India eyes $1 billion in technical textile exports to UK by 2030 under new CETA trade deal

India’s exports of technical textiles to the UK could rise to $1 billion by 2030 from $240 million now, aided by the India–UK Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) which was signed last week.The UK currently imports technical textiles worth over $7 billion annually.“Key sub-segments such as Agrotech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, Packtech, and Sportech are poised for strong growth under the agreement,” said Shaleen Toshniwal, chairman, Manmade Fibre and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXIL), citing India’s cost competitiveness and manufacturing strength.The agreement offers 100% duty-free market access for Indian exports to the UK, covering 99% of the UK’s tariff lines, thereby unlocking new opportunities for several sectors, particularly technical textiles.“With the removal of tariff barriers, Indian exporters can now significantly enhance their footprint in the UK across high-potential categories like medical textiles, protective wear, geo-textiles, industrial fabrics, and agro-tech textiles,” he added.Bhadresh Dodhia, Immediate Past Chairman of MATEXIL said India will now enjoy a significant competitive edge over China in this domain, as China does not have any FTA with the UK.“Until the agreement is fully implemented, Indian technical textile exporters should proactively study UK market requirements, technical standards, and sustainability norms to better position themselves and maximize the benefits of the CETA,” Dodhia said.To support the industry, MATEXIL will soon be organizing outreach programmes, B2B meetings, and market intelligence sessions to ensure that Indian exporters are well-prepared to capitalize on the immense opportunities offered under the India–UK CETA.