The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has formally called for a comprehensive harmonization of India’s ‘fiber-to-fabric’ ecosystem through the newly proposed National Fiber Scheme. This strategic appeal aims to bridge the productivity gap between raw material output and finished apparel exports. As of April 2026, sector data indicates a 2.21 per cent decline in cumulative textile and apparel exports, a trend CITI believes can be reversed by integrating spinning and weaving more tightly into national incentive missions.

Mitigating supply shocks through raw material security

Current industry bottlenecks, including a 50 per cent effective tariff burden in the US market, have highlighted the vulnerability of fragmented supply chains. Ashwin Chandran, Chairman, CITI, notes, competitiveness begins with raw material security. To counter rising overheads and a 14 per cent Y-o-Y degrowth in March exports, the industry is advocating for a Cotton Price Stabilisation Fund and duty-free access to specialized Extra Long Staple (ELS) fibers. These measures are designed to ensure that Indian manufacturers can offer competitive pricing despite global economic headwinds and energy constraints.

Leveraging hub-and-spoke clusters for global integration

The sector’s growth plan centers on the rollout of PM-MITRA mega parks, which are transitioning from planning to execution phases in 2026. These parks serve as a case study for localized integration, aiming to reduce logistics costs - which currently inflate Indian export prices - by housing the entire value chain in one perimeter. By aligning these hubs with blockchain-based traceability and the EU’s Digital Product Passport mandates, CITI expects to capture a larger portion of the $263 billion premium fiber market, moving India closer to its ambitious $350 billion industry target by 2030.

Leading national chamber

The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) is the leading national chamber representing the entire textile value chain. It services domestic and international markets, primarily focusing on cotton and man-made fibers. CITI is currently driving a modernization roadmap centered on ESG compliance and technical textiles to restore export momentum and stabilize long-term financial performance.