Indian textile and clothing exports increased 11 per cent in July 2018 over July 2017. Overall exports growth during April-July 2018 was three per cent vis-a-vis the same period last year. Production of manmade fiber grew five per cent in the same four month period of the last fiscal. Similarly, spun yarn grew 1.1 per cent during the said period as against the same period last fiscal. Fabric production grew by 2.5 per cent.

Being the single largest industrial employment provider with 10 crore people, the textile sector has benefited with continuous support from a slew of measures on all fronts. Import growth has come down significantly. While imports of textile and clothing grew five per cent from April-June 2017 to the same period this year, it is significantly lower than the growth of 16 per cent last year.

Measures taken to increase import duty on various textile and apparel goods will help in further reducing imports in coming months. Devaluation of the rupee by nine per cent in the last few months has made the industry competitive globally and imports dearer. The import duty on about 400 products has been enhanced, providing relief to the industry which was hit by huge imports post GST due to import barriers’ reducing significantly.