India's textile & apparel exports gain 6% to $36.6 bn in FY25

Apparel exports reached $15.989 billion in fiscal 2024–25, up 10.03 per cent from $14.532 billion in 2023–24. Textile exports grew by 3.61 per cent to $20.617 billion, compared to $19.899 billion in the previous fiscal. In March, apparel exports rose by 3.97 per cent to $1.531 billion, while textile exports fell by 5.81 per cent to $1.856 billion.

The country’s overall goods exports edged up by 0.08 per cent to $437.417 billion in 2024–25, with shipments in March 2025 rising by 0.66 per cent to $41.968 billion. The share of T&A in India’s total merchandise exports increased to 8.37 per cent during April 2024–March 2025 but declined to 7.88 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 3.19 per cent to $12.056 billion in 2024–25. Exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 4.07 per cent to $4.869 billion, while carpet exports saw an increase of 10.46 per cent to $1,541.97 million.

In March 2025, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products grew by 2.16 per cent to $1,118 million, while exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups declined by 0.85 per cent to $436 million. Carpet exports, however, increased by 6.52 per cent to $137 million.

Imports of raw cotton and waste surged by 103.67 per cent to $1,219 million during April–March 2025, compared to $599 million in the same period of the previous fiscal. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 8.69 per cent, rising from $2,278 million to $2,476 million. In March 2025, imports of raw cotton and waste jumped by 61.97 per cent, from $49 million to $79 million. Likewise, imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups increased by 19.98 per cent to $193 million.

In FY24, India’s textile and apparel exports stood at $34.430 billion, marking a 3.24 per cent decline from $35.581 billion in FY23. Apparel exports dropped by 10.25 per cent to $14.532 billion, from $16.190 billion. In contrast, textile exports rose by 2.62 per cent to $19.898 billion, up from $19.390 billion in FY23.

India’s imports of raw cotton and waste were valued at $598.63 million in FY24, down 58.39 per cent from $1,439.70 million in the previous fiscal. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups also fell by 12.98 per cent to $2,277.85 million, compared to $2,617.74 million in FY23.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)