Surat Textiles Industry Thrives Amidst Decreasing Indian Exports

Surat : While India’s textile and apparel exports experienced a downturn, registering a decrease of 0.41% and nearly 15% respectively between April to October 2023, Surat textiles industry, the country’s leading man-made fabric (MMF) textile hub, is basking in success owing to soaring domestic demand propelled by the ongoing festive season and imminent wedding festivities.

The textile dyeing and printing mills across Surat and neighboring areas like Palsana and Kadodara are operating round the clock to cater to the burgeoning demand for textile fabrics within the domestic market. Despite grappling with a shortage of workers, many of whom have returned to their hometowns for the Diwali vacation, these mills are striving to meet the escalating printing orders.

Jitu Vakharia, president of the South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA), highlighted the remarkable surge in demand for polyester fabric during the festive season. He noted the industry’s resilience despite labor shortages, emphasizing that operations continue with reduced manpower to fulfill printing orders.

Reflecting on the textile sector’s tumultuous journey during the pandemic-induced lockdowns, Vakharia emphasized the hardships faced when mills and powerloom weaving units remained shut due to worker migration. However, with the gradual return of the textile workforce, the industry is experiencing a resurgence, contributing to Surat’s economic vitality.

Insights from the nation’s largest MMF wholesale markets situated on Ring Road echoed the positive trend, citing improved demand for sarees, lenghas, kurtis, gowns, salwar suits, and leggings compared to recent months. Even during the Diwali vacation, numerous traders are actively dispatching textile goods to various parts of the country from their textile shops.

Ashish Gujarati, a prominent figure in the powerloom sector, underlined the soaring domestic demand for polyester fabric. Despite the Diwali break, the industry continues to churn out approximately 3.5 crore meters of fabric daily to meet the burgeoning market demand. However, the export outlook remains bleak due to the prevailing global recession.

Contrastingly, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry’s (CITI) analysis of textile and apparel exports and imports during April-October 2023 revealed a cumulative decrease of 6.67% compared to the previous year, signaling a challenging period for the export segment. In October 2023, the cumulative export of textiles and apparels registered a decrease of 26.55% compared to October 2021