India’s textile and apparel exports recorded a year-on-year decline in January, primarily due to elevated tariffs imposed by the United States that remained in effect until 7th February, affecting export competitiveness and shipment volumes.
Data released by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) showed that textile exports fell by 3.68% to US $ 1,730.65 million in January 2026, compared with US $ 1,796.78 million in January 2025. Apparel exports also declined by 3.84% year-on-year to US $ 1,544.79 million, down from US $ 1,606.41 million in the corresponding month of the previous year.
Combined exports of textiles and apparel stood at US $ 3,275.44 million in January 2026, compared with US $ 3,403.19 million in January 2025, marking an overall contraction of 3.75%.
The downturn was largely concentrated in key textile segments. Exports of cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom products decreased by 4.15% to US $ 995.58 million in January 2026, from US $ 1,038.69 million a year earlier.
In contrast, exports of man-made yarn, fabrics and made-ups showed marginal growth of 1.01%, rising to US $ 430.29 million in January 2026 from US $ 425.97 million in January 2025, indicating relative resilience within synthetic segments.
For the April 2025 to January 2026 period, textile exports declined by 2.35% to US $ 16,677.99 million, compared with US $ 17,079.24 million in the same period of the previous financial year. Apparel exports, however, grew by 1.59% to US $ 13,128.71 million, up from US $ 12,923.11 million.
Despite the growth in apparel shipments, cumulative textile and apparel exports during April 2025 to January 2026 fell marginally by 0.65% to US $ 29,806.70 million, compared with US $ 30,002.35 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.
The sector’s share in India’s total exports also declined. Textile and apparel exports accounted for 8.96% of total exports in January 2026, down from 9.37% in January 2025. For the April–January period, the share stood at 8.13%, compared with 8.36% a year earlier.
