Textile, Apparel Exports Decline In FY26 Amid Global Headwinds

New Delhi, Apr 16 (KNN) India’s textile and apparel exports recorded a decline in FY2025-26, reflecting the impact of global trade pressures, including high tariffs imposed by the United States, according to export data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
 
Cumulative exports of textiles and apparel registered a contraction of 2.21 percent during the fiscal compared to the previous year. The decline was more pronounced in March 2026, when shipments fell by 14.02 percent year-on-year, reported The Economic Times. 
 
An analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industries showed that textile exports declined by 2.86 percent in FY26, while apparel exports contracted by 1.36 percent during the same period.
 
On a monthly basis, textile exports dropped by 9.91 percent in March 2026 compared to the corresponding period last year, while apparel exports saw a sharper decline of 18.99 percent.
 
Despite the weakness in exports, imports of raw cotton rose significantly during the fiscal. The surge, estimated at 54.99 percent, was attributed to the temporary easing of import duties by the government between August 28 and December 31, 2025.
 
The data highlights the dual pressures faced by the sector, with weakening external demand impacting exports even as policy measures influenced import trends.
 
(KNN Bureau)