Tamil Nadu: Tiruppur Textile Hub Bounces Back As Exports Surge

The Tiruppur textile industry, a key player in India's knitwear exports, has rebounded after a challenging period. In the first five months of the 2024-25 financial year, exports surged by 13%, with August alone witnessing a remarkable 22% increase. This growth follows an 11% decline in exports during the previous fiscal year due to global disruptions, Business Standard reported.

During the initial months of this financial year, exports from Tiruppur reached Rs 14,679 crore, up from Rs 12,995 crore in the same period last year. The August figures alone showed a significant rise to Rs 3,114 crore compared to Rs 2,550 crore in August 2023. This recovery is attributed to several factors that have made Tiruppur an attractive hub for international buyers.

Green Initiatives and Global Interest

Global brands such as Primark, Tesco, Tommy Hilfiger, Marks & Spencer, and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products are increasingly turning to Tiruppur for their manufacturing needs. The Tiruppur Exporters' Association (TEA) credits this shift to the Green Tiruppur initiative. This sustainable strategy has enhanced the region's appeal to buyers from the US and Europe.

The political instability in Bangladesh has also played a role in diverting orders towards Tiruppur. Major companies like GAP, Carter's, Walmart from the US; Next and Duns from Europe; and Target and Woolworths from Australia have placed orders with manufacturers here during the first five months of this fiscal year, the report added.

Sustainable Practices Boost Appeal

Tiruppur's textile industry is traditionally resource-intensive but has made strides towards sustainability. Investments in zero liquid discharge systems, green energy sources like wind and solar power, and extensive tree plantations have helped it meet environmental standards. These efforts have turned the cluster into a carbon-negative zone.

"Companies here are promoting Green Tiruppur," said K M Subramanian, president of TEA, told the website. "We are planting 2 million trees and generating nearly five times the green energy required." He added that they produce around 1,900 megawatts of energy while needing only about 300 megawatts.

Environmental Compliance Attracts Buyers

The industry's commitment to sustainability extends to water usage as well. "We are using almost 100 per cent recycled water out of the total water requirement of 150 million litres every day for processing our fabrics," Subramanian stated. The surplus power generated is supplied back to the grid.

Tiruppur houses approximately 28,000 manufacturing units that span various processes within the textile value chain. These include knitting, dyeing, bleaching, fabric printing, garmenting, embroidery, compacting, calendaring among others. The industry provides employment to around 800,000 individuals.

The previous year's export decline was influenced by factors such as geopolitical tensions like the Ukraine war and economic crises in Europe and the US. Despite these challenges, Tiruppur's strategic focus on sustainability has positioned it favourably for future growth.