The organizers of India's upcoming trade show Bharat Tex 2025 explain the country's textile sector is a significant contributor to the fashion supply chain and the event is set to amplify its textile prowess on a global scale. Bharat Tex 2025’s organizers say forecasts show that by 2030, India’s textile industry could grow to a value of $350bn and potentially create 35m new job opportunities. It adds the sector plays a pivotal role in India’s economy, accounting for 2.3% of GDP and directly employing over 45m individuals, with another 55m engaged indirectly throughout the supply chain. The wide array of products range from traditional handcrafted textiles such as khadi and silk to large-scale garment production and innovative technical textiles, which contribute to the country’s economic progress and international standing. Aligned with the comprehensive ‘5F’ vision encompassing the entire chain from farm, fibre, fabric, fashion to foreign exports, India maintains an extensive supply network that spans from raw material production to consumer markets while preserving its artisanal heritage.
How India’s textile sector is competing on the world stage
Indian textile manufacturers are attracting international brands and retailers by offering a diverse range of textiles at competitive prices. However, with rapid changes in fashion trends and consumer preferences, Indian companies are expanding their design capabilities and adapting to global market demands by providing versatile product offerings. The industry’s pivot towards high-value technical textiles serves various sectors including healthcare, automotive, and agriculture, marking a departure from conventional textile manufacturing. To reduce reliance on cotton and enhance synthetic fibre production — a strategy that has benefited China in dominating global textile exports — India is adjusting its fibre portfolio. This strategic move is further bolstered by the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), which aims to elevate India’s position in the technical textiles arena.
Source: Just Style
Synopsis Deloitte India revised its 2024-25 GDP growth projection to 6.5-6.8% amid global trade uncertainties. The economy faces challenges with lower-than-expected Q2 growth (5.4%), lagging government capex, election uncertainties, and high inflation. However, strong rural consumption and a thriving services sector show resilience. Amid evolving economic conditions, Deloitte India, in its latest Economic Outlook, has revised its annual GDP growth projection for 2024-25 to 6.5-6.8 per cent, with expectations for 6.7-7.3 per cent in the following year. Multinational professional services firm Deloitte said the adjustment reflects the need for cautious optimism as the economy navigates a rising global trade and investment uncertainties. Q2 2024-25 GDP growth stood at 5.4 percent year-over-year, falling short of market expectations. In response, the RBI lowered its annual growth forecast to 6.6 percent, while the latest NSO survey estimated growth at 6.4 percent for the current fiscal year. Rumki Majumdar, Economist at Deloitte India, argues "Election uncertainties in the first quarter followed by a modest activity in construction and manufacturing in the subsequent quarter due to weather-related disruptions led to weaker-than-expected gross fixed capital formation. The government's capex stood at just 37.3 percent of annual targets in the first half, a sharp decline from last year's 49 percent, and there is a lag in the momentum it needs to gain." "Additionally, a tempered global growth outlook, potential shifts in trade regulations among industrial nations, and more stringent monetary policies than previously anticipated in India and the US may hinder the synchronised recovery in Western economies that we anticipated for this fiscal year." India will have to adapt to the evolving global landscape and harness its domestic strengths to drive sustainable growth, Deloitte said. One way to do this would be through economic decoupling from global uncertainties and harnessing India's untapped potential. Several indicators that reveal resilience in certain pockets are worth noting, it suggested. For instance, rural consumption remains strong, bolstered by robust agricultural performance and rising spending power in rural areas. The services sector continues to thrive, with significant growth in finance, insurance, real estate, and business services. This sector significantly contributes to urban income and services exports, which have been touching new highs lately. Despite global and domestic challenges, India is moving up the global value chains, as is highlighted by the rising share of high-value manufacturing exports, particularly in electronics and machinery and equipments. India's capital markets present a compelling narrative of resilience. Between October and December 2024, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) withdrew significant amounts in response to geopolitical uncertainties surrounding the U.S. elections, slower corporate earnings, and China's stimulus measures in September 2024. These outflows were comparable to those witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the Sensex remained relatively stable (compared to previous episodes of FII outflows and volatility), bolstered by increasing participation from Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs), which helped mitigate the impact of FII outflows. Majumdar said, "We noticed that prior to 2020, the sensitivity of the Indian capital market movements to changes in FII was much higher. That has come down after 2020." The Indian economy grew by 5.4 per cent in real terms in the July-September quarter of the current financial year 2024-25. The quarterly growth was quite less than RBI's forecast of 7 per cent. In the April-June quarter too, India's GDP grew at a slower pace than was estimated by its central bank. For India, the GDP data for the second quarter of 2024-25 and headline consumer price inflation have posed the dilemma of a slowing growth-high inflation conundrum. Food prices in particular continue to remain a pain point for the policymakers in India, who wish to bring retail inflation to 4 per cent on a sustainable basis. The RBI has kept the repo rate elevated at 6.5 per cent to keep inflation contained.
