In April ’25-March ’26, Indian textile exports registered a degrowth of -2.86% over the previous year while apparel exports registered a degrowth of -1.36% during the same time. Cumulative exports of textiles and apparel during April ’25-March ’26 have registered a degrowth of -2.21% as compared to FY ’25, according to a Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) analysis of quick estimates of the textile and apparel exports for March 2026.

For April ’25-March ’26, textile exports reached US $ 20,027.22 million as compared to US $ 20,617.78 million in April ’24-March ’25 while apparel exports reached US $ 15,772.14 million in April ’25-March ’26 as compared to US $ 15,989.34 million in April ’24-March ’25. Cumulative textile and apparel exports in April ’25-March ’26 reached US $ 35,799.36 million as compared to US $ 36,607.12 million in April ’24-March ’25.

During March ’26, Indian textile exports registered a degrowth of -9.91% over the previous year while apparel exports registered a significant degrowth of -18.99% during the same time period. Cumulative Exports of Textiles and Apparel during March ’26 have registered a degrowth of -14.02% over March ’25

Textile exports in March 2026 reached US $ 1,671.99 million from an amount of US $ 1,855.92 million in March 2025, while apparel exports reached US $ 1,240.50 million in March 2026, compared to US $ 1,531.33 million in March 2025. Cumulative textile and apparel exports reached US $ 2,912.49 million in March 2026 as compared to US $ 3,387.25 million in March 2025.

CITI Chairman, Ashwin Chandran gave credit to the resiliency of the Indian apparel and textile industry and said that despite grappling with a steep 50% US tariff for over five months in the previous fiscal year, the dip in exports was contained at 2.21% in the financial year 2025-26 compared to FY 2024-25. 

He also highlighted that the Manmade Fibre (MMF) segment is aligning better with global consumption patterns. He also urged on the need to remove the import duty on cotton.