India’s apparel industry could see export orders increase by 10% to 20% over the next 18 months, according to industry representatives, as global buyers continue to expand sourcing options across manufacturing markets.
Industry representatives said recent disruptions affecting Bangladesh’s apparel sector have prompted several global buyers to review sourcing allocations, potentially creating additional export opportunities for manufacturers in other production markets.
Industry estimates suggest that a rise of the scale could add between USD 2 billion and USD 3 billion annually to India’s apparel exports. India’s apparel exports stood at approximately USD 14.5 billion during the previous fiscal year.
Tiruppur Exporters Anticipate Increased Demand
India’s largest garment export cluster, Tirupur, is expecting export orders to rise by around 10% compared to last year, according to industry representatives. Sanjay Jain, Chairman of the Indian Chamber of Commerce’s National Expert Committee on Textiles, said India could benefit from additional export opportunities in the near term.
“India can benefit from government exports. We expect a 10 to 15% gain in the short to medium term on government exports,” he said.
Capacity Expansion in Focus
Industry stakeholders noted that cotton yarn and fabric exports could also see increased demand alongside garments, with cotton-based products expected to benefit more than synthetic and man-made fiber segments.
Representatives from the cotton textile industry estimated that export orders could increase. They also highlighted the need for additional manufacturing capacity to support future demand.
“We expect 10 to 20% of orders to come to India in the next two years. We need to set up factories and expand production,” a representative of the cotton textile industry specified.
Industry participants also pointed to the role of the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme. The scheme is an important initiative for expanding textile manufacturing infrastructure through 7 planned mega textile parks.
Focus Remains on Long-Term Growth
Mithileswar Thankur, Secretary General of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), commented “The Indian government industry is making serious efforts to grow RMG exports on its own, based on its merit.”
Industry representatives added that buyers are expected to continue diversifying sourcing strategies, making manufacturing capacity, infrastructure, and export competitiveness important priorities for India’s apparel sector.
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