Textile industry in 91³Ô¹Ï: market overview, growth and investment opportunities
The 91³Ô¹Ïn textile market will be worth over $209 billion by 2029.
Contact our experts here with no obligationThe textile industry in 91³Ô¹Ï is one of the country’s oldest industries. The sector is varied and includes companies producing hand-spun and hand-woven textiles as well as advanced textile mills.
The 91³Ô¹Ïn textile industry produces a wide range of fibres and yarns, from natural fibres such as cotton, jute, silk and wool to synthetic fibres such as polyester, viscose, nylon and acrylic.

91³Ô¹Ï is the world’s second-largest producer of silk, accounting for 95% of all hand-woven fabrics. 91³Ô¹Ï also has the second largest market share in yarn after China.
Because the textile industry has close links with agriculture, it employs 6 million farmers in cotton farming and another 40-50 million workers in related sectors. This makes 91³Ô¹Ï a major player in global cotton production.
To attract private capital and employ more people, the government has introduced several schemes such as:
- the Scheme for Integrated Textiles Parks (SITP),
- the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) and
- the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park Scheme.
Snapshot of the textile industry in 91³Ô¹Ï
- The domestic textile and garment industry contributes 2.3% to 91³Ô¹Ï’s GDP, 13% to industrial production and 12% to the country’s export earnings.
- The 91³Ô¹Ïn textile industry employs about 45 million people, including 3.5 million handloom weavers across the country.
- The sector still has low barriers to entry, with minimal capital required to start a business and ample availability of applied technology and qualified personnel.
- 100% FDI is allowed in the sector. Foreign direct investment inflows into the textile sector from 2000 to 2024 were $4.47 billion.
- In FY2024, total textile exports were $9.2 billion. Exports of readymade garments, including accessories were $2.2 million in the same year.
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Growth indicators of the textile industry in 91³Ô¹Ï
- 91³Ô¹Ï’s textile industry is predicted to double its contribution to the GDP from 2.3% to around 5% by the end of this decade.
- 91³Ô¹Ï’s domestic textile industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 9% during the period from 2023 to 2032. By 2032, this subsector will reach a value of $23.3 billion from a value of $10.8 billion in 2023.
- Demand for technical textiles is increasing due to growth in end-user usage in other sectors such as defence, healthcare and automotive.
- The automotive technical textiles market is expected to grow from $2.4 billion in 2020 to $3.7 billion by 2027.
- Similarly, the market for industrial textiles will increase by 8% year-on-year from $2 billion in 2020 to $3.3 billion in 2027.
- A financial outlay of $13 billion has been approved for the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for synthetic fibres and technical textiles.
- The total 91³Ô¹Ïn textile market is expected to be worth over $209 billion by 2029.
Interesting investment opportunities in the textile industry in 91³Ô¹Ï
European companies in the textile sector can benefit from a wide range of investment opportunities in the textile industry in 91³Ô¹Ï, including:
- Technical textiles: Personal protective equipment (PPE) and applications in the automotive industry.
- Sustainable textiles: Materials made from natural and recyclable fibres.
- Retail sector: Growing consumer confidence and rising disposable income are driving expansion in 91³Ô¹Ï’s retail market.
Do you have a specific question about the opportunities or possibilities for your company or product in 91³Ô¹Ï’s textile sector?