For India the outlook for cotton and synthetic textiles is expected to remain stable for the year 2019. This is in view of stable cotton prices and improved consumer spending outlook in key user countries. Measures have been taken to curb imports and promote domestic manufacturing.

Basic customs duty has been raised from 10 to 20 per cent on several items including 298 manmade fabric lines, five silk fabric lines and 22 fabric lines. Antidumping duty has been imposed on import of linen yarn from China and nylon filament yarn from Vietnam and the European Union.

During April to October 2018, the rupee depreciated by 6.7 per cent as compared to the same period the previous year. Imports of intermediate goods viz. fiber and yarn have a share of 43 per cent in India’s overall textile and apparel imports. These are raw materials for manufacturing value added products and imports are primarily need-based.

The country’s textile and apparel imports stood at $7,339 million in 2018 as compared to $6,293 million in 2017. From April to October 2018, India’s textile and apparel exports were $22.9 billion as compared to $22.3 billion during the same period last year.