Source: Economic Times
Synopsis The government has disbursed Rs 1,596 crore under the PLI schemes for six sectors, including electronics and pharma, in the first half of the fiscal year. The schemes aim to boost investments and enhance global competitiveness. A total of Rs 9,721 crore has been disbursed till 2023-24, resulting in significant investments, production, employment, and exports. The government has disbursed Rs 1,596 crore under Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for six sectors, including electronics and pharma, during the April-September this fiscal, an official said. The government in 2021 announced PLI schemes for 14 sectors such as telecommunication, white goods, textiles, manufacturing of medical devices, automobiles, specificality steel, food products, high-efficiency solar PV modules, advanced chemistry cell battery, drones, and pharma with an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore. Out of the total Rs 1,596 crore, the maximum amount of Rs 964 crore was disbursed under the PLI scheme for large-scale electronics manufacturing. It was followed by pharma (Rs 604 crore), food products (Rs 11 crore), telecom (Rs 9 crore), bulk drugs (Rs 6 crore) and drones (Rs 2 crore). Incentives disbursed till 2023-24 stood at Rs 9,721 crore, the official said adding the scheme is having a cascading effect on the country's MSME ecosystem.
The anchor units that will be built in every sector will require a new supplier base in the entire value chain. Most of these ancillary units will be built in the MSME sector. Further as of August 2024, across 14 sectors, investment of Rs 1.46 lakh crore have been realised, which has resulted in incremental production/sales of over Rs 12.50 lakh crore, employment generation of over 9.5 lakhs, and exports surpassing Rs 4 lakh crore. Over 760 applications have been approved under PLI schemes. The departments implementing their respective schemes are responsible for the disbursals. The schemes aim is to attract investments in key sectors and cutting-edge technology; ensure efficiency, bring economies of size and scale in the manufacturing sector and make Indian companies and manufacturers globally competitive.
Source: Economic Times
Synopsis Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met World Economic Forum Chairman Klaus Schwab in Davos to discuss green energy, electric vehicles, and industrial developments. Fadnavis also met Horasys President Frank Jurgen Richter to discuss a global business conference and possibly establishing Horasys' headquarters in Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday met Klaus Schwab, the founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. During the meeting, Chief Minister Fadnavis and Klaus Schwab discussed various topics, including green energy, electric vehicles, and new developments in the industrial sector. Schwab also extended his best wishes for Maharashtra's continued growth. After the meeting, Maharashtra CM said, "The investment meetings will be starting from tomorrow. Today I started my day with the meeting with Klaus Schwab, Executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. We discussed the collaboration between the state of Maharashtra and the WEF (World Economic Forum). Tomorrow we will have more meetings"
The meeting with Schwab is part of a broader series of engagements for Fadnavis at Davos. Schwab had visited Mumbai during this year's Ganeshotsav, where he and his wife participated in a traditional Ganesh aarti at Fadnavis' official residence, marking the beginning of the interactions that continued in Davos. Pavilion P73 on which the state is featured in Davos is prepared for a series of key events over the next two days, an official release added. The release added that the Maharashtra Pavilion is ready to host a series of meetings and the signing of record-breaking Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at attracting major investments. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Fadnavis met Frank Jurgen Richter, President of Horasys and former WEF director. The two discussed plans for organizing a global business conference in Mumbai and the possibility of establishing Horasys' headquarters in the city. The discussions also focused on innovation and new technology, emphasising Maharashtra's role as a hub for business and investment. The annual WEF meeting 2025 in Davos takes place from 20 - 24 January. The meeting brings together government, business and civil society leaders to set the year's agenda for how leaders can make the world a better place for all.
Source: Economic Times
Ranchi: The Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday suggested the Hemant Soren-led government include measures to promote the textile industry in the upcoming budget, taking advantage of the current situation Bangladesh is going through. The budget will not only present a glimpse of the rural economy but also zero in on revenue collection by promoting the industrial sector while emphasising sustainable, inclusive and all-round development.
Paresh Gattani, president of the Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce, has proposed this to Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore stressing the need to create a landbank to lure big industries and said the textile policy of the state government is the best compared to other states of the country. He said given the current turmoil in Bangladesh, if the state government provides land, security, electricity and water to the textile industry and encourages them to set up manufacturing units, then many Bangladeshi firms can come here. If 8-10 textile industries come from Bangladesh, then this place will be transformed and the chamber of commerce will fully cooperate with the government in this process. The Chamber focused on industry, housing and mining sectors.
