Andhra textile sector to become $8 bn industry by 2015: CII

The textile sector in Andhra Pradesh is expected to become a $8-billion industry by 2015, according to a recent study by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on textiles.

The state's weaving, processing and garment industry will utilise over 70 per cent of the cotton production by 2015, a significant jump from 35-40 per cent in 2005, the study adds.

The CII study expects cotton production in the state to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of around seven per cent with the acreage for cotton production increasing and the farmers shifting from cash crops like chilli and tobacco to cotton. Spindlage is likely to jump four-fold to touch 10 million spindles by 2015.

Weaving in Andhra Pradesh will increase over five times to touch 4,139 million metres, cloth processing will grow almost 100 times to touch around 1,300 million metres and garment export will grow 40 times to 600 million pieces by 2015.

From 500 air jet looms in 2005 (which constitutes one per cent of the total weaving capacity of India), the number will increase to 2,500 in 2010, and 5,000 in 2015. Powerlooms will increase from 44,000 in 2005, to 61,712 in 2010 and 86,555 in 2015. Handlooms will grow from 2,13,000 in 2005 to 4,56,429 in 2015.

The CII is urging the government to provide sops for the manufacture of technical textiles, encourage setting up of more auto looms and facilitate setting up of processing units in coastal belts where there is no water scarcity.

It is also recommending the setting up of a 2,500-acre Textile City, a media statement said.