News

India’s textile and apparel exports to the United States witnessed a sharp contraction in November 2025, reflecting rising stress in the country’s largest export market. Data analysed by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry from the US Office of Textiles and Apparel shows that US imports from India fell 31.4% year on year during the month.

The decline stands out against mixed trends among competing sourcing nations. US textile and apparel imports from Vietnam rose 12.2% in November 2025 compared to the same period last year, indicating continued buyer preference for countries enjoying stable trade access and predictable cost structures. Bangladesh, another major supplier, recorded a 14.5% decline, highlighting broader volatility across South Asian sourcing hubs.

CITI noted that India’s performance reflects sustained pressure from elevated US tariffs, margin compression and cautious buyer behaviour. The United States accounts for nearly 28% of India’s total textile and apparel export revenues, making the slowdown a significant concern for manufacturers and employment across the value chain.

Month wise data shows India’s exports to the US declined to about US$0.54 billion in November 2025 from US$0.79 billion a year earlier. Industry experts warn that prolonged weakness could impact capacity utilisation and investment sentiment, particularly among mid-sized exporters. CITI emphasised that trade diversification, faster market access through new trade agreements and sharper focus on value added products will be critical to stabilise export momentum in 2026.