India’s textile and apparel (T&A) exports experienced an increase of 5.36% to reach $6.180 billion during the first two months of the fiscal year 2025–26 (FY26). Notably, apparel exports saw robust double-digit growth, climbing by 12.80% to $2.882 billion, while textile exports slightly decreased by 0.39% to $3.297 billion during April–May 2025. This trend persisted into May 2025, with both apparel and textile exports reflecting similar patterns.
When compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year 2024–25, T&A exports rose from $5.866 billion, with apparel exports increasing by 12.80% from $2.555 billion, while textile exports saw a minor decline of 0.39% from $3.310 billion.
In May 2025, apparel exports surged by 11.35% to $1.511 billion, up from $1.357 billion in May 2024. Conversely, textile exports dipped by 2.71% to $1.685 billion from $1.732 billion in the same month.
The contribution of T&A to India’s overall merchandise exports grew to 8% during April–May 2025 and reached 8.25% in May 2025, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Delving into the textile segment, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom goods fell by 1.39% to $1.929 billion in the first two months of FY26. In contrast, exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 1.41% to $793.27 million, while carpet exports recorded an impressive increase of 2.07% to $246.93 million.
In May, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom items dropped by 4.29% to $966.75 million, while man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups saw a decrease of 1.05% to $409.48 million. However, carpet exports continued to thrive, growing by 1.01% to $132.74 million.
India also witnessed a significant rise in imports of raw cotton and waste, which surged by 131.30% to reach $189.18 million during April–May 2025 compared to $81.79 million in the same period last fiscal year. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups increased by 18.92%, rising from $347.97 million to $413.81 million. In May alone, raw cotton and waste imports increased by 133.14%, from $43.88 million to $102.3 million, while imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 18.68% to $220.69 million.
For the fiscal year 2025 (FY25), India’s apparel exports grew by 10.03% to $15.989 billion, while textile exports increased by 3.61% to $20.617 billion. Imports of raw cotton and waste rose dramatically by 103.67% to $1.219 billion, and imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups increased by 8.69% to $2.476 billion.
In FY24, India’s T&A exports totaled $34.430 billion, reflecting a 3.24% decline from $35.581 billion in FY23. The value of imports for raw cotton and waste in FY24 was $598.63 million, a significant drop of 58.39% from $1.439 billion in FY23. Similarly, imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups decreased by 12.98% to $2.277 billion.
Sanjay K Jain, chairman of the ICC National Textile Committee and the Indian Chamber of Commerce, remarked, “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.”
