Dear Friends,

Over the past fortnight, India’s textile sector has navigated a series of significant developments on both international and domestic fronts. These shifts highlight the adaptability of our industry and the importance of proactive engagement by TEXPROCIL in shaping outcomes that matter for our members. From encouraging signals in global trade policy to landmark domestic infrastructure initiatives and a renewed focus on sustainability, the sector continues to demonstrate resilience amidst complex challenges.

One of the most encouraging recent developments is the statement by India’s Chief Economic Adviser indicating that the United States may review the continuation of the 25% penal tariffs on Indian goods. If these duties are rolled back, it will create a welcome opportunity for Indian textiles and apparel to regain competitiveness in one of our largest export markets. The U.S. remains a cornerstone of India’s global textile trade, and this potential policy shift could allow exporters to reclaim lost ground and expand market share.

The Council has been continuously engaging with the government to advocate sector-specific policy support. Our representations highlight the need for timely relief measures, including tariff mitigation, GST simplification, and incentives that can strengthen India’s competitive edge in global markets. I appeal to all our members to send in suggestions for sensitizing the Government on the critical issues in an orderly manner.

PM MITRA Park 

On the domestic side, a historic milestone was achieved with the laying of the foundation stone for India’s first greenfield PM MITRA Park at Dhar in Madhya Pradesh. With investment commitments exceeding ₹20,000 crore, this integrated textile park represents a bold step towards modernizing the sector’s infrastructure. By bringing together ginning, spinning, weaving, processing, and garmenting within a single ecosystem, the PM MITRA Park promises to create globally competitive supply chains, deliver economies of scale, and enhance India’s ability to serve international buyers with speed and efficiency.

This initiative is not just about infrastructure—it is about transforming India’s textile sector into a truly integrated, world-class value chain that can meet the demands of today’s fast-changing global marketplace.

Trade Data

The quick estimates released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry for the month of August 2025 shows that the exports of cotton yarn/fabrics/made-ups, handloom products etc. from India declined by (-) 2.32% in August 2025 over August 2024. However, during April–Aug’25, Indian cotton yarn/fabrics/made-ups, handloom products have slightly declined by (-) 0.62%.

During Aug’25, Indian Textiles Exports declined by (-) 2.79% over the previous year while Apparel Exports have also declined by (-) 2.65% during the same time period. 

As concerns the cumulative Exports of Textiles and Apparel during August’25 have declined by (-) 2.73% over August’24During April-August’25, Indian Textiles Exports have registered a positive growth of 0.02% over the previous year while Apparel Exports registered a growth of 5.78% during the same time period. Overall T&A registered a growth of 2.52% during Apr-August’25.

Policy Advocacy

Meeting with Hon’ble Finance Minister

On 2nd September 2025, Shri Ravi Sam, Vice Chairman of TEXPROCIL, raised industry concerns during an interactive meeting with Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in Chennai. He emphasized the urgent need to address the impact of U.S. tariffs and to resolve GST-related challenges.

A joint memorandum prepared by TEXPROCIL along with other industry associations and councils was submitted to the Minister. The Finance Minister responded positively, assuring the delegation that the Ministry of Finance would work with the Ministry of Commerce to develop practical solutions. Exporters also welcomed the government’s decision to extend the import duty exemption on cotton until 31st December 2025, a timely relief for the industry.

Meeting with Government Officials of Gujarat

A TEXPROCIL delegation, led by myself, met senior officials of the Gujarat government including Ms. Mamta Verma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries & Mines Department, and Shri Swaroop P, IAS, Industries Commissioner, in Gandhinagar. Discussions focused on the Gujarat Textile Policy 2024 and ways to leverage its provisions to strengthen industry competitiveness. Officials assured us of continued support and indicated their readiness to work closely with stakeholders to address emerging challenges.

Meeting with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

On 29th August 2025, Shri Sudhakar Choudhary, COA Member of TEXPROCIL, along with representatives from SIMA and CITI, called on the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, in Vijayawada. 

The discussions focused on the adverse impact of the recently imposed U.S. tariffs on the State’s textile industry. The delegation apprised the Hon’ble Chief Minister of the challenges being faced by exporters and sought all possible relief measures at the State level to mitigate these impacts and safeguard the competitiveness of the sector. 

Trade Promotion Initiatives

Participation in Manthan 2025: Perfect Sourcing CXO Meet

On 4th September 2025, TEXPROCIL actively participated in the “Manthan 2025: Perfect Sourcing CXO Meet” in New Delhi. The event provided exporters and buyers an opportunity to exchange views, debate sourcing trends, and explore partnerships that will define the future of global sourcing.

InterTextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Show

From 2nd to 4th September 2025, TEXPROCIL led India’s participation in the InterTextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Show and Yarn Expo Autumn. The India Pavilion prominently showcased products made from Kasturi Cotton Bharat (KCB), which attracted considerable attention from global buyers.

Meetings were held with leading brands such as Lindex Group, H&M Group, Fuzhou Siemei Trade Co. Ltd., and LC Waikiki to explore integrating Kasturi Cotton into their product portfolios. Encouragingly, after two years of subdued participation, visitor traffic at Indian booths was markedly higher, signaling renewed buyer interest in Indian textiles.

Promoting Kasturi Cotton Bharat

The Kasturi Cotton initiative continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s brand identity in global cotton markets. On 9th September 2025, the Kasturi Cotton team delivered a presentation at a Cluster-Level Training organized by the CITI Cotton Development & Research Association (CITI-CDRA) in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. The training covered critical areas such as Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), Integrated Crop Management (ICM), sustainable farming practices, and the promotion of Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton.

In parallel, TEXPROCIL organized a webinar with Beetle Regen Solutions and Regenagri on the theme “Can Growing Cotton Remove Carbon?” The discussion explored the role of regenerative farming practices in making cotton cultivation climate-positive, thereby aligning with global sustainability goals and strengthening the value proposition of Kasturi Cotton Bharat.

Looking Ahead

As India’s textile and apparel industry navigates this complex trade landscape, it is clear that success will depend on agility, innovation, and collaboration. While the prospect of U.S. tariff relief offers hope, diversification into the EU, UK, and Africa remains crucial. Meanwhile, exporters must continue to compete with efficiency-driven players in Southeast Asia and adapt to the growing emphasis on sustainability.

In these challenging times the Council assures to remain your steadfast partner—advocating for policy support, facilitating trade promotion, and enabling knowledge-sharing.

Together, let us strengthen India’s position as a global leader in textiles, safeguard the interests of our producers, workers, and exporters, and create a value chain that is both competitive and sustainable.

:: TEXPROCIL ::