Indian textile and food exporters are reporting a noticeable uptick in orders from the United States, Europe and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries ahead of the festive season. Industry players say this year’s demand looks more buoyant than last year, even as high freight costs and container availability continue to pose challenges.
Textile Sector: Sharp Rise in US Holiday Orders
Textile exporters have recorded a 30-40% jump in orders from the US for Christmas and New Year. Demand for yarn that is converted into clothing, bed sheets and other home textiles has also strengthened.
Sammir D Dattani, Executive Director of Sanathan Textiles, noted:“Demand for domestic consumption as well as purchases for export by our customers to the Western markets has been strong this quarter due to Christmas, New Year, and the Indian festive season.”
Recent data supports the positive trend. Exports of textiles and apparel rose 6.39% in August, while handicrafts grew 29% and carpets 5%.
Food Exports: Strong Demand for Traditional and Ready-to-Eat Products
Food exporters have reported a 20% boost in orders for ready-to-eat products to Europe for Diwali. The GCC region remains the most prominent market for India’s festive food exports.
Importers and distributors in Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are actively sourcing:
Traditional sweets (kaju katli, laddoo, halwa)
Savouries (bhujia, mixture, murukku)
Dry fruits and nuts
Rice, spices, masalas, ghee, paneer, pickles and convenience foods
Mohit Singla, Chairman of the Trade Promotion Council of India, said:
“The festive-season demand signals are encouraging for India’s food and beverage exporters. What is particularly significant is the combination of strong demand for traditional Indian products such as sweets, savouries, rice, spices and pickles with the rapid emergence of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook foods.”
This aligns with broader growth: India’s exports of ready-to-eat and cooked food items rose 16% to $2.4 billion in FY26 (from $2.1 billion the previous year).