Powerloom Industry and Exports in India

Introduction

The powerloom industry has traditionally been a cornerstone for the Indian economy in terms of foreign exchange earnings and employment. Powerlooms contribute around 70% of the total jobs in the textiles industry, employing around 4.4 million people. The powerloom industry is equipped with approximately 2.701 million registered looms producing 54,000 square meter fabrics, which are concentrated in clusters across Erode, Salem, Madurai, Ichalkarnaji, Solapur, Bhiwandi, Bhilwara and Malegaon, among others.

The export of coir and coir products was worth US$ 375.68 million for the FY20, and the exports of power looms mats witnessed growth in terms of volume and value.

Key Markets and Export Destinations

Apart from the US and the EU, which account for about two-thirds of India’s textiles export, China, the UAE, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan, and Brazil are some of the other key export markets.             

The export of coir and coir products was worth US$ 246.13 million in April 2020 to October 2020, and for the month of October 2020 it was US$ 41.19 million.

India’s powerloom production during April 2017 to August 2017 was 16,119 million square meters.

Approximately 4.418 million people are employed in this industry.

In India, powerloom sector contributes 57% of the total cloth production, whereas more than 60% of fabric meant for export is also sourced from this sector.

The domestic textiles and apparel market are witnessing strong growth due to rapid increase in organised retail and disposable incomes. The market is estimated to reach US$ 141 billion by 2021.

Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council

The Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) is the nodal agency for the development and promotion of export of powerloom products. The council undertakes direct promotional activities such as participation in international trade shows, sending and hosting trade delegations, and sustained image-building exercises through advertisements abroad, publications and audio visuals.

Under the Group Insurance Scheme for Powerloom Workers, 1182 powerloom workers were enrolled by various nodal agencies under the scheme during January 2020.

As of September 2018, there were approximately 2.701 million registered powerlooms in the country.

Source: Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL)