RMG exports by India's prominent knitwear hub, Tiruppur increased by 12 per cent to Rs 12, 193 crore in Q1, FY26 spanning April-June 2025-26.
Highlighting this growth as a clear indicator of the sector’s ongoing recovery, A Sakthivel, Vice-Chairman, AEPC states, such consistent performance amid global economic challenges and fluctuating demand underscores India's sustained competitiveness in the international apparel market.
This impressive growth in Tiruppur's RMG exports comes at a time when India's overall textile exports registered a slight degrowth of 0.94 per cent during Q1 FY26, though apparel exports increased by 8.91 per cent. Tiruppur's strong performance is a testament to focused efforts, including policy advocacy, market intelligence, and capacity-building initiatives, which Sakthivel believes. will fuel continued growth in the future.
The primary markets for Tiruppur's RMGs continue to be the UK, EU, and the US, with Australia showing promising signs of increased demand.
A significant development that could further benefit Tiruppur's exports is the recent 35 per cent tariff imposed by the US on Bangladeshi textile imports, effective August 1, 2025. Sakthivel hopes, they will have to pay lesser duties than Bangladesh. This sentiment is echoed across the Indian textile industry, with many expecting a shift in sourcing preferences from Bangladesh to India, potentially boosting India's market share in the crucial American market. Indian textile stocks have already seen a surge in anticipation of this shift.
Coupled with strategic efforts and favorable external factors, this positive outlook positions Tiruppur's garment export sector for sustained expansion in the coming fiscal year.
