Modernization in the Indian textile industry in 3.5 years! Import of machinery worth Rs. 18,500 crore

Modernization in the Indian textile industry in 3.5 years! Import of machinery worth Rs. 18,500 crore

Coimbatore; Modernization is underway in the Indian textile industry. In the last three and a half years alone, modern machinery worth Rs. 18,500 crore has been imported. In India, the textile industry is the sector that provides the most employment after the agriculture sector.

There is a textile industry structure in many states across India. Especially, a large number of small and medium enterprises are operating in the ‘weaving’ sector known as loom.

Compared to China, modernization and productivity in the weaving sector in India has been low in the textile production chain. This situation is changing now.

Import of modern looms

Indian textile manufacturers have been importing and installing state-of-the-art airjet and waterjet looms for the last 4-5 years.

In 2021-2022, the import value of such modern looms was Rs. 3,818 crore. In 2022-23, it was Rs. 6,440 crore and in 2023-24, it was Rs. 5,500 crore.

In the first 7 months of the current financial year, modern loom machines worth Rs. 2,700 crore have been imported. Industry members are confident that this change will modernize the textile manufacturing sector and increase its competitiveness. In this regard, Prabhu Damodaran, Convener of the Indian Textile Federation (ITF), said:

In India, modernization of the ‘weaving’ sector is very necessary. This modernization will improve the competitiveness of our textile sector in all aspects such as higher productivity, ability to produce various types of fabrics, speedy production, high quality. Exports will increase.

In a year, ‘weaving’ fabrics alone are exported at a value of Rs. 8 lakh crore globally.

Of this, China’s contribution is 50 to 60 percent. Currently, with the opportunity of ‘China Plus One’, exports of fabrics are also gaining importance.
The states of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are investing in airjet weaving technology and Gujarat in waterjet weaving technology.
Inquiries for the export of dyed fabrics from big brands are coming to Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu textile industry should further strengthen the processing sector. Through this, the benefits of modernizing the weaving sector can be fully realized through the export of value-added dyed fabrics. Thus, he said.