Fashion
Indian apparel industry urges urgent govt support
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) said the industry had reconciled to a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff but the further burden would make Indian exports uncompetitive. “The additional 25 per cent will close the US market for Indian apparel. Exporters will now face a tariff differential of 30–31 per cent against major competing nations,” AEPC Secretary General Mithileshwar Thakur told Fibre2Fashion. He urged immediate fiscal support until a bilateral trade agreement can be reached.
India’s apparel industry warns of an existential crisis as US tariffs on exports will soar to above 50 per cent from August 27, 2025.
Exporters face a tariff gap of over 30 per cent against competitors, risking three million jobs and 20,000 factories.
Industry leaders urge urgent fiscal support and stronger diplomatic engagement until a bilateral trade pact is secured.
Jasveen Kaur, Senior Director of Merchandising at New Times Group, described the tariff shock as “seismic,” saying nearly 25 per cent of Tiruppur’s US-bound knitwear orders have already been paused or cancelled. “This is not about two per cent of GDP—it is about millions of jobs and the survival of entire communities,” she said, adding that exporters are slashing prices to keep shipments moving as US buyers renegotiate or withdraw.
Industry estimates suggest around three million jobs and 20,000 factories are at risk. While some exporters are exploring joint ventures in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, Kaur noted that diversifying markets and securing new buyers could take more than a year. “We need decisive government action and stronger diplomatic engagement with the US,” she appealed.
Sanjay K Jain, Chairman of the ICC National Textiles Committee and MD of TT Ltd, echoed these concerns. “The industry is at a standstill, and 50 per cent of orders (for export to the US) will likely be cancelled. The rest can only be retained if exporters absorb losses. The impact of such super-high tariffs will be terrible and felt across the entire value chain,” he warned.
While the government’s recent move to waive the 11 per cent cotton import duty was welcomed, industry players said it offers little relief against the tariff shock. Exporters are focusing on cost optimisation, targeting a 15–20 per cent reset, but say sustained government support is vital to prevent large-scale disruption in India’s apparel sector.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
If the US administration imposes a 15-per cent levy, the US ETR would rise to 11.3 per cent.
President Donald Trump reinstated tariffs immediately following the US Supreme Court’s February 20 ruling that invalidated the reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The new blanket 10-per cent tariff rate is authorised under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and expires in 150 days unless extended by Congress.
The 10-per cent blanket reciprocal tariff imposed by the US on most trading partners has reduced the US effective tariff rate (ETR) to 9.4 per cent from 12.7 per cent, Fitch Ratings said.
If a 15-per cent levy is imposed, the ETR would rise to 11.3 per cent.
China has the highest ETR among trading partners, followed by Vietnam, Japan and Brazil.
China’s ETR is around 19 per cent from 29 per cent earlier.
Section 122 permits a maximum rate of 15 per cent but does not allow for tariff adjustments for individual countries.
Prior to the court decision, China was subject to two reciprocal tariffs: a fentanyl tariff of 10 per cent that applied to all imports and a 10-per cent reciprocal tariff on an import base subject to carveouts. The two tariffs have been consolidated into the 10-per cent blanket tariff, reducing China’s ETR to around 19 per cent from 29 per cent, Fitch said in a release.
China still has the highest ETR among major trading partners, followed by Vietnam, Japan and Brazil. Of the United States’ 31 largest trading partners, 26 will see their ETRs decline. Brazil benefits the most, with its ETR decreasing by 18 percentage points (pp) to 11 per cent from 29 per cent.
ETRs for most countries largely remain unchanged following the switch in tariff regimes, and no country will see an increase in its ETR if the Section 122 tariff rate remains at 10 per cent.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Unadjusted, it rose by 2.9 per cent for the 12 months ended January 2026.
Prices for final demand goods declined by 0.3 per cent, the largest decrease since falling 0.7 per cent in March 2025.
The seasonally-adjusted US producer price index (PPI) for final demand rose by 0.5 per cent in January.
Unadjusted, it rose by 2.9 per cent for the 12 months ended January 2026.
