Textile & Apparel Exports Rise 1.8%, Gain in 100+ Markets as Govt Strengthens Export Support

New Delhi, Jul 29 (KNN) India’s textile and apparel exports, including handicrafts, rose 1.8 percent to Rs 3,25,339 crore in 2025–26 from Rs 3,19,573.2 crore in 2024–25, with export growth recorded across more than 100 countries.

The information was provided by Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The Government has implemented schemes and measures to strengthen the sector’s export competitiveness, including the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks Scheme, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles, National Technical Textiles Mission and SAMARTH. 

Measures under the Export Promotion Mission, including Market Access Support and interest subvention, have also been introduced.The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme has been extended until September 30, 2026. 

Customs duty exemptions have also been provided temporarily on cotton imports under Customs Tariff Heading 5201 from June 1 to October 31, 2026, as well as on selected inputs used in the man-made fibre value chain, including Purified Terephthalic Acid and Mono-Ethylene Glycol. 

GST rates have also been rationalised to address the inverted duty structure in the MMF value chain.

The Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) initiative has been introduced to support exporters affected by disruptions linked to the geopolitical situation in West Asia and related maritime logistics challenges.

The Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme, operational since March 2019, provides rebates on embedded State and Central taxes and levies for exported garments and made-ups. The scheme has been extended until September 30, 2026.

The Government has identified 40 priority countries for export promotion and market diversification. Sixteen FTAs, including the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, are in force. FTA negotiations with the European Union have been concluded, while India has also signed an FTA with New Zealand.

The Ministry of Textiles has established six Textile Export Facilitation Centres and launched the India Immersive Experience Programme through the National Institute of Fashion Technology. 

The Textiles Summit was held in June 2026, while the third edition of Bharat Tex was organised from July 14 to 17, 2026. Textile and handicraft products were exported from more than 500 districts during 2025–26. The Government has also adopted a district-focused approach covering 100 champion and 100 aspirational textile districts.

(KNN Bureau)