Apparel exports, in particular, surged by 11.45 per cent to $1.606 billion in January. Textile exports also jumped by 16.14 per cent to $1.796 billion in the same month. This impressive growth in textile and apparel exports was probably helped by the continued weakness of the Indian rupee against the US dollar, benefitting Indian exporters in the global market.
In January, India’s textile and apparel exports rose by 13.88 per cent to $3.402 billion, significantly outperforming the overall goods exports which declined by 2.41 per cent.
The growth was supported by a weaker Indian rupee, enhancing competitiveness in global markets.
Textiles and garments both showed substantial growth, contributing to an increase in their share of total merchandise exports.
Textile exports grew by 8.30 per cent to $17.075 billion in the first ten months of FY25, compared to $16.114 billion in the same period of the previous year. Apparel exports rose by 11.56 per cent, reaching $12.922 billion, up from $11.583 billion in the corresponding period last fiscal. The share of T&A in India’s total merchandise exports increased to 8.36 per cent during April 2024-January 2025 and to 9.34 per cent in the latest reported month, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Trade.
Within the textile sector, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products increased modestly by 4.10 per cent, reaching $9.954 billion in the first ten months of this fiscal. Exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 5.99 per cent to $4.036 billion, while carpet exports saw a significant increase of 11.47 per cent to $1,285.08 million.
In January 2025, T&A exports totalled $3.402 billion. Textile exports rose by 16.14 per cent, reaching $1.796 billion, up from $1.546 billion in January 2024. Garment shipments grew by 11.45 per cent, totalling $1.606 billion, compared to $1.441 billion in January 2024. Under textiles, the export of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products grew by 16.41 per cent to $1,038.55 million, while man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups exports surged by 12.14 per cent to $425.82 million. Carpet exports also increased by 18.04 per cent to $135.58 million.
Imports of raw cotton and waste climbed by 100.69 per cent to $1,040.41 million in April-January 2025, compared to $518.43 million in the same period of the last fiscal. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups increased by 7.74 per cent, rising from $2,081.22 million to $1,931.67 million. During January 2025, the import of raw cotton and waste surged by an astonishing 520.83 per cent, from $19.62 million to $121.72 million. Similarly, imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 28.83 per cent to $237.86 million in the latest month.
In FY24, India’s textile and apparel exports amounted to $34.430 billion, a 3.24 per cent decline from $35.581 billion in FY23. Apparel exports dropped by 10.25 per cent, falling to $14.532 billion from $16.190 billion. Conversely, textile exports grew by 2.62 per cent, reaching $19.898 billion from $19.390 billion in FY23.
India’s imports of raw cotton and waste were valued at $598.63 million in FY24, a 58.39 per cent decrease from $1,439.70 million in the previous fiscal. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups also declined by 12.98 per cent to $2,277.85 million, compared to $2,617.74 million in FY23.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)