The Hindu Business Line : Cotton textile exports up 26 pc

With textile quotas scrapped, cotton textiles exports rose by 26.29 per cent to Rs 21,502.27 crore for the year ended March 31, 2006, compared with Rs 17,025.91 crore in the previous year, according to data released by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS).

The entire product groups namely cotton yarn, fabrics and made ups showed positive growth with made ups registering the highest at 37.04 per cent.

"Exports have shown a sharp increase after being stagnant for 4-5 years. This increase is mainly due to the abolition of quotas. Also, more value added products like home textiles are being exported rather than just intermediaries and fabrics," said Mr Sugata Sarkar, Deputy Director, Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil).

Product Groups

He added that international buyers are now more confident of India's capabilities, which could push up exports further. India scores over competing countries as it offers all the product groups. Different countries are strong in separate segments, but not in all. The share of cotton textiles in overall textile and clothing exports is 27.21 per cent. For India's cotton textile exports, the US continues to be the largest single market with a share of 23.14 per cent valued at Rs 4,976.31 crore. In cotton yarn, South Korea was the biggest market with exports placed at Rs 903.4 crore.

"The growth rate should be between 20 and 25 per cent next year. Things are underway in terms of policy initiatives and issues that the trade have raised are being addressed by the Government," said Mr Sarkar.

"Showcasing Indian products on an international platform through fairs and exhibitions is ever important. In May 2007, we are taking a delegation to Japan and are also working on a yarn exports fair to be held in China" said Mr Sarkar.

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