The Government is monitoring India’s textile and apparel trade across global markets, including imports and exports. During April 2025 to January 2026, the sector recorded exports of ₹2,68,951.5 crore and imports of ₹83,590.9 crore. The data indicates a trade surplus in textiles and apparel, including handicrafts.
The Government is regularly tracking India’s exports and imports of textiles and apparel, including handicrafts, across international markets. Data for the period April 2025 to January 2026 shows that exports of textile and apparel products from Erode district stood at ₹2,290 crore.
During the same period, Tamil Nadu’s total exports of textiles and apparel, including handicrafts, were recorded at ₹57,858.7 crore, reflecting a growth of 3.3% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.
At the national level, imports of textiles and apparel, including handicrafts, across all districts stood at ₹83,590.9 crore during April 2025 to January 2026. Exports during the same period were ₹2,68,951.5 crore, indicating a trade surplus in the sector.
The Government is implementing multiple schemes and initiatives aimed at strengthening the textile and apparel sector and improving its competitiveness. These measures are intended to support exports across regions, including Tamil Nadu.
Key initiatives include the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, which focuses on MMF Fabric, MMF Apparel, and Technical Textiles to promote large-scale manufacturing and enhance competitiveness. The National Technical Textiles Mission supports research, innovation, and market development.
The SAMARTH scheme provides demand-driven, placement-oriented skill development programmes in the textile sector. Silk Samagra-2 is aimed at the development of the sericulture value chain, while the National Handloom Development Programme provides end-to-end support for the handloom sector.
In addition, the Ministry of Textiles is implementing the National Handicrafts Development Programme and the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme to promote handicrafts.
The Government is also implementing the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL) scheme for apparel, garments, and made-ups, based on the principle of zero-rated exports. Textile products not covered under RoSCTL are included under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme.
Further, the Scheme for Export Promotion Mission (EPM) has been approved for the period FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31, with a focus on strengthening export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs. The Mission operates through two sub-schemes: NiryatProtsahan, which addresses financial enablers and trade finance support, and NiryatDisha, which focuses on non-financial market access and ecosystem support.
The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) has been approved to provide additional credit support of up to 20% of existing working capital limits to eligible borrowers, particularly MSMEs, by enabling collateral-free credit access.
Additionally, the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs (MCGS-MSME) has been introduced to facilitate access to loans for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The scheme provides credit guarantee cover to lenders, including Scheduled Commercial Banks, All India Financial Institutions, and NBFCs, for term loans up to ₹100 crore for MSME projects involving purchase of equipment and machinery.
The Reserve Bank of India has undertaken measures to improve credit flow to the MSME sector, focusing on access, affordability, and timely availability of finance.
The Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC) has also introduced measures to support MSME exporters. These include collateral-free cover under WT-ECIB and enhanced 90% cover for banks on export credit loans up to ₹50 crore (earlier ₹20 crore) without incremental cost, effective from 01.10.2025, along with enhanced coverage for banks and directly sourced business.
This information was provided by THE MINISTER FOR TEXTILES SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 20th March 2026.