Once again demonstrating its resilience, India’s textile and apparel sector has effectively navigated a turbulent global landscape defined by economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and tariff pressures from key markets.

Fresh data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) reveals, India’s textile, apparel, and handicraft exports reached $18.24 billion during April–September 2025, registering a modest but meaningful growth of 0.1 per cent Y-o-Y. While shipments to the United States softened due to continued tariff challenges, robust performance in other regions successfully cushioned the impact, underscoring the sector’s successful diversification strategy.

Amid these external pressures, Tamil Nadu has emerged as a key pillar of stability and growth. As India’s most significant textile-exporting state, it posted a 2.6 per cent rise in exports, climbing from $3.98 billion to $4.08 billion in the period. The state’s vibrant textile hubs—Tiruppur, Karur, Erode, Coimbatore, and Salem—delivered an impressive 11.4 per cent combined export growth. Tiruppur, India’s leading knitwear center, particularly benefited from improved cotton availability following the government’s temporary import duty exemption, which helped ease pressure on raw material costs.