India’s apparel exports have shown steady growth in 2024, with total apparel exports rising by 3.60 per cent in the January to July period as compared to the same period in 2023.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India, the total export value increased from US $ 9.19 billion to US $ 9.53 billion, driven largely by the strong demand from the United States, even as other key markets displayed mixed results.
Exports of apparel of knitted apparel saw a significant rise of 7.02 per cent, while exports of woven apparel remained relatively stable with a marginal increase of 0.90 per cent.
The US remained India’s largest export destination for apparel, with total exports increasing by 6.60 per cent from US $ 2.91 billion in the first 7-month period of 2023 to US $ 3.11 billion in same period of 2024.
Knitted apparel exports to the US surged by a notable 15.04 per cent, reaching US $ 1.49 billion, signaling strong demand in this segment. However, woven apparel saw a slight decline of 0.18 per cent, but overall, the US market has been a key driver of India’s export growth.
The second largest export destination remained the UK. The total imports of the US from India rose by 2.81 per cent to US $ 896.79 million in 2024.
While knitted apparel exports to the UK rose by 7.42 per cent, woven apparel exports dipped slightly by 0.35 per cent. The UK remains a crucial European market despite these fluctuations.
The apparel exports to the UAE – the third largest export destination of India – took a sharp downturn, dropping by 1.75 per cent to US $ 711.95 million in 2024.
Knitted apparel exports saw a considerable decline of 11.27 per cent, while woven apparel rose by 9.90 per cent. The contrasting trend in categories suggests a shift in demand within the UAE market.
