UK exports to double after India-UK trade deal

By Admin

02 Aug, 2025

The landmark India-UK trade agreement is set to unlock a new era of opportunity for Indian exporters   and textile major Arvind Ltd. is leading the charge. With the deal expected to remove trade barriers and streamline processes, Arvind Ltd anticipates a ₹400 crore increase in exports to the UK, effectively doubling its current export volume from ₹200 crore in the coming years.

“Currently, India does about $1 billion in garment exports to the UK. With this agreement, that number should double. We now have a relative advantage over our competitors,” said Punit Lalbhai, Vice-Chairman of Arvind Ltd, during a recent investor call. “All efforts to re-prioritise and win in the UK market will now commence. Both India and Arvind stand to gain from this.”

UK: A Renewed Focus for Garmenting

The United Kingdom has traditionally been a modest market for Indian garment exporters, largely due to historical trade constraints. But that scenario is changing rapidly. With increased garmenting capacity and strong alignment between Indian and UK trade goals, Arvind is restructuring its strategy to scale its presence in the UK market.

“We are putting the right teams in place for the UK business. This deal will benefit not only our garmenting division but also our Advanced Materials Division (AMD),” Lalbhai noted. The AMD business, which supplies human protection products such as flame-retardant gear and industrial workwear, already services UK clients and will see further expansion.

Scaling Up to Meet Global Demand

To meet increasing demand from the US, Middle East, and UK, Arvind is ramping up capacity aggressively. The company plans to increase its AMD capacity by 40%   20% by the end of this year and another 20% in the following financial year. It is also increasing factory shifts and building a new greenfield unit dedicated to human protection products.

“Our current capacity utilisation has gone beyond 100%. We’re adding shifts and expanding both industrial and protection segments. Two factories will soon operate on second shifts,” Lalbhai confirmed.

A Role in the Vande Bharat Programme

Arvind Ltd’s AMD division is also contributing to the Vande Bharat train programme with a ₹200 crore order. The company will supply composite materials for train interiors   including ceiling and side panels, partitions, doors, flooring panels, and toilets. “These composites are strong yet lightweight. About 5-7% of the materials for each coach will be supplied by us,” Lalbhai explained.

The Big Picture

With the India-UK trade deal opening up new possibilities, Arvind Ltd. is positioning itself as a key player in the next wave of textile and industrial exports. The expected doubling of UK exports signals a robust future for Indian manufacturing and a significant leap in global trade engagement.

As trade corridors widen and international collaborations deepen, companies like Arvind are not just capitalising on policy changes   they are driving India’s global trade ambitions forward.