Textile Exports Stagnant with Less Than 10% Share in Exports High Monopoly Price of Viscose and Polyester Arrest Progress in Growth Segments

Export Performance

·         2024–25 Exports: US$ 37.75 billion (including handicrafts).

·         Growth: 5.2% over 2023–24 (US$ 35.87 bill..ion).

·         Global Position: India ranked 6th largest exporter of textiles & apparel in 2024 (ITC Trade Map).

Industry Strengths

·         Strong raw material base: cotton, silk, wool, jute, man-made fibres.

·         Manufacturing strength across full value chain: fibre → fabric → garments.

·         Rising domestic demand alongside export growth.

Key Government Schemes/Initiatives

·         PM MITRA Parks Scheme: Modern, integrated textile infrastructure.

·         PLI Scheme: Focus on MMF fabric, MMF apparel, technical textiles.

·         National Technical Textiles Mission: R&D, promotion, market development.

·         SAMARTH: Skilling program for textile sector.

·         Silk Samagra-2: Sericulture value chain development.

·         National Handloom Development Programme: End-to-end support for handloom sector.

·         National Handicrafts Development Programme & Cluster Development Scheme: Promotion of handicrafts.

Export Incentives

·         RoSCTL Scheme: Zero-rated exports for apparel/garments & made-ups.

·         RoDTEP Scheme: Covers textiles not under RoSCTL.

Export Promotion Mission (FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31)

·         Outlay: ₹25,060 crore.

·         Two Sub-Schemes:

1.    NIRYAT PROTSAHAN: Affordable trade finance for MSMEs (interest subvention, factoring, collateral guarantees, credit cards for e-commerce exporters, credit enhancement).

2.    NIRYAT DISHA: Non-financial enablers (quality & compliance support, branding, packaging, trade fairs, warehousing, logistics, trade intelligence, capacity building).

India is combining infrastructure, incentives, skilling, and export promotion frameworks to strengthen its position as a global textile hub, while safeguarding traditional sectors like handloom and handicrafts.

 

[ABS News Service/14.03.2026]

India’s global textile and apparel exports (including handicrafts) stood at US$ 37.75 billion in 2024–25, registering a growth of 5.2% compared to US$ 35.87 billion in 2023–24. India was the 6th largest exporter of Textiles & Apparel in the world in 2024. (Source: ITC Trade Map)

The Indian textile industry is one of the largest in the world, with a strong raw material base of natural fibres, including cotton, silk, wool, and jute, as well as man-made fibres, and possesses manufacturing strength across the entire value chain from fibre to fabric to garments. The sector has also witnessed significant growth in domestic demand over time.

The Government is implementing various schemes/initiatives to promote Indian textiles and improve the textile manufacturing and export competitiveness in India. The major schemes/initiatives include PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme to create a modern, integrated, world class textile infrastructure; Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme focusing on MMF Fabric, MMF Apparel and Technical Textiles to boost large scale manufacturing and enhancing competitiveness; National Technical Textiles Mission focusing on Research Innovation & Development, Promotion and Market Development; SAMARTH – Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector with the objective providing demand driven, placement oriented, skilling program; Silk Samagra-2 for comprehensive development of sericulture value chain; National Handloom Development Program for end to end support for handloom sector. Ministry of Textiles is also implementing National Handicrafts Development Programme and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme for promotion of handicrafts.

The Government is also implementing Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme for Apparel/Garments and Made-ups to enhance competitiveness by adopting principle of zero-rated exports. Further, textiles products not covered under the RoSCTL scheme are covered under Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) schem along with other products.

In addition, the Export promotion Mission provides a comprehensive, flexible, and digitally driven framework for export promotion, with a total outlay of Rs.25,060 crore for FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31. The Mission is being operationalized through two integrated sub-schemes:

I. NIRYAT PROTSAHAN – focuses on improving access to affordable trade finance for MSMEs through a range of instruments such as interest subvention, export factoring, collateral guarantees, credit cards for e-commerce exporters, and credit enhancement support for diversification into new markets.

II. NIRYAT DISHA – focuses on non-financial enablers that enhance market readiness and competitiveness, including export quality and compliance support, assistance for international branding, packaging, and participation in trade fairs, export warehousing and logistics, trade intelligence and capacity-building initiatives.

This information was provided by THE MINISTER FOR TEXTILES GIRIRAJ SINGH in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 13 March, 2026.