Textile Exports Fall 1.62% In Dec, Apparel Shipments Rise 2.89%: CITI

New Delhi, Jan 17 (KNN) India’s textile exports fell 1.62 per cent year-on-year in December 2025, while apparel exports grew by 2.89 per cent, according to an analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) based on PIB data. 

Combined textile and apparel (T&A) exports recorded a marginal increase of 0.40 per cent compared with December 2024.

April–December Performance

On a cumulative basis for April–December 2025, textile exports declined 2.19 per cent, even as apparel exports rose 2.36 per cent. Overall T&A exports dipped slightly by 0.26 per cent during the nine-month period, reflecting continued pressure on the textile segment despite steady growth in apparel.

Within textiles, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics and made-ups fell 3.96 per cent in December and 3.35 per cent during April–December. In contrast, man-made yarn and fabrics recorded growth of 3.99 per cent in December and 0.41 per cent cumulatively. Handicrafts, excluding handmade carpets, grew 7.20 per cent during the month.

Export Share and Imports

Total T&A exports stood at USD 3.27 billion in December 2025, broadly unchanged from USD 3.26 billion a year earlier. However, the sector’s share in India’s total exports declined to 8.50 per cent from 8.62 per cent a year ago, and to 8.03 per cent during April–December 2025.

On the import side, raw cotton and waste imports surged sharply, rising 212.44 per cent in December and 80.31 per cent during April–December, indicating supply-side pressures. Imports of textile yarn, fabric and made-ups declined 2.92 per cent in December but increased 6.29 per cent on a cumulative basis.

(KNN Bureau)