COVID-19 has motivated many regional RMG exporters across India to focus on the domestic market. As per Tribune India, the domestic apparel market pegged at around Rs 3.25 lakh crore is currently three times bigger than exports market. On the other hand, apparel exports declined to Rs 52,158.80 crore during April-November as against Rs 70,466 crore during the same period previous fiscal.

This decline was a result of subdued demand in exports markets and intense competition from Bangladesh, Vietnam, China and Pakistan. As per reports, exports declined by 91 per cent, 66 per cent, 35 per cent and 22 per cent in April, May, June, July, August and November respectively. They further registered a marginal decline of 1 per cent in dollar terms on year-on-year, due to the lockdown, slowdown and subdued demand. However, exports grew by 10 per cent growth in September and a 6 per cent growth in October.

However, now people have started making purchases in the domestic market due to which, many apparel makers have shifted focus to the domestic market, explains Harish Dua, Managing Director, Ludhiana-based KG Exports.