Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu’s leading knitwear manufacturing hub, has recorded its highest-ever exports of ₹46,000 crore in FY26, according to the Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA). The achievement comes despite global uncertainties, including additional US tariffs and ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Exports grew by around 3 per cent compared to ₹44,747 crore in FY25, showing steady momentum even in a challenging global trade environment.
Strong outlook and ambitious targets
The industry body has set an ambitious long-term goal of reaching ₹1 trillion in exports by 2030, positioning Tiruppur as a major global apparel supplier.
The announcement was made at an event attended by Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh, who assured continued government support for the sector. He also reiterated the Centre’s broader goal of raising India’s textile exports from $38 billion to $100 billion by 2030.
Employment and export contribution
TEA President K M Subramanian said Tiruppur accounted for nearly 60 per cent of India’s knitwear exports in FY26, while generating employment for over one million workers.
He added that a strong order pipeline and a weaker rupee supported export growth, with the average exchange rate rising to around ₹85.6–86 per dollar in FY26 compared to ₹83.1–83.3 in the previous year.
Policy support and industry demands
To support future expansion, the industry has requested several policy measures, including:
- Worker housing and hostel facilities
- Zero import duty on cotton
- Extension of the RoSCTL scheme
- Faster rollout of the TEEM scheme
Union Minister Giriraj Singh assured that the Centre would support infrastructure development, including women worker hostels, new industrial clusters, and adoption of modern manufacturing technologies.
Shift toward modern textile production
Singh also highlighted Tiruppur’s shift from traditional cotton-based production to blended and man-made fibre (MMF) manufacturing, calling it essential for global competitiveness. The industry aims to move toward a 50:50 cotton and MMF production mix, with a stronger focus on sustainable practices and greener technologies.
Policy push and global trade opportunities
Industry leaders, including A Sakthivel of the Apparel Export Promotion Council, said multiple government initiatives such as PM MITRA textile parks and incentives for MMF garments are supporting sectoral growth.
He also noted that India’s trade agreements with 38 countries, including the upcoming India-UK FTA, are expected to expand global market access, covering nearly two-thirds of the world’s population.
Long-term growth plans for Tamil Nadu and Tiruppur
Under India’s national textile export target of $100 billion by 2030, Tamil Nadu is expected to contribute $21 billion, with Tiruppur alone targeting $11.5 billion.
The state government has also outlined plans to develop technical textiles worth ₹1,000 crore and create 5,000 specialised jobs by 2031, alongside investments in women’s worker housing to strengthen the industry ecosystem.
