India’s Textile, Apparel Exports to US Drop 28.7% in Feb 2026

India’s textile and apparel exports to the United States recorded a significant decline in February 2026. The contraction reflects a broader trend seen across major exporting countries. The US continues to remain India’s largest export destination in this segment.

India’s textile and apparel exports to the US declined by 28.7% year-on-year in February 2026, reaching $63 crore. Other major exporting countries, including China and Bangladesh, also reported declines during the same period, with China’s exports falling 45.2% and Bangladesh’s by 16.2%. Among key exporters, Vietnam was the only country to record growth, registering a 5% increase in shipments to the US.

The United States remains the largest market for India’s textile and apparel exports, accounting for nearly 30% of the country’s total exports valued at $38 billion in this segment. In 2025, India exported textile and apparel products worth $9.68 billion to the US.

Data from the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry shows that India’s exports to the US had already declined by 18.2% in January to $0.71 billion, compared to $0.86 billion in the same period in 2025. The downward trend has continued since US President Donald Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on several countries in April 2025.

China, the largest textile and apparel exporter to the US, recorded a decline of 56% in January and 45% in February. Bangladesh, the second-largest exporter, reported a decline of 1% in January and 16% in February.

Vietnam remained the only country to post positive growth in exports to the US, with shipments valued at $1.64 billion in January and $1.35 billion in February.

Tariffs on Indian exports to the US were recently reduced from 50–60% to 18% by the US administration. In comparison, tariffs on Bangladesh and Vietnam stand at 19% and 20%, respectively. The US has also agreed to permit duty-free imports from Bangladesh, provided it sources raw materials such as cotton from the US.