Monthly gains offset by subdued cumulative export performance.
Indian textile and apparel (T&A) exports recorded healthy year-on-year growth in November 2025, even as cumulative performance for the financial year to date remained subdued, according to the latest analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).
During November 2025, textile exports rose by 7.99 per cent compared to the same month last year, while apparel exports registered a stronger growth of 11.27 per cent. As a result, combined T&A exports increased by 9.40 per cent over November 2024, indicating a short-term recovery supported by improved global demand conditions and festive-season orders.
However, the cumulative picture for April–November 2025 showed a more muted trend. Textile exports declined by 2.27 per cent year-on-year during the eight-month period, while apparel exports posted a modest growth of 2.28 per cent. Overall, cumulative T&A exports during April–November 2025 edged down by 0.35 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
Segment-wise data revealed varied performance. In November 2025, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics and made-ups grew 4.10 per cent, while man-made yarn and fabric shipments rose sharply by 15.72 per cent. Handicrafts excluding handmade carpets recorded a significant 29.73 per cent increase. In contrast, jute products and carpets witnessed year-on-year declines during the month.
Apparel exports rose from $1,121.07 million in November 2024 to $1,247.37 million in November 2025, reinforcing garments as the key growth driver within the T&A basket. Despite this, the share of textiles and apparel in India’s total merchandise exports declined to 7.49 per cent in November 2025 from 8.17 per cent a year earlier, reflecting faster growth in other export sectors.
On the import front, imports of raw cotton and cotton waste surged 75.35 per cent year-on-year in October 2025, while imports of textile yarns, fabrics and made-ups increased 2.60 per cent, highlighting continued reliance on overseas raw material supplies.