The message was intended to reassure exporters, and the available data broadly supports that view. India&#**;s textile and apparel exports rose *.* per cent in FY** to &#****;*.** trillion (~$** billion), equivalent to about $** billion using the Ministry&#**;s official conversion. Although the increase was modest, it came in a year when higher tariffs disrupted sourcing patterns for several competing exporters. Market diversification therefore did more than limit the damage it supported continued export growth.
Cost and supply chain economics
The trade environment that prompted this diversification strategy remains highly fluid. US tariffs on Indian textiles reached ** per cent by late August ****, comprising a ** per cent baseline tariff and an additional Russia-related penalty. A February **** interim agreement reduced the rate to ** per cent, before the US Supreme Court invalidated the reciprocal tariff framework. The current rate stands at ** per cent under Section *** of the Trade Act of ****, although the measure faces legal challenges and is expected to expire around July **, ****, just ten days after Bharat Tex begins. Meanwhile, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed a **.* per cent tariff under Section ***. For global sourcing teams, India&#**;s tariff position in the US market remains a moving target.
India&#**;s response relies heavily on its MSME ecosystem. Smaller manufacturers are operationally agile but financially constrained, making them particularly vulnerable to the costs of tariffs, overseas marketing and regulatory compliance. India&#**;s enduring advantage, however, lies in its integrated cotton-to-garment supply chain, allowing domestic production of yarn and fabric. When garment exports weaken, shipments of yarn and fabric can partly offset the decline. Diversifying export markets helps preserve this structural advantage during periods of softer apparel demand.
