The India Supply Atlas is live. Twenty years of export data across five clusters.
Atlas  /  Apparel  /  Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu

Knitwear

The t-shirts at Walmart, Primark and Tesco share a hometown: Tiruppur.

HS 6109T-shirts and vests
HS 6110Sweaters and hoodies
HS 6111Babywear
01

Knitwear export data

USD 5.5 billion
Tiruppur knitwear exports, FY26
TIRUPPUR CLUSTER KNITWEAR EXPORTSFY07FY12FY17FY22FY26$1.3B$5.5BFY18: GST transitionFY21: pandemic year
Marked points are reference figures. The curve between and beyond them is Obten’s estimate.
sources & methodology
INR crore, Tiruppur cluster knitwear exports since FY07. Reported anchors: FY07 and FY08 (trade press), FY14 (TEA via research), FY20-FY22 (TEA), FY24-FY26 (TEA and Business Standard). Intervening years are Obten estimates. The FY18 dip tracks the GST transition and input credit refund delays; the FY21 dip the pandemic year.
Source: Tiruppur Exporters Association via Business Standard, Jun 2026
02

Top destinations

32%
United States
28%
European Union
12%
United Kingdom
10%
Middle East & Australia
18%
Others
sources & methodology
Shares are Obten estimates. Obten estimates from Tiruppur Exporters Association shares: 30 percent plus to the US, around 40 percent to the EU and UK combined
03

What Tiruppur makes

  • Cotton t-shirts
  • Polo shirts
  • Hoodies and sweatshirts
  • Loungewear and nightwear
  • Kidswear and infantwear
  • Activewear knits
  • Tank tops and vests
  • Leggings and joggers
  • Pyjama sets
  • Innerwear
  • Thermals
  • Knit dresses
04

Why source from Tiruppur

Tiruppur accounts for roughly 60 percent of India's knitwear exports and about 90 percent of its cotton knitwear exports. The cluster runs the full chain within one district: spinning nearby in Coimbatore, knitting, dyeing under zero liquid discharge, printing, embroidery and garmenting. Global buyers including Walmart, Primark, Tesco, M&S and Tommy Hilfiger place volume programs here, and order flow accelerated as buyers diversified away from China and Bangladesh.

TIRUPPURCLUSTERTUTICORIN /CHENNAI PORTSsamples fly via CoimbatoreUS · EU · UK
05

MOQs, lead times and certifications

MOQ
200-1,000 pieces per style per colorway; boutique units from 200
Sample lead time
10-14 days plus 3-5 days approval
Production lead time
25-60 days by style complexity
Dispatch
Tuticorin and Chennai ports; air via Coimbatore for samples
Certifications to ask for
OEKO-TEX and GOTS on product; SEDEX, BSCI or WRAP on social compliance
Price position
China-level unit prices with far more colorways and design changes per order
Typical figures, varies by supplier.
06

Strengths and risks

Where India wins

  • Full chain in one district
    Why it matters: Spinning to garmenting within 50 km, with zero liquid discharge dyeing.
  • Small-batch flexibility
    Why it matters: Multiple colorways and design tweaks in one order that China and Vietnam refuse.
  • Retail-proven
    Why it matters: Already ships volume programs for Walmart, Primark, Tesco, M&S and Tommy Hilfiger.
  • Compliance depth
    Why it matters: GOTS, OEKO-TEX and social audit experience across the exporter base.

The risks, and how you manage them

  • Shrinkage and spirality on cotton knits
    How you manage it: A 5 percent tolerance written into the PO, pre-production sample approval, and third-party inspection before dispatch.
  • Shade variation between dye lots
    How you manage it: Approved lab dips and single dye-lot cutting, checked at inspection.
  • GSM and fit variance between units
    How you manage it: Screening on export record filters for units already passing Western retail audits.
  • US tariff swings reshaping quotes
    How you manage it: Quotes benchmarked across shortlisted units with the live duty confirmed before you commit.
sources & methodology
Sources: Covid impact on Tiruppur garment exports (FY21), Business Standard, 2021 · GST transition impact on Tiruppur knitwear (FY18), Deccan Herald · Business Standard, Jun 2026 - Tiruppur clocks record INR 46,000 cr exports in FY26 · Tiruppur Exporters Association - industry overview · Textile Insights, Jul 2025 - FY24/FY25 export figures
Data updated July 2026
07

Your first order from Tiruppur

01
Brief us
Brief us on your knitwear specs, volumes and target market.
02
Your shortlist
We screen the Tiruppur cluster and send a shortlist of suppliers that fit.
03
Sample and inspect
Approve samples; we arrange third-party inspection before and during production.
04
It ships
Your order ships with one point of contact from booking to delivery.

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