Textiles export growth flat at $7.8 bn in Apr-Jun qtr

In 2012, volatility in major markets including US, EU affected severely India's textiles and clothing exports, says Panabaaka Lakshmi

India's export of textiles and clothing remained almost the same year-on-year at $7.79 billion in the April-June quarter this fiscal, Parliament was informed today.

In the first three months of the last fiscal, the exports stood at $7.76 billion, Minister of State for Textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

Referring to the provisional figures, she said: "During the first quarter of 2013-14, India's textiles and clothing exports have increased to $7.79 billion, from $7.76 billion over the same period of the 2012-13."

In 2012 (calendar year), the volatility in major markets including the US and EU affected severely India's textiles and clothing exports, she said.

America and Europe account for 65% of the country's total textiles exports.

Exporters are also exploring new markets like Japan, Australia, Israel, Latin America, Africa, South East Asia and Middle East countries to reduce dependence on western markets.

To boost textiles exports, the government has taken various steps including providing 3% interest subvention, inclusion of new markets like New Zealand, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria under the Focus Market Scheme and incremental export incentive scheme.

During the 2012-13 fiscal, textiles exports stood at $31.71 billion.

Further, Lakshmi said the Labour Bureau, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, conducts periodic surveys to assess the changes in employment in selected sectors of the economy including textiles and apparel.

As per latest available quarterly report on changes in employment in selected sectors (January 2013 to March 2013), the employment in textiles sector has increased by 40,000 during the quarter ended-March 2013 over December 2012.