Vision and Strategic Roadmap for Technical Textiles

The Indian market for technical textiles is the 5th largest in the world continuously expanding at a CAGR of 8-10% per annum, over the past 5 years at US$ 21.95 billion in 2021-22. The production of technical textiles accounted for US$ 19.49 billion and imports accounted for US$ 2.46 billion. The Technical Textile segment accounts for around 15% of the overall textile and Apparel market in India and is significant in terms of employment and investment. High-performance textiles, also known as technical textiles, are used in a variety of industries, including agriculture, medicine, building infrastructure, automotive, aerospace, sports, protective gear, packaging, and so on. The demand for these products is driven by a country's development and industrialization. Given the rate at which emerging economies are industrialising, the market for technical textiles is expected to grow in parallel with global industrial growth. In the last few years, the Indian market for technical textiles has expanded dramatically, due to applicable innovations and increased public knowledge of technological textiles.

Technical textiles are the forerunner of many new applications embracing practically all aspects of life, with enormous potential for increasing productivity, efficiency, and cost economics, and delivering new approaches to many engineering and general applications. The end-use of Technical Textiles goods caters to a diverse range of sectors, presenting a plethora of prospects as a high-value sector in India. The government is making every effort to promote technical textiles and has launched several programmes in this regard. The Indian government has ambitious goals and projects to promote India as one of the world's leading hubs for Technical Textiles and to establish a strong manufacturing base in India. The government is attempting to promote exports while simultaneously fostering a steady and healthy expansion of the domestic market. 

Technical Textile Industry in India

The textile sector contributes significantly to the output of the manufacturing sector and is the 2nd largest employer in India. The industry has recently advanced up the value chain and expanded into technical textiles. The government is actively encouraging research and innovation in technical textiles to boost exports and the sector's worldwide competitiveness.

Technical textiles are textile goods whose primary focus is on technical performance and functionality. These goods are used in a variety of industries, including construction, agriculture, aerospace, automotive, healthcare, protective gear, and home care. Technical textiles outperform conventional textiles, which are primarily concerned with aesthetics.

Natural and synthetic fibres, including Nomex, Kevlar, Spandex, and Twaron, are used in the production of technical textiles. These fibres, which have increased functional qualities such as higher tenacity, superior insulation, and improved thermal resistance, are employed in a variety of industries and applications.

Segments

• Indutech

Textiles for chemical and electrical applications, as well as textiles for mechanical engineering. Industrial brushes, paper-making textiles, filtration products, computer printer ribbons, printed circuit boards, composites, ropes & cordages, coated abrasives, AGM glass battery separators, bolting cloth, cigarette filter nods, drive belts, and conveyor belts are all examples of industrial textiles.

• Mobiltech

Nylon tyre cord fabrics, seat cover fabric/upholstery, seat belts, cabin filters, tufted carpet, helmets, insulation felts, automotive interior carpets, sun visors/sun blinds, headliners, airbags, seat belt webbing, car body covers, airline disposables, aircraft webbings and others are examples of technical textiles used in transportation.

• Sportech

Tents, swimwear, footwear components, sports netting, sleeping bags, hot air balloons, parachute textiles, artificial grass, sports composites, and other items are examples of Sports textiles.

• Buildtech

Textiles used in construction include concrete reinforcement, façade foundation systems, interior construction, insulation, proofing materials, air conditioning, noise prevention, visual protection, sun protection, and building safety. For example, architectural membranes, floor & wall coverings, scaffolding nets, awnings & canopies, HDPE tarpaulins, signages, and more.

• Hometech

Interior decoration and furniture, carpeting, sun protection, cushion materials, fireproofing, floor and wall coverings, textile reinforced structures/fittings, furniture fabrics, fibrefill, stuffed toys, blinds, mattress and pillow components, carpet backing cloth, mosquito nets, hoover cleaner filters and others are examples of textiles used in a domestic environment.

• Meditech

These are often used in bandages and sutures (wound stitching). Surgical dressings, contact lenses, artificial implants, infant diapers, incontinence diapers, sanitary napkins, surgical sutures, surgical disposables, and other items are all examples of medical textiles. Surgical gowns and drapes are also covered in medical fabrics.

• Clothtech

Technical textiles are used in a variety of clothing applications, such as zip fasteners, umbrella material, sewing threads, interlinings, labels, elastic narrow fabrics, and shoelaces.

• Agrotech

Agro textiles are textiles used in agriculture. Anti-hail/bird nets, finishing nets, crop covers, mulch mats, shade nets, etc are all examples of agrotech.

• Protech

Protection against heat and radiation for firefighter clothing, molten metals for welders, bulletproof jackets, etc., is achieved by the use of technical fabrics with high-performance fibres. High-altitude clothes, ballistic protection clothing, fire retardant clothing, high visibility clothing, and industrial gloves are protective textiles.

• Packtech

Packaging textiles include leno bags, wrapping cloth, jute hessian and sacks, soft luggage, tea bag filter paper, woven sacks, and others.

• Oekotech or echotech (Environmentally friendly textiles)

Technical textiles are used in environmental engineering and landfill waste management (geosynthetic products to secure landfills against leakage of municipal or hazardous waste), or in secondary protection in the chemical and oil industries (ground covers and around process tanks as secondary containment for tank leaks).

