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Domestic potential

As per a study conducted by Textiles Committee, per capita purchase of textiles in the domestic market (household) has steadily increased over the years. In 1990, it was 14.03 metres, which increased to 14.85 metres in 1995, and further to 18.65 metres in 2001. The study has projected per capita consumption for 2005 at 19.53 metres. This clearly shows that the domestic market has got tremendous potential and one cannot simply ignore such a vast opportunity. The total domestic market size for textiles is also increasing, from 11621 million metres in 1990, to 13,497 million metres in 1995 and 19,154 million metres in 2001. The market size in 2005 is estimated at 21,468 million metres.

The per capita consumption of blended textiles in the domestic market is likely to maintain its high growth trend in coming years too. The per capita consumption of blended textiles is projected to increase to 10.41 metres in 2005 from 9.02 metres in 2002. The report has projected per capita consumption of blended textiles at 9.48 metres for 2003 and 9.48 metres for 2004. The per capita consumption of blended textiles in the household sector of the domestic market has gone up substantially in the last one decade. On the other hand, per capita consumption of cotton and non-cotton textiles is likely to decline marginally in years to come. The per capita consumption of cotton textiles is estimated to decrease to 6.72 metres in 2005 from 6.85 metres in 2002. The per capita consumption of cotton textiles declined by 0.42 metres to 7.02 metres in 1995 from 7.44 metres in 1990. However, there was a marginal increase to 7.45 metres in 2001 and 7.87 metres in 2002. The per capita purchase of non cotton textiles is estimated to decline to 2.40 metres in 2005 from 2.42 metre in 2002. The consumption in the non cotton segment has been stable over the years. Even as per capita consumption may have declined in certain fibres, the market size for all fibres has grown. The market for cotton textiles grew to 6381 million metres in 1995. In 2001, it grew further to 7651 million metres and the projection for 2005 is placed at 7392 million metres. The market for non-cotton textiles declined in 1995 to 1927 million metres, from 2286 million metres in 1990, and increased again to 2464 million metres in 2001. The estimation for 2005 is 2635 million metres, a growth of 6.94 per cent. The market for blended textiles has increased three-fold during 1990-2000. The growth is expected to continue during 2001-05 by 26.57 per cent and the projection for 2005 is placed at 11,441 million metres. One thing is amply clear that the domestic consumption is gradually following the global trend and the future transition will be much faster due to the integration process. The domestic production chain, no doubt, is trying to adjust to the situation, but still lot is left to be desired. Today, there is need to put up demand-driven capacities for sustaining the growth process.