India's textile exports rise 1.8% to Rs 3.25 lakh cr amid global woes

India's textiles and apparel exports, including handicrafts, rose 1.8 per cent to Rs 3,25,339 crore in 2025-26 despite geopolitical disruptions and weak global demand, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
According to agency reports,in a written reply, Singh said exports increased from Rs 3,19,573.2 crore in 2024-25, reflecting the resilience of the sector despite fluctuations in global demand, rising input costs and other trade-related challenges.He added that exports of textiles and apparel registered growth in more than 100 export destinations during 2025-26 compared with the previous financial year.The minister said the government has rolled out several schemes and policy measures to improve the global competitiveness and export preparedness of the textile and apparel sector.
These include the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks Scheme, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Textiles, the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), SAMARTH – Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textile Sector, Silk Samagra-2, the National Handloom Development Programme, the National Handicrafts Development Programme and the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme.Singh also highlighted export-focused initiatives such as the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) Scheme, the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme, the Export Promotion Mission and the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE).
To support exporters affected by geopolitical developments, the government launched the Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) initiative under the Export Promotion Mission on March 19, 2026. The initiative aims to assist exporters impacted by the conflict in West Asia and maritime disruptions in the Gulf region.The minister also noted that the Centre exempted cotton imports under Customs Tariff Heading 5201 from June 1 to October 31, 2026, to improve domestic availability of the raw material.
On trade agreements, Singh said India's 16 operational Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), along with the recently concluded FTA negotiations with the European Union and the signed FTA with New Zealand, are expected to open new export opportunities for the textile sector.To provide policy certainty, the government has extended the RoSCTL and RoDTEP schemes for another six months until September 30, 2026.The minister also shared state-wise export figures, stating that textile and apparel exports from Madhya Pradesh stood at Rs 11,751.7 crore in 2025-26, marginally higher than Rs 11,748.9 crore in the previous year. Exports from Bihar increased to Rs 409 crore from Rs 375.6 crore during the same period.Singh said these initiatives are aimed at ensuring sustainable growth, generating employment across the textile value chain, promoting value addition, strengthening supply chain resilience and enhancing the global competitiveness of India's textile industry.