The Future of Textile Export from India: What to Expect in 2025–2030

Summary

• Textile export from India is projected to grow steadily between 2025–2030, driven by government incentives, technical-textile innovation, and rising global demand.
  
  

• Key challenges include cotton supply volatility, infrastructure gaps, and rising competition from other low-cost nations.
  
  

• Major opportunities lie in man-made fibre (MMF), technical textiles, and sustainable fabrics.
  
  

• For textile export companies in India, adopting export-friendly strategies — leveraging RoDTEP, utilizing Export Promotion Councils, and building supply-chain resilience — will be critical.
  
  

• Understanding how to export textile from India involves mastering compliance, documentation, and quality standards.
  
  

• The outlook is cautiously optimistic: with the right reforms, India could significantly expand its share of global textile trade by 2030.
  
  

Introduction

Textile export from India has long been a pillar of the country’s manufacturing and trade economy. As we look ahead to the period 2025–2030, multiple forces — from technological innovation to government policy — are converging to reshape the trajectory of this critical sector. This article explores the future landscape of India’s textile exports, examining the current status, emerging trends, key opportunities, challenges, and practical strategies for companies. We also include a guide on how to export textile from India successfully, making this a comprehensive resource for industry players, policymakers, and international buyers alike.

Current Landscape of Textile Export from India

India’s textile export ecosystem today is defined by a mix of traditional strengths and emerging dynamics.

• In FY 2023–24, India’s textiles and apparel exports (including handicrafts) reached US$ 20.0 billion, and during April–October FY 2024–25, they grew 7% to US$ 21.35 billion.
  
  

• According to the Ministry of Textiles, Ready-Made Garments (RMG) contributed US$ 8,733 million (41%), cotton textiles about US$ 7,082 million (33%), and man-made textiles around US$ 3,105 million (15%) in that period.
  
  

• India holds approximately 3.9% of the global textiles and apparel trade by value.
  
  

• In global rankings, India was the sixth-largest exporter of textiles and apparel as of 2023. 

Mini-conclusion: These numbers show that India remains a major global textile exporter, with strong growth in apparel, but also reveals exposure to commodity risk (cotton) and dependence on certain categories.

Key Challenges Facing Export from India

Here, we explore the central headwinds that could limit India’s export growth through 2030.

Cotton Production Volatility

• The past 10 years have shown a reduction in India cotton production, which was 386 lakh bales in 2014 15 to an estimated 294.25 lakh bales in 2024 25.

• This fall has ramifications on the prices of raw materials where some of the manufacturers may be forced to depend more on imports of cotton which will weaken margins..
  
  

Infrastructure & Supply Chain Fragmentation

• A large part of the textile capacity in India is distributed in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and is more difficult to scale and integrate..
  
  

• Logistics barriers such as inter-state transportation time and payoffs, as well as, payoffs in the customs increase expenditures and decrease competitiveness in comparison with other export-related countries..
  
  

Mini-conclusion: Unless resolved, raw material risk and fragmented infrastructure could throttle the full potential of textile export from India in the coming years.

Emerging Opportunities in Export from India (2025–2030)

Nevertheless, there are some positive signs in the form of powerful growth drivers that are about to emerge and are likely to alter the history of textile exports in India.

Man-Made Fibre (MMF) and Synthetics

• Indian textile clusters, especially Tirupur, are straining to extremes in an effort to venture into man-made fibre (MMF)..
  
  

• Analysts envisage that MMF share will rise to 30-percent in Tirupur by 2030 owing to the China-Plus-One global sourcing strategy.
  
  

• This change conforms to the trends around the world - synthetic fibres are providing quicker growth rate in athleisure, performance apparel and technical fabrics.
  
  

Technical Textiles & Innovation

• Exports of technical textiles also went up considerably: in FY 2025, the exports amounted to 24732.68 crore compared with 16100.51 crore in FY 2021, a 15.53% year on year growth and an approximate 11% of growth over four years.
  
  

• The smart textiles, composite, and filtration fabrics are opening up, particularly to medical, industrial, and infrastructure uses.
  
