India's textile exports rose 16.1% year on year in August 2026 to ₹29,776 crore, according to figures released by the Ministry of Textiles. For April to August, textile exports crossed ₹1.4 lakh crore, about 10.3% higher than in the same period last year. The ministry credited better market access, policy support, more value addition and efforts to reach new markets.
The dollar picture: textiles up, garments down
Figures compiled by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) in US dollars show the same trend with a sharp split between fabrics and garments:
- Textiles earned US$1.918 billion in August, up 13.03%.
- Apparel earned US$1.201 billion, down 2.74%.
- Cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups and handloom rose 13.79% to US$1,121 million.
- Man-made yarn, fabrics and made-ups rose 9.92% to US$446 million.
Over April–August, combined textile and apparel exports were flat at about US$15.08 billion. Textiles grew 6.94%, while garments fell 9.10%. The rupee figures show faster growth than the dollar figures; exchange-rate movement typically accounts for part of such a gap.
Why this matters for Gujarat
Surat is India's largest centre for man-made fibre fabrics such as polyester and viscose, so the rise in man-made yarn and fabric exports is a positive signal for its weavers and processors. Ahmedabad, with its cotton and denim mills, sits in the cotton yarn and fabric category, which was the strongest large segment in August.
The weak garment numbers are a reminder that demand for finished clothing abroad is still soft, even as overseas buyers keep importing Indian fabric and yarn.