CRISIL Ratings : Tamil Nadu garment exporters to see 8-10% revenue growth

Healthy order inflows amid rising demand will lift the revenue of readymade garment (RMG) exporters¹ in Tamil Nadu by 8-10% to Rs ~43,000 crore this fiscal (refer Chart 1 in Annexure).

The industry has seen signs of recovery in Tamil Nadu after two years of subdued demand and muted realisations and is expected to fare better than the national level where revenue growth is expected to be 3-5% this fiscal. This is due to the larger share of exports in the state’s RMG sector, at 65-70%, compared with 20-25% at the national level.

Operating profitability will improve 25-30 basis points (bps) on better operating leverage, marginal increase in realisations and stable yarn prices.

An analysis of over 50 Tamil Nadu-based RMG exporters assessed by CRISIL Ratings, accounting for over a fourth of the industry revenue, indicates as much.

The Tamil Nadu RMG industry is set to grow after a prolonged period of sluggish demand in key export markets, particularly the US and Europe, which account for bulk of the demand. The central government’s impetus through various schemes and the recent political developments and ongoing gas crisis² in Bangladesh would also benefit the industry.

Balance sheets to remain strong, with low capex, moderate working capital requirement.

Says Jayashree Nandakumar, Director, CRISIL Ratings, “Tamil Nadu RMG industry, which accounts for over 30% of RMG exports from India, will see volume grow 6-7% in the current fiscal. Growth will be driven by the Tirupur region, the knitwear hub of India, supported by improving demand from the US and Europe. The government’s plan to review the PLI³ scheme for textiles to expand its scope to the RMG sector will support exporters over the medium term.”

Moreover, extension of the export incentive scheme (providing rebate of state and central taxes and levies) for apparel, garments and made-ups till March 31, 2026, will ensure cost competitiveness and help companies secure orders, driving volume.

Realisations, too, will rise 1-3% with rising demand as retailers in the US and Europe may restock inventory ahead of the festive season and in anticipation of spring-summer demand. With surging demand, a marginal increase in cotton prices can easily be passed on to customers, curbing any downward movement in profitability. Better realisations coupled with higher efficiencies would push the operating margins up 25-30 bps to ~10.5% this fiscal.

Says Sajesh K V, Associate Director, CRISIL Ratings, “With adequate capacities already in place, players are unlikely to add any significant capacities over the medium term. Players rated by CRISIL Ratings are expected to increase capacities by ~5% and also undertake maintenance capital expenditure (capex) with an outlay of Rs.400-450 crore in the current fiscal. This would be mainly for meeting incremental orders for upcoming fiscals, with the industry expected to see a moderate rise in working capital requirement considering the additional order flow.”

¹Tamil Nadu garment exporters are companies which have all their manufacturing facilities based out of the state

² Gas crisis in Bangladesh has impacted the spinning mills and fabric looms there which in turn has a cascading effect on the RMG production in the country and may result in international customers opting for alternative sourcing destinations such as India, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

³ In 2021, government approved production linked incentive (PLI) scheme with outlay of Rs 10,000 crore over a period of five years to promote manmade fibre (MMF) apparel, MMF fabric and products of technical textiles. Government plans to review the scheme and expand its scope to RMG sector (which majorly comprises of cotton products).