India’s imports of yarn, fabrics and made-up articles during December last year rose by 20 per cent over the figure in the same month in 2016, according to the Ministry of Commerce and industry. Apparel exports, however, dropped 0.3 per cent in April-December 2017 and 8 per cent in December, which is being attributed by some to duty drawback rates revision. However, total export of textile and apparel rose by 2 per cent between April and December 2017 over the first nine months of 2016-17, according to a report. The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) sees this as a matter of concern as export data of Bangladesh showed India imported garments worth $111.3 mn during July-December 2017 from Bangladesh, which was 66 per cent higher as against the same period of the previous year.

Share