India's textiles, apparel exports fall by ₹8000 crore

India’s textiles and apparel exports dropped by nearly ₹8,000 crore to ₹2,30,056 crore in fiscal 2017-18 from ₹2,37,922 crore in 2016-17 due to competition from countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka that enjoy preferential duty access in key markets, Indian minister of state for textiles Ajay Tamta recently told parliament in a written reply.

During the current cotton season—October 2017 to September 2018—shipments of cotton from India are likely to touch 70 lakh bales, registering a 20 per cent rise over the previous season, a news agency report quoted the junior minister as saying in the parliament.

While 51.2 lakh bales have been exported up to April 30 this year, no target has been set for cotton exports, he said.

There is no proposal to frame a separate policy for export of cotton, as its shipments are dependent on various factors, including demand and supply conditions and the ruling domestic prices vis-a-vis international prices.