foot container or its equivalent — in September, the latest month for which final data is available. That was down 9.3% from August and down 7.4% year over year.
Ports have not yet reported numbers for October, but Global Port Tracker projected the month at 1.99 million TEU, down 11.5% year over year. November is forecast at 1.85 million TEU, down 14.4% year over year, and December is forecast at 1.75 million TEU, down 17.9%. Following July’s peak of 2.39 million TEU, November and December would be the slowest months of the year. And December would be the slowest month since 1.62 million TEU in March 2023.
November and December are traditionally slow, but the large year-over-year declines are partly because imports in late 2024 were elevated by concerns over port strikes. In addition, this year’s tariff-driven frontloading pulled up late-year cargo.
The first half of 2025 totaled 12.53 million TEU, up 3.7% year over year. The full year is forecast at 24.9 million TEU, down 2.3% from 25.5 million TEU in 2024.
January 2026 is forecast at 1.98 million TEU, down 11.1% year over year; February at 1.85 million TEU, down 9%, and March at 1.79 million TEU, down 16.7%.
Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by Hackett Associates, provides historical data and forecasts for the U.S. ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Port of Virginia, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Miami and Jacksonville on the East Coast, and Houston on the Gulf Coast. The report is free to NRF retail members, and subscription information is available at NRF.com/PortTracker.
As the leading authority and voice for the retail industry, NRF analyzes economic conditions affecting the industry through reports such as Global Port Tracker.
HUMBOLDT, TN — November 11, 2025 — Jones Family of Companies, a leading manufacturer of sustainable, high-performance nonwoven materials, is pleased to announce that industry veteran Eric Delaby has been brought on board as the Senior Director of Sales. Delaby has more than twenty years of experience in the bedding industry, with a broad, distinguished career in sales spanning textiles, nonwovens, and specialty fibers.