  

Mini-conclusion: India will be able to access the higher-value export markets by tapping into synthetic fibre capacity and enhancing its technical textile competencies..

Strategies for Textile Export Companies in India

This section will give practical recommendations to companies intending to scale or increase their export business.

Leverage Government Incentives

• RoDTEP ( Remission of Duty and Tax on Export Products ) scheme is the scheme that refunds the embedded taxes that are not refunded in other forms.
  
  

• The government re-introduced RoDTEP on June 1, 2025, after review, which is beneficial to the textile exporters in the MSMEs and big players..
  
  

• Exporters are advised to collaborate with Export Promotion Councils like the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) or Textile Export Promotion Council (TEPC) so as to make the most of the schemes..
  
  

 Invest in Quality, Sustainability, and Certifications

• Develop sustainability and textile capabilities (organic cotton, recycled fabrics), to support the increasing demand of the world..
  
  

• Acquire internationally established quality awards (e.g., OEKO-TEX, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)) in order to enhance credibility.

• Adopt electronic traceability measures to provide assurance to buyers that there is transparency and ethical source.
  
  

Mini-conclusion: With a policy leverage coupled with quality and sustainability investment, export firms will be able to maximize profit and market attractiveness. As export capacity grows, regions like Karnataka are strengthening their workforce ecosystems, with rising opportunities in textile industry jobs in Bangalore, particularly across quality control, sustainable manufacturing, and export compliance roles.

How to Export Textile from India: Practical Guide

This section is a clarification of the operational procedures and best practice of the individuals who seek to go through the export process..

Regulatory & Documentation Workflow

1. Company Registration/ IEC Code: You need to have an Import-Export code (IEC) by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
   
   

2. Product Classification and Hs Code: Appropriate Harmonized System (HS) codes of the textile products must be used, failure to which may result in export taxation or rejection.
   
   

3. Compliance and Quality Tests: Products must conform to specifications of buyer and country-related requirements - e.g. flammability, chemical precautions.
   
   

4. Export Documents: Request such a documentation as the Shipping Bill, Certificate of Origin (issued by the EPC) and packing list.
   
   

5. Logistics & Shipping: Organize freight forwarders; select the terms of work with FOB or CIF; make sure packaging will comply with export standards.
   
   

Building Global Market Access

• Find target markets: India has the largest markets to be exported to the US, EU, and UK.
  
  

• Use trade fairs and directories: Attend such events like Bharat Tex or sectors at ITME to get connected with international buyers.
  
  

• Secure good terms: Liaise with international buyers to negotiate payment terms, freight and lead times.

• Keep your customers well-supported and in the after sales: Be assured that the delivery is done, the quality controlled and prompt customer care to create repeat business..

Mini-conclusion: To export textiles in India, one has to be disciplined to obey the export laws, make intelligent decisions in terms of logistics, and take the initiative of market-building.

Future Outlook & Policy Implications

In this case, we explore what may influence the long-term trend and policy drivers in 2030..

Strengthening Infrastructure & Clusters

• The Indian government is also encouraging PM MITRA Parks, which is a program to develop world-class manufacturing clusters of textile. DD News.
  
  

• Better infrastructure such as access to decent power, transport and logistics will be vital in ensuring MSMEs grow and compete on the global front.
  
  

Promoting Innovation & R&D

• Funding R&D in technical fabrics, bio-based fibre, and smart fabrics can open up greater-margin exports..
  
  

• Collaborating with research agencies, e.g. the Textile Research Associations (TRAs) can be a source of innovativeness
  
  

• Sustainable product development is also recommended to exporters and in line with the objectives of the circular economy..
  
  

Mini-conclusion: Policy frameworks incorporating infrastructure development, incentives and innovation support will be instrumental in ensuring that India continues to grow its textile exports up to 2030.

Historical Context: India’s Textile Export Decline

To know our destination, it is convenient to look at the past. During India's textile exports declines in the dash century, the sector faced headwinds like inconsistent policy support, infrastructure bottlenecks, and competition from low-cost Asian exporters.

• During the past decades, India was not as competitive in the world due to capacity, quality and technological constraints.
  
