Worst may be over, but textile exporters still face a long road to recovery

Apparel exports rose in October after more than a year of sustained fall

The textile export market might be looking up, finally. Outbound shipments of readymade garments zoomed at last in October. But a return to high growth is unlikely anytime soon, even though, as experts believe, the worst is over.

Outbound shipment of the largest component of textiles — readymade garments — had zoomed up by more than 36 per cent in October, after continuous fall for more than a year. The sustained impact of a devaluing rupee over the past six months, coupled with a demand for early supplies in October in the run-up to Christmas sales in major markets, such