TN tops in textile exports again in FY 25

Tamil Nadu remained the top exporting state in the country in textile goods during 2024-25 and widened its lead over the second highest exporter - Gujarat.In 2024-25, out of India’s total textile exports of textile goods worth $36.61 billion, Tamil Nadu’s contribution was $7.99 billion or 26.81 per cent share. In comparison, in 2023-24, out of India’s total textile exports of $34.43 billion the State’s contribution was $7.15 billion (20.78 per cent), according to data available in Centre’s Niryat portal. Tamil Nadu’s lead over the second highest exporter Gujarat has increased by over 700 basis points in 2024-25.In 2024-25, Maharashtra was at a distant third with exports of $3.83 billion (12.84 per cent), data shows. Out of the total exports of textile goods, readymade garments contributed to $15.99 billion, followed by cotton yarn/fabrics/madeup and handloom products with $12.06 billion; man-made yarns/fabrics/madeups with $4.87 billion and the balance split among handicrafts, carpet and jute manufacturing, the data shows.SK Sundararaman, Managing Director, Shiva Texyarn Limited and Chairman of The Southern India Mills’ Association, says one of the reasons for the increase in textile exports from TN was due to the major contribution from Tirupur cluster. In Tiruppur, there are working units for literally everything, right from printing, embellishments ,full supply chain including yarn, critical mass effect of global vendors keeping full inventory locally, he told Apparel Export Promotion Council’s (AEPC) Vice Chairman A Sakthivel said the Tiruppur knitwear cluster played a pivotal role in the performance with exports worth $4.69 billion (₹40,000 crore) last year. The Generalised Scheme of Preferences status for Bangladesh with the EU is set to end in 2027. This has prompted many buyers to consider India as their next sourcing destination, especially since the prices of knitwear products in India especially at
Tiruppur are at par in a few categories and only slightly higher in others Consequently, buyers have started to strengthen their sourcing base in India, particularly in Tirupur, as an alternative sourcing hub, Sakthivel said. Ajay Sahai Director General & CEO, FIEO, told that Tamil Nadu’s impressive performance in textile exports during 2024– 25 is a testament to the state’s well-established ecosystem, policy support, and industry resilience. Several factors have contributed to the growth in TN’s textile industry. The State boasts a robust value chain—from spinning and weaving to garmenting and exports—supported by a skilled workforce and strong infrastructure, particularly in textile clusters such as Tiruppur, Coimbatore, and Erode, he said. The rise in exports is also reflective of improved logistics, port infrastructure, and the government responsiveness to exporters’ needs, he said. AEPC’s Secretary General Mithileshwar Thakur said that Tamil Nadu witnessed quantum jump in exports owing primarily due to the contribution from its Tiruppur cluster. The cluster’s focus on sustainability and eco-friendly manufacturing is positioning it as a sourcing hub for responsible clothing. There is growing demand of knitwear garments and ethically sourced products. There is also a shift of foreign buyers’ focus to an alternative sourcing hub like Tiruppur due to civil and political unrest in Bangladesh, he said.