Textile-apparel exports fall 1.84 pc to $11.96bn in Apr-July 2026

India's textile and apparel exports experienced a year-on-year decline of 1.84%, totaling $11.96 billion during the April-July 2026 period. This downturn was primarily driven by a sharp fall in apparel shipments, which offset the growth observed in the broader textile category, according to an analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).

During the first four months of the financial year, apparel exports plummeted by 10.52% to $4.95 billion. In contrast, textile exports demonstrated resilience, increasing by 5.38% to reach $7.01 billion. The overall performance marks a decrease from the $12.18 billion recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year.

However, July data indicated a positive trend for the combined segment, with textile and apparel exports growing by 1.44% year-on-year to $3.14 billion. This improvement was fueled by a 5.94% rise in textile shipments to $1.87 billion, although apparel exports continued to struggle, declining by 4.48% to $1.28 billion.

Within the textile sector, specific categories showed varied performance. Cotton yarn, fabrics, and made-ups, along with handloom products, recorded an 8.4% growth in July. Man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups saw a marginal increase. Handicrafts, excluding handmade carpets, emerged as a strong performer, with exports surging 30.48% in the April-July period. Conversely, jute manufacturing exports and carpet exports experienced declines, though the latter remained marginally higher over the four-month span.