ABOUT TEA
TIRUPUR KNITWEAR EXPORTS
Tirupur is contributing about 45% of total knitwear exports from our country and is exporting only cotton based garments. There is a good scope for increasing our market share in the global from the current level of about 2.6% by exporting value added products and synthetic products. As a product diversification, Knitwear Technology Mission (KTM) has been setup in Tirupur, under the aegis of AEPC to guide the industry to venture into manufacturing of synthetic garments like sportswear, swim wear, yoga wear, performance wear etc., which have a market throughout the year globally. The following table compares the with knitwear exports of Tirupur with all India exports.
Knitwear Exports
|
(Value in Rs. Cr) |
||||||
|
|
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
2015- 16 |
2016-17 |
2017- 18 |
2018-19 |
|
All India |
40,339 |
46,801 |
50,150 |
55,150 |
51,526 |
39,790 |
|
Tirupur |
18,000 |
21,000 |
23,050 |
26,000 |
24,000 |
18,500 |
|
Share (%) |
44.62 |
44.87 |
45.96 |
46.89 |
46.58 |
46.50 |
Chronological growth of Tirupur
The first knitwear unit in Tirupur was set up in 1925 and the growth of the industry was slow till late 1930s. A series of strikes in late 1930s in knitting factories in the neighboring towns of Salem and Madurai resulted in the opening of new firms in Tirupur. Subsequently, it emerged as the prominent centre for knitwear in South India by 1940s. In 1942, 34 units were engaged in the production of knitwear all these units were composite mills and the production was carried out in the same unit (sic). There are also references to some units performing specific tasks / operations like bleaching and dyeing, located in the larger units. By 1961, the number of units rose to 230 and till early 1970s, the industry catered only to the domestic market. These units were mostly composite mills without any subcontracting system of production. It was in the 1980s, the export market began to expand and subsequently Tirupur emerged as the largest exporter of cotton knitwear from the country, accounting for roughly 80 percent of the total cotton knitwear exporters.
Commencement of Exports
Tirupur’s direct exports started with Italy. Verona, a garment importer from Italy came to Tirupur in 1978 through Mumbai exporters to buy white T-shirts. A lot of job workers were manufacturing garments for merchant exporters. He realised the potential and came to Tirupur the following year. Verona was the man who brought European business to Tirupur. On seeing the quality, others soon followed suit. In 1981 European retail chain C&A came. Gradually, other stores also approached the exporters for supplying of garments.
A handful of manufacturers exported garments worth Rs.15 crore in 1985. The next couple of year was a windfall for Tirupur as exports touched Rs.300 crore in 1990.
A handful of manufacturers exported garments worth Rs.15 crore in 1985. The next couple of year was a windfall for Tirupur as exports touched Rs.300 crore in 1990.
Capacity of Units in Various Operations
|
Operations |
Number of Units |
|
Knitting |
750 |
|
Dyeing and Bleaching |
400 |
|
Printing |
500 |
|
Garment Making Exporting units Domestic and job working unit |
1500 3000 |
|
Embroidery |
350 |
|
Other Ancillary Units |
1100 |
|
Compacting and Calendaring |
750 |
|
Total |
8350 |
FORMATION OF TEA
Now, Shri Raja M Shanmugham has assumed as president of the association with an ambition of reaching one lakh crore Tirupur business, including exports and domestic in the year 2020. To fulfill the Vision 2020, he has been taking up various fresh ideas and thoughts and is trying to implement the same expediently. His top priorities are constitution of Knitwear Board in Tirupur, setting up of Design studio, Construction of one lakh houses for workers, imparting skills training to workers to increase productivity etc.
As on June 2018, TEA consisting of 1049 knitwear exporters as members.
Knitwear Exports
(Value in Rs. Cr)
|
Year |
Quantity (Lakh Pieces) |
Value (Rs) |
|
1984 |
104.2 |
9.69 |
|
1985 |
172.1 |
18.69 |
|
1986 |
288.7 |
37.48 |
|
1987 |
333.56 |
74.49 |
|
1988 |
459.06 |
104.24 |
|
1989 |
614 |
167.39 |
|
1990 |
888.73 |
289.85 |
|
1991 |
905.11 |
429.48 |
|
1992 |
1399 |
774.93 |
|
1993 |
1893 |
1162.43 |
|
1994 |
1964 |
1318 |
|
1995 |
2171 |
1591.83 |
|
1996 |
2574 |
1897 |
|
1997 |
2983 |
2255 |
|
1998 |
3461 |
2619 |
|
1999 |
3764 |
3067 |
|
2000 |
4243 |
3581 |
|
2001 |
3831 |
3528 |
|
2002 |
3580 |
3250 |
|
2003 |
3812 |
3896 |
|
2004 |
4114 |
4468.75 |
|
2004 – 2005 |
|
6,500.00 |
|
2005 – 2006 |
|
8,500.00 |
|
2006 – 2007 |
|
11,000.00 |
|
2007 – 2008 |
|
9,950.00 |
|
2008 – 2009 |
|
11,250.00 |
|
2009 – 2010 |
|
11,500.00 |
|
2010 – 2011 |
|
12,500.00 |
|
2011 – 2012 |
|
12,500.00 |
|
2012 – 2013 |
|
13,000.00 |
|
2013 - 2014 |
|
18,000.00 |
|
2014 – 2015 |
|
21,000.00 |
|
2015 - 2016 |
|
23,050.00 |
|
2016 - 2017 |
|
26,000.00 |
|
2017 - 2018 |
|
24,000.00 |
|
2018 - 2019 (APR-DEC) (P) |
|
18,500.00 |
As far as the export is concerned, all leading brands Nike, Cutter & Buck, Tommy Hilfigure, Point Zero, Fruit of Looms, Adidas, GAP, Katzenberg, Van Hussain, Fila, Arrow, TESCO, S Oliver, Inditex (Zara), etc., and leading chain stores like C&A, WalMart, Target, Primark, Sears and Mothers Care, H&M, Decathlon, Carrefour, Lindex, Hanes Brand, Polo, Ralph Lauren, NEXT, Kiabi, Columbia Sportswear, Bhs, Wal-Mart, Aldi stores, Guess Jeans & Spring Field etc., are sourcing from Tirupur.
