“The industry faces a potential loss of about $11.5 billion, and we are looking at layoffs. We are trying our best to sustain this huge challenge, but it’s not easy unless the government supports us,” he said.
Exporters are frontloading deliveries to meet the deadline, sometimes treating August 20 as the effective cutoff. “All these measures are putting a lot of pressure on vessels, trucks, and logistics,” Sekri added.The shortened customs clearance timeline in the US is adding to the stress, with shipments needing 28 days to reach American ports, but the new schedule allows just 20 days.
Despite the challenges, the textile and apparel sector has seen some growth. Sekri said that while final numbers for August are not yet available, “by the 27th of August we should be about 3–5% higher than last year.”
Meanwhile, India’s energy imports are also being closely monitored. Sumit Ritolia, Lead Analyst of Refining at Kpler, said India’s crude oil imports from Russia remain robust.
“As of the 18th of August, around 1.71–1.8 million barrels per day of crude have been unloaded at Indian refiners,” he said.
He noted that most August shipments had already been booked before the tariff announcement, meaning the real impact of the US duties will be felt in September and October.
Ritolia also addressed India’s crude imports from the US.
“Currently, the US contribution is around 200–300 kbd, with no major upside expected,” he said. He added that Russian imports have decreased slightly compared to previous months, as refineries diversify sources for energy security and cost optimisation.
With the US tariff deadline approaching, Indian exporters are facing both logistical and financial pressures, while the government works to negotiate terms and protect the country’s trade interests.
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