"The government is emphasising revenue collection. There are many such sectors in this direction, from where revenue collection will start as soon as the work starts. About 40 per cent of the mines and minerals of the entire country are buried in Jharkhand, whereas in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, it is much less. Despite this, we are far behind in garnering revenue. The situation is that Rs 10,500 crore revenue is being collected in Jharkhand against over Rs 5,000 crore in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Due to the non-auction of mines, there is a loss in revenue which the Chamber has informed the government about," Gattani said.
The Chamber has advised the government the mining sector faces many obstacles. Along with the forest area, there are some complaints from local people, which should be resolved by the government which should go ahead after completing all the procedures at its level before allotting mines like Odisha and Chhattisgarh, otherwise the problems keep arising.
Source: ETV Bharat
After assuming office as the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump laid out an “America First Trade Policy”, which includes imposing global “supplemental tariffs” to address what he termed “unfair and unbalanced trade”. He also threatened a 100 per cent tariff on Brics nations, including India, if the bloc attempts to reduce its reliance on the dollar for foreign trade. During his presidential campaign, Trump had proposed a flat 10 per cent tariff on all imports to the US, regardless of their origin. A memorandum issued by the new US administration also calls for a review of existing trade agreements and measures to counter currency manipulation by trading partners. It also announced the creation of an External Revenue Service (ERS) to collect tariffs, duties, and other foreign-related revenues. “The secretary of commerce, in consultation with the secretary of the Treasury and the United States trade representative, shall investigate the causes of our country’s large and persistent annual trade deficits in goods, as well as the economic and national security implications and risks resulting from such deficits, and recommend appropriate measures, such as a global supplemental tariff or other policies, to remedy such deficits,” the memorandum read. While India has not yet been singled out, New Delhi is closely watching US policy announcements. Trump has frequently criticised India's trade surplus with the US, referring to it as a “tariff king”. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to meet industry leaders and exporters on January 30 to discuss US tariff measures and how to mitigate potential disruptions. “We expect the US to impose tariffs on China,” an SBI research report noted. “For India, past experience suggests that the country has broadened its export markets and exports towards value-added (products), and thus even if tariffs are imposed in a limited manner, India might be impacted but not significantly in the long run.” For now, Trump has targeted only Mexico and Canada with high tariffs, announcing plans to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports from these neighbouring countries starting February 1.
Source: Business Standard
Textile exports witnessed an increase of 9.67 percent during the first half of the current financial year (2024-25) as compared to the corresponding period of last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Tuesday. Pakistani cuisine recipes. The textile exports from the country were recorded at US $9,084.564 million during July-November (2024-25) against the exports of US $ 8,283.246 million during July-November (2023-24).
The textile commodities that contributed in trade growth included cotton cloth the export of which increased by 4.10 percent to $ 964.661 million from $926.677 million while the export of knitwear surged by 16.49 percent to $ 2,565.637 million from $ 2,202.526 million. The other commodities that witnessed growth in trade included bed wear, the export of which rose by 14.75 percent to $ 1,580.203 million from $ 1,377.109 million, towels by 5.97 percent to $ 530.009 million from $ 500.133 million, tents, canvas, and tarpaulin up by 9.55 percent to $ 66.761 million this year compared to the exports of $ 60.940 million last year.
Similarly, the export of readymade garments grew by 22.48 percent to $ 2,044.424 million from $ 1,669.251 million, art, silk and synthetic textile rose by 12.58 percent to $ 199.535 million from $177.236 million, made up articles (excl. towels and bed wear) increased by 9.36 percent to $385.877 million from $352.865 million while the export of other textile materials went up by 2.79 percent to $ 364.298 million from $ 354.418 million.
The textile commodities that witnessed negative trade growth included raw cotton the exports of which declined by 98.85 percent to $0.616 million from $53.412 million. Likewise, the exports of cotton yarn declined by 37.96 percent to $365.132 million from $588.530 million whereas the export of cotton carded or combed dipped by 100 percent from 0.588 million to zero export during the period under review.
The exports of yarn other than cotton yarn also declined by 11 percent to $17.411 million from $19.562 million. Meanwhile, year-on-year basis, the textile exports witnessed an increase of 5.55 percent during December 2024 as compared to the same month of last year. The textile exports from the country during December 2024 were recorded at US $ 1,477.302 million against the exports of US $1,399.652 million in December 2023.
