As per figures available for the first 10 months of 1997-98, textile imports rose by 18 per cent to Rs 1,195 crore against imports valued at Rs 1,012 crore during the same period in 1996-97.

These included yarn, fabrics and made-ups, the figures sent to the textiles ministry voicing concerns of the recession-hit domestic industry, revealed.Though Nepal recorded the maximum growth, China too enjoyed a major share of the sector's exports to India.

During the period April 1997 to January 1998, China's share of India's textile import was 14.67 per cent at Rs 175.31 crore. This amounted to a 65.13 per cent growth over the same period in 1996-97 when imports were valued at Rs 106.16 crore.

Nepal's textile exports to India accounted for six per cent during the period butthe value of shipments rose by 79.17 per cent to Rs 717.71 crore from Rs 40.02 crore.

South Korea was the second largest exporter of textile goods to India but its shipments to New Delhi decreased by 24.50 per cent during April 1997-January 1998. Imports from Seoul to India slid to Rs 123.55 crore from Rs 163.65 crore.

Taiwan was the third largest textile goods exporter to india accounting for 9.46 per cent of total imports. Value of shipments during the review period increased by 7.94 per cent to Rs 112.95 crore from Rs 104.64 crore. Thailand contributed 7.49 per cent of exports to India with its share rising by 4.43 per cent from Rs 85.70 crore to Rs 89.50 crore.

Indonesia, which has been offering a stiff competition for Indian yarn exports, accounted for 6.66 per cent of textile exports into India with the shipments increasing by 13.20 per cent to Rs 79.50 crore from Rs 70.23 crore.The United States, whose share in total exports was 5.74 per cent, saw its shipments into India rise by 10.58 per centto Rs 68.58 crore from Rs 62.02 crore.

Exports from Hong Kong, with a share of 5.56 per cent, rose by 18.57 per cent to Rs 66.48 crore, shipments from Germany made up 5.11 per cent rising by 3.01 per cent to Rs 60.99 crore and from Japan it increased by 31.57 per cent to Rs 57.97 crore making up 4.85 per cent of total exports to India. Meanwhile, the union textile ministry director, S Ibrahimi has asked the exporters to explore the possibility of exporting more processed fabrics instead of grey fabrics.

Ibrahimi, who recently visited the Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) at Erode, said with proper utilisation of weavers' skill, India could manufacture more branded items, a PDEXCIL press note said. Ibrahimi said the country's export would not be affected following the nuclear tests, unless embargo was imposed on imports, which no country had done so far.

Urging Indian exporters to give more stress on value added products, he said they should go in for modernisation and qualityupgradation to meet international requirements and challenges, in view of the wto agreement. Ibrahimi said powerloom units should try to get ISO certification to enhance their future exports.

PDEXCIL vice-chairman, MS Mathivanan has appealed for market development assistance to the council members for participation in direct export. The export promotion activities should be extended to all the interested exporters and the government should take steps to control the abnormal increase in cotton prices and give assistance for quality upgradation and modernisation, he added.