Apparel exports increased by 54 per cent in rupee terms in October compared to the same month last year; in dollar terms it increased by 36 per cent for the same period. Total textile and apparel exports grew by 38 per cent in rupee terms and 22 per cent in dollar terms for the same period. A big reason for this increase was the drop in exports last year due to the impact of GST introduction along with rupee depreciation.

According to Sanjay K Jain, Chairman of Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), the IIP data for textiles and clothing saw a year-on-year growth during September this year from a year earlier. Textile manufacturing increased 5.4 per cent in September 2018 year-on-year whereas manufacturing of wearing apparel increased by 20.9 per cent for the same period.