Cumulative export of textiles and apparels during the first three quarters of FY26 fell 0.26% compared with the nine-month period in FY25, shows an analysis of government data.
Decline in overall textile and apparel shipments was led by a 2.19% fall in export of textiles during April-December 2025 over the previous year, even as apparel exports registered a growth of 2.36% during the same period, showed the analysis by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industries (CITI).
During December 2025, textile exports reduced 1.62% over the previous year while apparel exports expanded 2.89% during the same period. The cumulative exports of textiles and apparels during December 2025 have registered a growth of 0.40% over December 2024.
Bangladesh, which is the top destination for Indian yarn exports, has imposed restrictions on not importing yarn via land ports from April 2025. This, along with the geo-political uncertainties in Bangladesh have led to a significant drop in India’s yarn and fabric exports.
“The de-growth in apparels is because of the continued uncertainty in the US and the Bangladesh markets. We had a big export of cotton yarn and fabric to Bangladesh while the major export of made ups like towels, curtains etc was to the US,” said Chandrima Chatterjee, executive director, CITI.
Industry executives said apparel exporters could continue exports due to deep discounts. Exporters said bottom lines of their companies have been affected even as the top line continues to show growth.
However, individual companies, which were dependent on the US for 70-80% of their export of home textiles, have taken a big hit. “In my recent visit to the US, we have seen malls full of Pakistani made-ups,” said a leading exporter of made-ups to the US, who requested not to be quoted.
