India’s Textile Exports in FY 2025-26
Context:
Despite a volatile global economic landscape, India's textile sector has demonstrated consistent resilience.
Recent data released by the Ministry of Textiles highlights that total textile exports, including handicrafts, registered a solid growth of 2.1% in the financial year 2025-26.
Overall outbound shipments increased from roughly ₹3.09 lakh crore in FY 2024-25 to over ₹3.16 lakh crore.
Segment-Wise Performance:
Ready-Made Garments (RMG):
RMG of all textiles continued to be the largest single contributor to India's textile export basket.
The segment recorded a healthy increase of 2.9%, reaching over ₹1.39 lakh crore.
Value-Added Segments:
Handicrafts (specifically excluding handmade carpets) emerged as the fastest-growing major category, logging a robust 6.1% growth.
Yarns and Fabrics:
Man-made yarn, fabrics, and made-ups posted a strong growth of 3.6%.
In contrast, traditional core categories like cotton yarn, fabrics, and handloom products maintained a stable, albeit marginal, growth of 0.4%.
Broad-Based Geographical Expansion:
Notable export surges were observed in established markets like the UAE (22.3%) and Japan (20.6%).
Furthermore, there was massive traction in emerging African markets, particularly in Senegal (54.4%) and Sudan (205.6%).
Policy Support & Trade Pacts:
The government has sustained this momentum utilizing two primary strategic levers:
Export Remission Schemes:
Crucial facilitation measures like the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme and the RoDTEP Scheme have been officially extended beyond March 2026 to ensure continued tax relief and competitiveness for exporters.
Free Trade Agreements (FTAs):
FY26 saw major diplomatic breakthroughs, including the India-EFTA TEPA coming into force, the signing of the India-UK CETA and India-Oman CEPA, and the conclusion of the India-EU FTA.
These pacts are expected to improve preferential market access, reduce tariff disadvantages, and drive deeper integration into global value chains for technical textiles and apparel.