On a month-on-month basis, the textile exports from the country witnessed an increase of 1.11 percent during December 2024 as compared to the exports of $ 1,461.070 million recorded in November 2024, according to the data.
It is pertinent to mention here that the overall merchandized exports from the country increased by 10.52 percent during the first half of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding months of last year. Exports during July-December (2024-25) were recorded at $16.561 billion against $14.985 billion during July-December (2023-24), according to PBS data.
On the other hand, imports into the country went up by 6.11 percent by growing from $26.137 million last year to $27.733 million during the first six months of the current year.
Based on the figures, the trade deficit during the months under review was recorded at $11.172 billion against the deficit of $11.152 billion last year, showing a slight increase of 0.18 percent.
Source: Daily Times
On January 17, Turkestan region governor Nuralkhan Kusherov and Global Textile Group CEO Muzaffar Razakov discussed the project to establish the factory and logistics center in the Maktaaral district. The Uzbek company aims to launch five major facilities, creating over 2,000 permanent jobs. The total project cost is estimated at 21 billion tenge ($39.61 million). As part of the Global Textile Turkistan project, the company plans to establish a logistics center, a cotton processing plant, a textile factory, dyeing and spinning workshops, and garment factories. The cotton processing plant will have an annual capacity of 13,800 tons. Products will be supplied to the Kazakh market and exported to Europe. In 2024, the company introduced "Namangan-77" cotton seeds, planting them over 3,200 hectares. The yield reportedly exceeded expectations. Additionally, a cotton reception center with an annual capacity of 10,000 tons has been completed.
The textile factory is scheduled to begin operations in 2027.
Source: Kun. NZ
The textile exhibit, titled From Home Weaving to the World’s Wardrobes: The Journey of Songjiang’s Cotton Textiles, celebrates a part of China's intangible cultural heritage and has never been seen outside of Asia before. It opened on January 18 at the Great Tapestry Scotland visitor centre and will run until March 22. Councillor Euan Jardine, council leader at Scottish Borders Council, said: "It is brilliant to see that Songjiang textiles will be exhibited for the first time in the UK at The Great Tapestry of Scotland. "This important exhibit showcases the rich textile traditions of Songjiang and reinforces the deep cultural connections between Scotland, particularly the Scottish Borders, and China, both renowned for their proud weaving and craftsmanship." The opening was marked with a series of events and workshops celebrating the cultural ties between Scotland and China in the lead-up to Chinese New Year 2025. Sandy Maxwell-Forbes, centre director for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, said: "We’re thrilled to be the first venue in the UK to host this globally significant exhibit and to be celebrating China and Scotland’s shared interest in textiles.
"It is incredibly apt that 'From Home Weaving to the World’s Wardrobes: The Journey of Songjiang’s Cotton Textiles' should make its debut at our visitor centre in the Scottish Borders - one of Scotland’s own historic textile heartlands, where traditional methods of production are still used to this day to make garments for leading fashion designers including Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel and more." The exhibit was brought to Scotland in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, the Confucius Institute for Scotland, and the Edinburgh College of Art. Dong Ye, artist and curator of the exhibit said: "Songjiang textiles introduced me to the beauty of life. "It is the foundation of my artistic expression and reflects the raw power of art to tell the stories of history, heritage, and culture.
"The fabric represents the traditional life of the people of Songjiang and tells their story through time—past, present, and future." The opening weekend events included a Chinese tea ceremony, a lion dance, Chinese calligraphy workshops, and school trips for pupils at two Lothian schools who are currently learning Mandarin thanks to the Confucius Institute for Scotland. Llinos Jones, general manager at the Confucius Institute for Scotland, said: "We proudly support initiatives that celebrate strong cultural ties between China and Scotland, and highlight the enduring value of traditional Chinese craftsmanship, like the Songjiang textile exhibit." The Borders Community Rail Partnership has provided funding to support a series of visits for 44 primary school pupils from two schools in Midlothian that have been learning Mandarin. Erin Murray, a teacher at Moorfoot Primary School in Midlothian, said: "The children have absolutely loved learning Mandarin at school this year, and we’re incredibly excited that the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Confucius Institute for Scotland, and the Borders Rail Partnership are giving our pupils the opportunity to learn even more about Chinese culture."
