India’s textile and apparel exports rose 17.5% year-on-year to $3.1 billion in September 2026, but weaker apparel shipments limited the sector’s overall growth during the first half of FY27.
Quick estimates from the Union ministry of commerce and industry showed textile exports increasing 19.9% to $1.9 billion in September, while apparel exports rose 13.7% to $1.1 billion. Combined exports were valued at $2.6 billion in September 2025.
The September performance was supported by growth across textiles, cotton yarn and fabrics, manmade yarn and fabrics, ready-made garments and handicrafts. Crisil Ratings said labour-intensive exports strengthened sharply during the month, with textile and allied exports recording year-on-year improvement across key categories.
Despite the monthly rise, cumulative performance remained modest. Textile and apparel exports increased to $18.2 billion between April and September 2026, compared with $17.7 billion during the corresponding period a year earlier, representing growth of 2.4%.
Textiles accounted for most of the first-half increase. Textile exports grew 9.1% to $10.9 billion, while exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products rose 8.9% to $6.3 billion. Exports of manmade yarn, fabrics and made-ups increased 4.2% to $2.5 billion.
Handicrafts, excluding handmade carpets, recorded the strongest growth among the categories listed in the report, surging 32.54% to $1.13 billion. Carpet exports increased 4.1% to $764 million.
Apparel remained the main drag on the six-month numbers. Apparel exports declined 6.2% to $7.3 billion from $7.8 billion in the year-ago period, offsetting gains in textiles and handicrafts and keeping total sector growth at a relatively low level.
The trade figures also show a sharp increase in imports of cotton raw materials and waste. These imports surged 80.9% to $301 million in September and rose 63% to $1.1 billion during April-September 2026. Imports of textile yarn, fabrics and made-ups increased 6.5% to $252 million in September, although they fell 0.9% to $1.3 billion during the first half.
The latest figures therefore present a mixed picture for India’s textile economy: strong monthly growth and gains in several upstream and allied segments, alongside a decline in cumulative apparel shipments. The next export updates will indicate whether the September improvement continues through the second half of FY27.