  

• Nevertheless, some specific reforms (e.g., PLI scheme, RoDTEP, and cluster development) are reversing this trend since the 2020s.
  
  

Mini-conclusion: The lessons gained through the decline in the past allow contextualizing the need of strategic reform and investment more than ever before.

Key Players: Textile Export Companies in India

The following are some of the top textile firms in India- some large exporters that make the export ecosystem:

• Arvind Limited — The company that is vertically-integrated, producing denim, woven and technical textiles.
  
  

• Raymond Ltd — Specializes in high-quality suiting fabrics, wool, and clothing and has an international outreach.
  
  

• Welspun India Ltd — A large producer of home textiles (towels, bed sheets)

• Vardhman Textiles Ltd —  It is a manufacturer of yarn, fabric and it has a good international network..
  
  

These are companies that form the backbone of the Indian export industry and are investing more in MMF and technical textiles in an effort to stay competitive.

Risks & Mitigation Strategies

On the one hand, the future is bright, but there are dangers. The following are some of the main risks and their mitigation ways by the companies or policymakers:

1. Raw Material Risk
   
   

• Risk: Cotton yield and prices..
  
  

• Mitigation: Diversify the base of raw-material (e.g. MMF), hedge using long-term contract, and invest in backward integration.
  
  

2. Trade Policy Risk
   
   

• Risk: Protectionist shocks or geopolitical shocks.
  
  

• Mitigation: Promote stable incentives in exports, diversify export markets and employ Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)..
  
  

3. Quality & Compliance Risk
   
   

• Risk: It can be rejected because of not being able to meet international standards..
  
  

• Mitigation: Mitigation Unlike in other countries, acquire certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX), invest in quality control labs, and regularly increase testing capacity.
  
  

4. Infrastructure Risk
   
   

• Risk: Unstable MSME foundation and ineffective logistics.
  
  

• Mitigation: Use PM MITRA Parks, cluster-based consolidation, and infrastructure partnership between the government and the business world..
  
  

Mini-conclusion: Risk management will dictate which exporters will be the winners in the next five years between 2025 and 2030.

Conclusion

The future of textile export from India over the 2025–2030 period is laden with opportunity, but also complexity. Powerful growth enablers which include MMF momentum, technical textile innovation and government policy support have a good background to build on the expansion. Issues of cotton supply, infrastructure and international competition should be handled using concerted policies.

For textile export companies in India, success will hinge on smart investments in sustainability, quality systems, and export compliance. By following best practices on how to export textile from India, leveraging Government schemes, and scaling up in high-value segments, Indian exporters can position themselves for robust growth.

The role of policy makers, in their turn, cannot be underestimated: the reinforcement of infrastructure, the encouragement of R&D, and the stabilization of the incentives of exports will become crucial. With the right push, India has a potential of increasing its global footprint in the textiles industry by far, which may be among the largest producers of highly advanced textiles and value-added fabrics by 2030.

FAQ

Q1: What is textile export from India?

Answer: Textile export from India refers to all cloth, garments, fibres, yarns, and finished textile items manufactured in India and sold to buyers in foreign countries.

Q2: Why grew textile export from India by 7% in FY 2024–25?

Answer: As stated by the ministry of textiles, the exports increased as there was good export in such categories in ready-made garments (US$ 8,733 million) and cotton textiles (US$ 7,082 million). 

Q3: What are the leading textile export companies in India?

Answer: The major players are Arvind Limited, Raymond Ltd, Welspun India Ltd and Vardhman Textiles Ltd that are exporting a broad variety of fabrics, garments and technical fabrics..

Q4: How to export textile from India?

Answer: Exporters must acquire an IEC code, classify products according to suitable HS codes, meeting quality test, drawing export documents (Shipping Bill, Certificate of Origin) and engaging freight forwarders to do logistics.

Q5: What future trends will shape textile export from India between 2025 and 2030?

Answer: Key trends include growth in man-made fibres (MMF), expansion in technical textiles, greater adoption of sustainable fabrics, and enhanced infrastructure through PM MITRA Parks.