Prices for final demand goods declined by 0.3 per cent, the largest decrease since falling 0.7 per cent in March 2025.
Leading the January decline, the index for final demand energy dropped by 2.7 per cent.
Leading the January decline, the index for final demand energy dropped by 2.7 per cent.
The index for final demand less food, energy and trade services moved up by 0.3 per cent in January, the ninth consecutive increase. For the 12 months ended in January, such prices rose by 3.4 per cent, a BLS release said.
The index for final demand goods less food and energy advanced by 0.7 per cent in the month.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Ind-Ra expects sector revenues to grow around 9 per cent year on year (YoY) in FY26 and 10.5 per cent YoY in FY27 following uneven and subdued growth through FY24 and early FY25; the growth in FY25 was 8 per cent YoY.
Ind-Ra expects India’s apparel retail sector revenues to grow around 9 per cent YoY in FY26 and 10.5 per cent YoY in FY27 following uneven and subdued growth through FY24 and early FY25.
Premium, branded and ethnic players are expected to see steadier, high single-digit growth trends.
Ind-Ra feels value retailers will outperform other segments within apparel, with robust revenue growth.
Ind-Ra feels value retailers will outperform other segments within apparel, with robust revenue growth through healthy same store sales growth and rapid store additions, albeit at a lower profitability.
Healthy growth in operating profit coupled with strong inventory turns is expected to result in value retailers demonstrating stronger-than-industry return indicators and credit metrics.
Premium, branded and ethnic players are expected to see steadier, high single-digit growth trends as consumer confidence rebuilds with a better spread out wedding calendar than in FY26 and early signs of normalisation seen in the first nine months of FY26.
Listed apparel retail players from Ind-Ra’s sample set reported revenue growth of around 10 per cent YoY in these nine months as the government’s consumption push through lower taxation and mild inflation resulted in higher disposable income and improved affordability.
The operating profit margins also improved to 15.6 per cent in the nine months compared to 15.2 per cent in FY25 due to various cost optimisation measures adopted by companies.
Organised retailers are pivoting from aggressive expansion to productivity-led growth. After elevated store additions in FY24-FY25, Indian apparel retailers are moderating store roll-outs, sharpening site selection, right-sizing formats and targeting faster ramp-ups of recent openings, with omni-channel execution and scalable franchise models enhancing reach and capital efficiency, Ins-Ra said in a press note.
It expects store additions to ease to nearly 7 per cent YoY in FY26 and 6 per cent YoY in FY27, even as retail area continues to rise by 9 per cent YoY in FY26 and by 9.5 per cent YoY in FY27, reflecting larger average store sizes and assortments designed to lift footfalls, average transaction values and sales per square foot.
Value and luxury segments are set to lead sector performance. Value formats benefit from GST rationalisation at lower price points, improved affordability, and rising private-label penetration, while luxury gains from a widening affluent base and deeper global-brand access.
Fast fashion continues to capture Gen-Z-led, content-driven demand. Casual and athleisure remain ahead of ethnic-casual and formal wear, in line with comfort- and lifestyle-led dressing trends.
Ind-Ra expects profitability to improve gradually as cost optimisation, better sourcing/mix, disciplined advertising and marketing promotions, and operating leverage offset residual pressures from expansion and fixed costs.
The working capital cycle for value retailers is likely to improve YoY in FY27, due to higher inventory turns and improved store level operating metrics.
Overall, as the consumption upturn broadens and retailers prioritise productivity over pace, Ind-Ra expects a stable, sustainable improvement in revenues and operating metrics for organised apparel retailers over FY26–FY27.
The luxury segment is also expected to benefit from an increase in target customer segment through widening affluent base and deeper global-brand access.
Mid-premium and several incumbent retailers witnessed slower growth in FY25, due to entry price mix-shifts and loss of market share to value retailers. This, coupled with investments in store format revamps, has stressed their margin profiles. Profitability pressures and a dip in inventory turns have slightly weakened credit metrics for segment players.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
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