India Must Shift Focus To Man-Made Fibres To Lead The Global Textile Market: Rajeev Gupta

At the recent PHDCCI Conference on “The Future of Textiles: Challenges & Opportunities in Man-Made Fibres” held on April 22, Rajeev Gupta, Joint Managing Director of RSWM Ltd., highlighted the strategic importance of man-made fibres (MMF) for the future of India’s textile industry.

Addressing policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders, Gupta said that the timing of the discussion was apt, given the ongoing uncertainties in global trade and shifting manufacturing dynamics. “We are living in very interesting times. While tariff wars may be temporarily paused, the disruptions they caused will have lasting ripple effects across sectors,” he remarked.

Gupta highlighted that MMFs now account for 72% of global fibre consumption, with polyester leading the category. From 2015 to 2025, MMF consumption grew at 3.7%, outpacing the overall textile growth of 2.5%. India, as the second-largest producer of both polyester and viscose, is in a strong position to capitalize on this trend.

“The future clearly lies in man-made fibres, and we must shift our focus accordingly if we are to remain globally competitive,” he said.

Sustainability at the Core
Highlighting RSWM’s commitment to sustainability, Mr. Gupta shared RSWM’s notable achievements:

• 50% of the polyester used is recycled, made in-house from over 5 million PET bottles daily.
• 7,000 metric tonnes of fibre consumed per month.
• 8 lakh tonnes of CO₂ emissions reduced annually.
• 5 million kWh of renewable energy usage.
• 3 million kilolitres of water recycled each year.
• 8,162 tonnes of recycled cotton and 72,357 kg of organic manure used across operations

These milestones reflect a deep-rooted commitment to circular economy practices and environmental responsibility.

Gupta praised the Indian government’s progressive policies like PLI (Rs 10,683 crore disbursed), MITRA, and TUFS, which are driving investment and modernization in the MMF sector. He also emphasized the growing importance of emerging technologies such as AI, automation and smart manufacturing in reshaping the industry.

He further advocated for research and development to be at the heart of India’s textile ambitions. “R&D must become a core belief if we are to climb the value chain. It’s the only way forward,” he stated.

Recognizing workforce development as a critical factor, Gupta lauded initiatives like SAMARTH, while stressing the importance of industry-relevant training and value addition to enhance India’s competitiveness in global MMF markets.

Concluding his address, Gupta called on industry and policymakers to take a decisive turn toward man-made fibres. “Traditionally, we’ve focused on natural fibres like cotton. But the time has come for India to pivot toward MMF in a big way. The opportunity is now,” he said.