Insights

• India's textile and apparel exports rose by 5.36 per cent to $6.18 billion in April–May 2025, driven by a 12.80 per cent jump in apparel exports.
• Textile exports edged down by 0.39 per cent. Cotton imports surged over 130 per cent due to higher MSP and duties.
• The T&A sector's share in total exports grew to 8.25 per cent, reflecting robust apparel performance amid global pricing challenges.

India's textile and apparel (T&A) exports rose by 5.36 per cent to $6.180 billion during the first two months of the current fiscal 2025–26 (FY26). Of the total, apparel exports achieved double-digit growth, increasing by 12.80 per cent to $2.882 billion, while textile exports eased by 0.39 per cent to $3.297 billion in April–May 2025. The trend continued in May 2025, with apparel and textile exports showing similar patterns.

The country’s T&A exports had increased by 5.36 per cent from $5.866 billion during the first two months of the previous fiscal 2024–25. Apparel exports rose by 12.80 per cent from $2.555 billion during the corresponding period, while textile exports declined slightly by 0.39 per cent from $3.310 billion.

In May 2025, apparel exports increased by 11.35 per cent to $1.511 billion from $1.357 billion in May 2024, whereas textile exports declined by 2.71 per cent to $1.685 billion from $1.732 billion.

The share of T&A in India’s total merchandise exports rose to 8 per cent during April–May 2025 and to 8.25 per cent in May 2025, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Within the textile segment, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products declined by 1.39 per cent to $1.929 billion in the first two months of FY26. Exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 1.41 per cent to $793.27 million, while carpet exports saw a notable increase of 2.07 per cent to $246.93 million.

In the month of May, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products dropped by 4.29 per cent to $966.75 million, while exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups decreased by 1.05 per cent to $409.48 million. Carpet exports, however, grew by 1.01 per cent to $132.74 million.

Imports of raw cotton and waste surged by 131.30 per cent to $189.18 million in April–May 2025, compared to $81.79 million during the same period last fiscal. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 18.92 per cent, increasing from $347.97 million to $413.81 million. In May, imports of raw cotton and waste surged by 133.14 per cent, from $43.88 million to $102.3 million. Similarly, imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 18.68 per cent to $220.69 million in the latest month.

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.

Sanjay K Jain, chairman of the ICC National Textile Committee, commented, “India succeeded in achieving double-digit growth in garment exports during the latest reported month as well as cumulatively in the first two months of the current fiscal. Raw cotton imports also increased due to Indian prices being higher than international prices, driven by a higher minimum support price (MSP) and the prevailing import duty.”