India’s textile and apparel exports declined 3.42 per cent in the first month of fiscal 2026-27 (April-March). Apparel exports fell by 11.66 per cent, while textile exports gained by 3.59 per cent, resulting in an overall drop of 11.66 per cent year on year (YoY) in textile and apparel exports during the month. During fiscal year 2025–26 (April–March), textile and apparel shipments declined by 2.21 per cent.
In April 2026, textile and apparel exports dipped to $2.881 billion from $2.983 billion in the same month of the last year. According to an analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), apparel exports slipped to $1.211 billion in April, while textile shipment picked up to $1.670 billion.
Category-wise, exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products increased 0.57 per cent to $968.38 million. Man-made fibre-based exports gained 2.34 per cent to $392.77 million. Carpet exports rose 9.93 per cent, while handicrafts excluding carpets rose 26.22 per cent, according to the latest trade data, released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Raw cotton and cotton waste imports dipped 6.10 per cent in March to $81.58 million. Imports of textile yarn, fabric and made-ups eased 7.17 per cent to $179.27 million in April 2026.
During FY26, India’s textile and apparel exports declined 2.21 per cent year on year to $35.799 billion, reflecting pressure from weak global demand and geopolitical disruptions. Textile exports fell 2.86 per cent to $20.027 billion, while apparel exports eased 1.36 per cent to $15.772 billion. The sector’s share in India’s total merchandise exports slipped to 8.10 per cent from 8.36 per cent, a year earlier. On the import side, raw cotton and cotton waste imports surged 54.91 per cent to $1.889 billion, while imports of textile yarn, fabric and made-ups rose 5.12 per cent to $2.602 billion, during April 2025-March 2026.
