CITI urges RBI to make entire textile value chain eligible under trade relief measures

During October 2025, India’s textiles exports declined 12.92% over the previous year, while apparel exports fell 12.88% during the same period. Cumulative exports of textiles and apparel items in October 2025 slid 12.91% compared to October 2024.

“CITI would like to sincerely thank the RBI for the proactive steps it has announced to mitigate the impact of trade disruptions on exports arising on account of global headwinds, as it will greatly benefit several segments within the textile and apparel sector that have been hit very badly due to the high US tariff,” CITI Chairman Shri Ashwin Chandran said.

“Given that spinning, weaving and processing units are also facing pressure, adding these units to the list of sectors eligible under the trade relief measures would greatly benefit the overall growth and development of India’s textile and apparel sector,” Shri Chandran added.

India aims to create a $350 billion textile and apparel industry by 2030, with textile and apparel exports contributing $100 billion.

The CITI Chairman stated that spinning, weaving and processing units being made eligible for the RBI’s trade relief measures could ensure that these mills are not forced to cut back on operations. Such a move on the part of the RBI could also reduce the risk of people being laid off or asked to work at lower wages at spinning, weaving and processing units, he added.

As per some industry estimates, nearly 2 million spindles have already been permanently shut down in India during the last five years due to financial distress.

The sectors eligible for RBI’s Trade Relief Measures include “Carpets and other textile floor coverings,” “Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted,” “Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted,” and “Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags.”