Source: Boarder Telegraph
Amanda will support Ed Anderson CBE, the Monarch's personal representative in West Yorkshire, in representing the Crown, developing closer links among the community, and upholding public service and civic engagement traditions. The Lord Lieutenant’s duties can include escorting royal visitors with official visits to West Yorkshire, representing the King at community events, being involved in the honours system – including presenting them on behalf of the Crown and generally contributing to the community with involvement in local events. She was appointed to the role at the same time as new Deputy Lieutenant Canon Kersten England CBE. Amanda is an Executive Board Director who has worked with UK-based SMEs and global manufacturing businesses over the last 35 years, gaining experience in mechanical engineering, electronics, automotive, leisure and textile sectors. For over 20 years, she has operated at executive board level within the textile sector, always maintaining a passion for a ‘people-first approach’ to doing business throughout her professional career. In her current role at AW Hainsworth, Amanda has been credited with personally driving a mental health and wellbeing strategy throughout the business over the last three years, with many employees benefiting from further education and awareness through professionally run workshops and personal support from the company’s on-site mental health counselling service. Amanda has always lived in West Yorkshire and has studied and worked in and around the county for most of her career. She sits on the LITAC (Leeds University Institute for Textile and Colour) Committee, representing as an industry expert, and is also a Non-Executive Director on the Huddersfield-based TCEO (Textile Centre of Excellence) Board, an indication of her passion for UK Textile manufacturing. Aside from her professional career, Amanda has been married to her husband, Mark—an experienced mechanical engineer—for over 33 years. They have two adult children, Alyssa and Ethan.
Amanda explains,
“I was honoured to be nominated by Ed Anderson to become a Deputy Lieutenant for our region. Receiving my commission of appointment by command of HM the King was a very proud moment. “I’m looking forward to assisting with any duties that may be required within the Lieutenancy, contributing to the local community and working closely with the other Deputy Lieutenants for West Yorkshire, deploying my professional and personal knowledge and experience.” AW Hainsworth is a heritage textile mill established in 1783 and based in West Yorkshire, that integrates the traditional qualities of craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation and product development to create exquisite woollen cloth, high-performing textiles, and iconic fabrics for customers worldwide. The specialist textile company is the parent company to Hainsworth Signature Fabrics, Hainsworth Protective Fabrics, Hainsworth Cue Sports Fabrics, John Atkinson by Hainsworth, Natural Legacy by Hainsworth, Northern Rubber by Hainsworth, and Replin by Hainsworth. The manufacturer has recently been granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to His Majesty the King as Manufacturers of Furnishing Fabrics. The mill has held a Royal Warrant for two decades, initially awarded in 2004 and renewed periodically. Last year, the vertical production mill revealed a rebrand, achieved zero landfill status and collaborated with Clarks Originals.
Source: BBP Media
According to Topline Pakistan Research, Pakistan Textile exports clocked in at US$1.5bn in Dec 2024, up 6% YoY and 1% MoM. This is the fifth consecutive month where a YoY rise was observed, mainly due to the low base effect. On a MoM basis, exports are up by 1% in Dec 2024.
§ The YoY and MoM increase was mainly due to a rise in the value-added segment, especially in the readymade garments segment. In other segments, art, silk, and synthetic textiles saw a 22% YoY and 28% MoM rise to US$38mn, a 2.5-year high.
§ In PKR terms, Pakistan Textile exports clocked in at Rs411bn, up by 4% YoY and 1% MoM.
§ Value Added Segment saw a 12% YoY and 1% MoM rise. Under Value-added segment, Readymade Garments remained the major performer as exports witnessed 20% YoY and 9% MoM rise to US$357mn during Dec 2024.
§ Other value-added players such as Knitwear, Bedwear and Towels garments also posted a YoY rise of 7%, 13%, and 1% to US$391mn, US$256mn and US$88mn, respectively.
§ Basic textiles witnessed a decline of 16% YoY and 2% MoM to US$215mn in Dec 2024, where a major decline came from cotton yarn which was down 34% YoY and 22% MoM to US$63mn in Dec 2024.
§ During 1HFY25, Pakistan recorded textile exports of US$9bn a 10% YoY growth (+6% YoY in PKR terms). Basic textiles fell, whereas value-added rose by 17% YoY, with readymade garments contributing a 22% YoY rise.
§ The recovery in Pakistan’s textile exports is mainly due to multiple factors i.e. higher cotton crop in last year, diversion of orders to Pakistan due to internal conflicts in Bangladesh and tariffs on China.
§ All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to implement key measures to support the sector. These include restoring zero-rating or equalizing GST on inputs, ensuring timely refunds, enhancing digitization to improve liquidity, and shortening audit periods to bolster competitiveness and exports.
§ We believe in FY25 exports will reach US$18-19bn as compared to US$16.7bn in FY24.
Source: Trade chronicle
