Provisional data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) indicates, India’s overall textile and apparel exports grew by 7 per cent to $21, 358 million during April-October FY 2024-25 as against $20,007 million in the same period of FY 2023-24.

The largest contributor to the exports of apparels and textiles were ready-made garments, whose exports totaled $8,733 million, constituting 41 per cent of the total. The exports of cotton textiles accounted for 33 per cent to a total of $7,082 million. Manmade textile exports represented 15 per cent to a total of $3,105 million.

India’s imports of textiles and apparel products in FY 2023-24 amounted to $8,946 million, reflecting a 15 per cent decrease compared to FY 2022-23 ($10,481 million). During April-October FY 2024-25, imports stood at $5,425 million, marking a marginal 1 per cent decline from $5,464 million in the same period of FY 2023-24.

Man-made textiles dominated imports with a share of 34 per cent, valued at $1,859 million, due to a demand-supply gap in this sector. Imports of cotton textiles rose, driven primarily by long-staple cotton fiber, signaling an increase in domestic production capacity to meet rising consumption and self-reliance goals.