• Geotech

These are utilised in embankment reinforcement or construction projects. Geotextile fabrics are permeable and are employed with soils with the ability to separate, filter, protect, or drain. Civil engineering, earth and road construction, dam engineering, soil sealing, and drainage systems are some of the applications. Glass, polypropylene, and acrylic fibres are synthetic fibres that are used to prevent cracking in concrete, plastic, and other building materials.

Trade ecosystem

India's trade in technical textile products has been rapidly expanding, and the country has become a net exporter. India's exports of technical textile products increased by 28.4% (YoY) from US$ 2.21 billion in 2020-21 to US$ 2.85 billion in 2021-22, while imports increased by 44% (YoY) from US$ 1.7 billion in 2020-21 to US$ 2.46 billion in 2021-22.

According to the table below the overall exports of technical textiles across all 12 segments, witnessed an increment of 3% in 2022-23 (April-November) as compared to the same time period last year.

Source: Indian Technical Textile Association

Government Initiatives

• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Textiles

Along with MMF fabrics and MMF clothing, the manufacturing Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme was introduced to encourage domestic manufacturing of technical textiles. Of the 67 applications received, 17 were solely for technical textiles with a planned investment of US$ 744.22 million (Rs. 6,351 crore) and 16 were combined with technical textiles with a projected investment of US$ 672.55 million (Rs. 5,517 crore).

• Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks (MITRA) Scheme

The Ministry of Textiles introduced the PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks (MITRA) Scheme with an overall outlay of US$ 541.87 million (Rs. 4,445 crore) over a seven-year period up to 2027-28 to enhance the overall textile sector and value chain, particularly Man-Made Fibres (MMF) and technical textiles. The project focuses on the development of integrated large-scale and modern industrial infrastructure on the entire textile value chain, which includes Spinning, Weaving, Processing, Garmenting, Textile Manufacturing, Processing, and Printing Machinery Industry. So far, 13 proposals have been filed by various state governments, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu.

• National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM)
  • It is the Ministry of Textiles' flagship initiative, with a budget of US$ 180.42 million (Rs. 1,480 crore) for a timeline of 2020-21 to 2023-24. The scheme's objectives are to increase the penetration of technical textiles and upgrade workforce skillsets, promote the usage of technical textiles in various flagship schemes and missions, and develop products, indigenous machinery and equipment for technical textiles in order to boost 'Make in India' and enable the industry competitiveness, and position of India as a global leader. The initiative consists of four components: 
  • Research, Development & Innovation US$ 121.90 million (Rs. 1,000 crore)
  • Promotion & Market Development US$ 6.09 million (Rs. 50 crore)
  • Export Promotion US$ 1.21 million (Rs. 10 crore)
  • Education, Training and Skill Development US$ 48.76 million (Rs. 400 crore)

As of January 2023, 89 research projects totalling US$ 32.30 million (Rs. 265 crore) had been approved in various application areas of technical textiles such as Geotech, Agrotech, Specialty fibres, Protech, Sportech, Sustainable Textiles, and many more.

• New Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes
  • In addition to the 207 recognised technical textiles items in 2019, 30+ additional HSN Codes dedicated to technical textiles products:
  • The Finance Bill 2022 introduced 30 HSN Codes/Tariff Items
  • 2 HSN Codes/Tariff Items have been amended in accordance with Finance Bill 2022.
  • 5 HSN Codes in accordance with the Seventh Edition of the HSN Nomenclature HS-2022, which came into effect on January 1st, 2022.

Source: Ministry of Textiles

• Centre of Excellence

• Other Initiatives
  • 107 things have been identified as required to be regulated to ensure quality. Quality Control Orders (QCOs) have already been issued for 19 Geotech, 12 Protech, 22 Agrotech, and 6 Meditech goods. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) regulates 48 Meditech products.
  • More than 500 Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) guidelines for technical textiles have been developed. Furthermore, more than 50 standards are under development.
  • Currently, 119 technology textiles products have been identified for mandatory use across ten Central Ministries/Departments in order to reap the benefits of technical textiles in various kinds of applications. The line ministries have issued obligatory usage notifications for 68 items so far.
  • Ministry of Textiles approved 20 R&D projects worth US$ 7.44 million (Rs. 61.09 crore) across key strategic areas of Geotech, Protech, Indutech, Sustainable Textiles, Sportech, Buildtech segments and Specialty Fibres (Carbon Fibre and Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) during the 6th Mission Steering Group (MSG) meeting.

Road Ahead

The technological textile business in India has enormous potential and is a rising sector that will contribute considerably to the development of a new and developed India by 2047. There are numerous prospects for India to tap into untapped export markets and local potential when taking into account the global market dynamics for technical textiles. During the COVID-19 crisis, a strict prohibition on the export of crucial medical equipment was imposed. It is commendable that the Indian technical textiles industry rose to the challenge, with India being the second-largest manufacturer of Grade Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits and N-95 Masks in a period of six months in 2020. To position India as a leading and rising nation for technological textiles, particularly in speciality fibres, composites, geotech, meditech, and agrotech, the emphasis should be on boosting R&D in significant fields, scaling up commercialization and increasing cost competitiveness, governmental assistance, etc.