India’s industrial textile exports rise by 20.4% in H1, FY25

India's industrial textile sector has seen imports exceeding exports in the H125. Data for January to June shows, India's industrial textile imports increased 20.5 per cent, reaching $450.7 million for the six-month period. This growth stands in stark contrast to exports, which recorded sluggish increase of only 3.2 per cent, totaling $395.4 million.

Imports growth was largely due to items under HSN code 590390 (textile fabrics impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with polyurethane), which accounted for 45.8 per cent of the total import value. Other import categories included 590320 and 590310. On the export front, the same category, HSN code 590390, also led the way, making up 38.9% of India's total industrial textile exports.

This shift in trade dynamics marks a change from previous years when India's industrial textile exports consistently outpaced imports, signaling a potential challenge to the country's manufacturing competitiveness in this specialized sector. Analysts are looking into the underlying factors, including domestic demand, global supply chain shifts, and changing raw material costs.