Mills Demand Special Package For Home Textiles

Tech Textiles & Nonwovens

Mills Demand Special Package For Home Textiles

Textile mills in southern India have urged the Union government to include made-ups and home textiles under the special package announced recently for garments. "Made-ups and home textiles segment produces very high-end products and exports to all major markets, especially the European Union (EU) and the US," said M Senthil Kumar, chairman, Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA).

"This segment could not achieve the potential growth rate as the products attract equal tariff on par with garments in most of the major international textile markets. Indian made-ups/home furnishing exports have been facing severe challenge from Pakistan as it enjoys duty-free access in EU and few other markets," Senthil Kumar said.

Since processes required for made-ups/ home textile fabric manufacturing are capital intensive, only limited manufacturing facilities are available, he said. "The ade-ups/ home textile manufacturers pay much higher conversion charges for the fabric when compared to garment manufacturers," the SIMA chairman said.