India’s textile and apparel (T&A) exports rose by 3.87 per cent to $12.182 billion during the first four months of the current fiscal 2025–26 (FY26). Of the total, apparel exports increased by 7.87 per cent to $5.531 billion, while textile exports inched up by 0.77 per cent to $6.651 billion in April–July 2025.

According to an analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), India maintained mild growth in textile and apparel exports during the period, compared to $11.728 billion during the first four months of the previous fiscal year 2024–25. Apparel exports rose by 7.87 per cent from $5.127 billion during the corresponding period, while textile exports inched up from $6.600 billion.

India’s textile and apparel exports grew 3.87 per cent to $12.18 billion in April–July FY26, with apparel up 7.87 per cent and textiles 0.77 per cent.
July saw apparel gains but textile declines.
Cotton exports stayed flat, while man-made and carpets rose.
Imports of raw cotton surged 60.81 per cent, highlighting rising dependency.
T&A share in India’s exports climbed to 8.17 per cent.

In July 2025, apparel exports increased by 4.75 per cent to $1.338 billion, up from $1.277 billion in July 2024, whereas textile exports fell by 5.84 per cent to $1.761 billion from $1.664 billion.

The share of T&A in India’s total merchandise exports rose to 8.17 per cent during April–July 2025, according to the latest trade data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Within the textile segment, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products eased by 0.17 per cent to $3.880 billion in the first four months of FY26. Exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose marginally by 1.13 per cent to $1,588.84 million, while carpet exports increased by 3.57 per cent to $503.88 million.

In July 2025, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products rose by 5.17 per cent to $1,020.72 million, while exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups gained by 4.05 per cent to $422.04 million. Carpet exports grew by 8.05 per cent to $133.04 million.

Imports of raw cotton and waste surged by 60.81 per cent to $383.22 million during April–July 2025, compared to $238.30 million in the same period of the previous fiscal. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 11.44 per cent, from $765.50 million to $853.08 million. In July 2025, imports of raw cotton and waste increased by 39.43 per cent, from $86.29 million to $120.31 million. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 11.86 per cent to $233.48 million.

In FY25, the country’s apparel exports rose by 10.03 per cent to $15.989 billion, while textile exports grew by 3.61 per cent to $20.617 billion. Imports of raw cotton and waste surged by 103.67 per cent to $1.219 billion, and imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups increased by 8.69 per cent to $2.476 billion.

In FY24, India’s T&A exports stood at $34.430 billion, marking a 3.24 per cent decline from $35.581 billion in FY23. Imports of raw cotton and waste were valued at $598.63 million in FY24, down 58.39 per cent from $1.439 billion in FY23. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups also fell by 12.98 per cent to $2.277 billion.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)