India's textiles exports registered a modest increase of nine per cent during April-October this fiscal, despite an impressive 43 per cent in jute and 12 per cent increase in ready-made garment exports.

As per the latest data compiled by the textiles ministry, India's textiles exports during the first seven months this fiscal was pegged at $6.91 billion as compared to $6.35 billion in the corresponding period the previous year, an increase of 8.9 per cent.

The modest growth came despite an impressive 43.5 per cent growth in jute exports, 21 per cent growth in man-made textiles and 11.6 per cent growth in ready-made garments.

Exports of jute which include floor covering of jute, jute yarn and jute hessian touched $102.9 million during April-October 2002 as compared to $71.7 million in the year ago period.

Similarly, exports of man-made textiles including man-made staple fibres and man-made yarn, fabrics and made-ups touched $781.9 million, 21 per cent higher than the amount of $646.1 million in the corresponding period in 2001-02.

Imports of textile items however registered less than one per cent increase at $968.34 million compared to $958.85 million during April-October 2002-03.

Low growth in imports was primarily on account of a decline in imports of raw material and ready-made garments by 22.31 per cent and 49.21 per cent, respectively.

The only items whose imports registered an increase during the April-October period included semi-raw material, yarn and fabrics and made-ups.

Semi-raw material imports which include synthetic and regenerated fibres, spun yarn clocked close to 30 per cent increase during the first seven months this fiscal.

Yarn and fabric imports also registered a growth of 27.31 per cent during the period.

In terms of exports, ready-made garments continued to sustain double-digit growth during the seven-month period at $2.93 billion which was over 11 per cent higher than the $2.62 billion during April-October 2001-02.

Other segments in textiles which registered a positive growth in exports during the period includes coir and coir manufacturers and handicrafts with 9.8 per cent and 9.1 per cent, respectively.