Following a strong growth in January, India's textile and apparel (T&A) exports experienced a slight dip in February 2025.

T&A exports during the month declined by 2.27 per cent to $3.216 billion. However, they increased by 7.19 per cent to $33.217 billion in the first eleven months of FY2024-25.

Apparel exports increased by 3.97 per cent to $1.534 billion in February, while textile exports declined by 7.35 per cent to $1.681 billion during the month. Over the eleven-month period, India’s apparel exports rose by 10.71 per cent to $14.458 billion from $13.059 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year. On the other hand, textile exports grew by 4.63 per cent to $18.759 billion in the first eleven months of FY25, compared to $17.928 billion in the same period of the previous year.

Within the textile sector, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products increased modestly by 3.29 per cent to $10.938 billion in the first eleven months of this fiscal year. Exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 4.54 per cent to $4.432 billion, while carpet exports saw a significant increase of 12.52 per cent to $1,403.97 million.

On the other hand, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products in February 2025 declined by 4.41 per cent to $981.80 million, while exports of man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups declined by 8.36 per cent to $395.65 million. Carpet exports, however, increased by 4.87 per cent to $118.87 million.

Imports of raw cotton and waste increased by 107.38 per cent to $1,140.28 million during April–February 2025, compared to $549.86 million in the same period of the last fiscal year. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups increased by 7.83 per cent, rising from $2,116.74 million to $2,282.50 million during the period.

In February 2025, imports of raw cotton and waste saw a dramatic increase of 217.72 per cent, from $31.43 million to $99.86 million. Similarly, imports of textile yarn, fabrics, and made-ups rose by 6.38 per cent to $196.87 million in February.

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