Denim capacity to rise by 100 mn in India by 2011

With an increased focus on catering to the domestic market, the denim industry is India expects the production capacity to rise by 100 million metres by next year. According to the Textile Association of India (TAI), the denim manufacturing capacity, which stands at 600-650 million metres per annum, is set to witness an addition by another 100 million metres wherein 70 per cent focus will be on the domestic market.

TAI, which is conducting a two-day 'International Conference on Denim' from October 29, 2010 onwards in Ahmedabad, the capacity addition will also boost the per capita denim consumption in India which currently stands at 0.30 metres per annum.

"In the US, the per capita consumption of denim is eight pair of jeans for males and seven pair of jeans for females. In India, the per capita is around 0.25-0.3 metres per annum which implies that there is a huge scope of growth for denim within the country. While currently 55-60 per cent of denim is exported from India, the share of domestic market is set to increase in the coming years," said P R Roy of TAI, Ahmedabad unit.

Meanwhile, the international conference will focus on promotion of denim and will include deliberations on subjects such as 'Strategic Issues in managing Global Denim Business', 'Global Brands entry into emerging Indian Market, 'India's potential in the International Market for Denim and Jeans vis-a-vis China, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka', among others.

TAI expects around 350 participants attend the two-day international conference which is being held at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A).

The conference will witness participation from the likes of Arvind, Aarvee Denims, Malwa Group, Mafatlal Denim, Chiripal Group, Raymond Uco Denim, Dystar and Kunal Organics, among others.

While the global production of denim stands at 5.5 billion metres per annum, that of neighbouring countries like China and Pakistan are around two billion metres and 300 million metres per annum, respectively.