India’s apparel exports see double-digit growth despite challenges
The textile and apparel sector showed resilience amid global economic headwinds, supported by evolving trade dynamics and favourable domestic policies.
India’s textile and apparel exports recorded a growth of 6.32 per cent in the financial year ending March 31, 2025, compared to the previous year, according to an analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI). This growth was primarily driven by the apparel segment, which saw a significant increase of 10.03 per cent, outperforming other segments of the sector.
A detailed breakdown indicates that while textiles posted a moderate growth of 3.61 per cent during April 2024 to March 2025, the apparel segment stood out as the key contributor to the sector’s overall export performance. The textile and apparel sector showed resilience amid global economic headwinds, supported by evolving trade dynamics and favourable domestic policies.
The export performance was also aided by strengthening trade alliances and government initiatives aimed at boosting the competitiveness of Indian products in international markets. These strategic measures helped instill confidence among exporters and encouraged expansion into new markets.
Additionally, global trade shifts—particularly the ongoing tensions between the US and China—have opened new opportunities for India. With the US aiming to diversify its sourcing beyond China, India is increasingly seen as a dependable alternative for textile and apparel sourcing.
However, despite the annual growth, March 2025 witnessed mixed trends. Textile exports fell by 5.81 per cent compared to March 2024, while apparel exports saw a modest growth of 3.97 per cent. Overall, the combined textile and apparel exports in March 2025 experienced a slight year-on-year decline of 1.63 per cent.
In contrast to the largely flat performance of overall merchandise exports, the textile and apparel sector demonstrated a relatively strong and stable growth trajectory throughout the fiscal year.
