India's textile and apparel exports have crossed the $16 billion mark in the first half of financial year 2025-26 (April–September), registering a 12.4% growth over the corresponding period of the previous year, according to data released by the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and the Textile Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL).
The United States continues to be the largest market for Indian textiles, accounting for nearly 27% of total exports, followed by the European Union at 22%. Notably, exports to West African nations—particularly Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal—have surged by over 35%, reflecting India's growing footprint in emerging markets.
Ready-made garments (RMG) led the export basket with $9.1 billion, followed by home textiles at $3.4 billion, cotton yarn and fabrics at $2.2 billion, and technical textiles at $1.3 billion.
The Union Minister for Textiles attributed the growth to improved infrastructure at major ports, faster customs clearance under the National Logistics Policy, and competitive pricing following stable cotton prices over the past two quarters.
Industry stakeholders, however, have flagged concerns about the upcoming US reciprocal tariff review, which could affect Indian garment exports if additional duties are imposed. The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has urged the government to fast-track the pending Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the UK and EU to secure tariff advantages.
With strong order books visible through the January–March quarter, the industry is targeting $34 billion in total exports for FY2025-26, which would be a record high.