Textile, attire export see sharp decline in October; authorities rescinds QCO on viscose fibres

With the U.S. tariffs hitting exhausting, attire and textile exports noticed a 12.91% droop in October in contrast with final October.

While textile shipments final month have been value $1,597 million, attire exports have been $1,069.42 million, as in opposition to $1,833 million (textiles) and $1,227 million (attire) in October 2024.

Exports of jute and carpets dropped 27.27% and 15.8% respectively, and cotton yarn, materials, and made-ups went down 13.31%.

“Many consumers within the U.S. who have been inserting orders with us repeatedly are nonetheless doing so. But, we’re supplying at heavy reductions,” stated A. Sakthivel, vice chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).

The garment exporters received the spring season orders. But the summer season orders are sluggish. Things might enhance with a bilateral commerce settlement anticipated quickly and the assist measures introduced by the Indian authorities, stated Mithileshwar Thankur, secretary common of the AEPC.

The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council Executive Director Siddhartha Rajagopal stated yarn exports to China did see a slight enchancment. But provides to different markets slumped. Fabric motion can also be sluggish. Exporters have been earlier front-loading the products, and therefore there was an excellent motion in August-September. They are providing 15% to 25% low cost now to the U.S. consumers. “One season is gone. In markets apart from the U.S., the competitors is excessive,” he stated.

He urged the Central authorities to take a look at the textile business as one built-in worth chain and supply monetary assist to the whole worth chain.

Meanwhile, in a notification issued on Tuesday (November 18, 2025), the Union Ministry of Textiles rescinded the order issued on December 29, 2022, thus eradicating the Quality Control Order on viscose staple fibres.

Removal of the QCO will strengthen the artifical fibre ecosystem and profit the business within the long-run. The tariff challenge must be resolved to handle the present challenges, stated Durai Palanisamy, chairman of the Southern India Mills’ Association.

Viscose staple fibre and several other speciality fibres inside this order are essential inputs for a number of value-added clothes and made-ups. Revoking the QCO for viscose fibres and polyester yarn and fibres will deal with the value and availability considerations raised by the customers of those uncooked supplies within the MMF section. This measure will contribute considerably to elevating the competitiveness of the Indian textile and attire sector, stated Ashwin Chandran, chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry.

The Textile Ministry additionally stated on Tuesday (November 18) that 17 new functions for a cumulative funding of ₹2,374 crore have been authorised below the Production Linked Incentive Scheme, spherical three. The proposed initiatives are anticipated to attain projected gross sales of over ₹12,893 crore and generate employment for about 22,646 individuals within the coming years.

The PLI Scheme for Textiles was notified on September 24, 2021, with an authorised outlay of ₹10,683 crore to advertise the manufacturing of MMF attire and materials, and merchandise of technical textiles.