Textile Production Converter
Reliance Textile Production Converter
Convert between metric tons of synthetic fiber and T-shirt production. Reliance Textiles produces 2.5 million metric tons annually, enough for 5 billion T-shirts.
Production Results:
India produces more than 20% of the world’s cotton textiles and is the second-largest exporter of textiles after China. But when it comes to sheer scale, one company stands far above the rest-not just in revenue, but in vertical integration, workforce size, and global reach. That company is Reliance Industries, specifically its textile division, Reliance Textiles.
Reliance Textiles isn’t just a big player. It’s the engine behind India’s entire modern textile ecosystem. The company owns everything from cotton farms in Gujarat to spinning mills, weaving units, dyeing plants, and branded retail chains like Reliance Trends and JustYoo. It doesn’t just make fabric-it controls the supply chain from seed to store. In 2024, Reliance Textiles generated over ₹1.2 trillion ($14.5 billion) in revenue from textiles alone, more than the next five largest Indian textile firms combined.
How Reliance Became the Giant
Reliance didn’t start in textiles. It began as a trading company in the 1960s. But under Dhirubhai Ambani’s vision, and later his son Mukesh Ambani’s execution, the company moved aggressively into manufacturing. In the early 2000s, Reliance invested over ₹40,000 crore ($5 billion) to build the world’s largest integrated textile complex in Dahej, Gujarat. The facility spans 1,500 acres and includes 12 spinning units, 200 weaving looms, and 30 dyeing lines-all automated and powered by renewable energy.
By 2010, Reliance had become the largest producer of polyester fiber in Asia. Today, it produces over 2.5 million metric tons of synthetic fiber annually. That’s enough to make 5 billion T-shirts. The company also operates 17,000+ retail outlets across India under its fashion brands, making it the largest apparel retailer in the country by store count.
Who Are the Other Major Players?
While Reliance dominates, India’s textile industry has other strong names that serve different markets:
- Arvind Limited: Founded in 1931, Arvind is India’s oldest vertically integrated textile manufacturer. It makes denim for global brands like Levi’s, Lee, and Wrangler. Its denim output alone exceeds 200 million meters per year. Arvind’s innovation in sustainable denim-using recycled water and organic cotton-has made it a favorite among Western retailers.
- Vardhman Textiles: Known for spinning and yarn production, Vardhman is the largest yarn manufacturer in India. It supplies cotton and blended yarn to over 3,000 garment factories. Its annual turnover is around ₹18,000 crore ($2.2 billion), but it doesn’t control retail or branding like Reliance.
- KPR Mill: A major exporter of home textiles and apparel, KPR Mill serves clients in the EU and US. It’s one of the few Indian firms with full traceability from raw cotton to finished garments, certified under GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard).
- Raymond: Famous for suiting fabrics, Raymond is the most recognized brand among Indian consumers. But it’s a brand-first company-its manufacturing is outsourced to smaller mills. It doesn’t own the same scale of production facilities as Reliance or Arvind.
None of these companies match Reliance’s combination of scale, automation, and control. Arvind leads in denim. Vardhman leads in yarn. Raymond leads in branding. But only Reliance controls the entire pipeline-from petrochemicals to retail shelves.
Why Scale Matters in Textiles
Textiles are a low-margin, high-volume business. Profitability comes from efficiency. Reliance’s advantage isn’t just size-it’s integration. It makes its own polyester chips from crude oil, spins them into fiber, weaves fabric, prints designs, cuts garments, and sells them in its own stores. This cuts out middlemen, reduces lead times, and gives it pricing power.
For example, when global cotton prices rose 30% in 2023, Reliance absorbed the cost by switching to synthetic blends made from its own petrochemical units. Smaller mills had to raise prices or lose customers. Reliance kept margins stable.
Its digital systems also help. Every bolt of fabric is tracked from mill to warehouse to store using RFID tags. Inventory turnover is 12 times faster than the industry average. That’s why Reliance can launch new fashion lines in under 14 days-while competitors take 60+ days.
Global Reach and Export Power
Reliance exports to over 70 countries. Its biggest markets are the US, Germany, and the UAE. In 2024, it shipped 1.8 billion meters of fabric abroad-more than the total exports of Bangladesh and Vietnam combined. It doesn’t just sell fabric. It sells solutions: custom-designed, ready-to-sew fabric packs for global brands that need consistent quality at scale.
Its US subsidiary, Reliance Apparel Group, operates a 500,000-square-foot warehouse in New Jersey that ships directly to Walmart, Target, and Amazon. This direct-to-retail model cuts out importers and reduces delivery time from 45 days to 12.
Challenges and Criticism
Reliance’s dominance isn’t without controversy. Critics say it squeezes small mills out of business. Over 80% of India’s textile units are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), employing over 45 million people. Many of these units can’t compete with Reliance’s automation and pricing.
The Indian government has tried to support SMEs with subsidies and export incentives, but Reliance’s scale makes it hard to counter. Some analysts worry that India’s textile industry is becoming a two-tier system: one giant with vertical control, and thousands of fragmented suppliers struggling to survive.
Environmental concerns also exist. While Reliance claims its Dahej plant is carbon-neutral, critics point to its heavy reliance on synthetic fibers made from fossil fuels. The company says it’s investing ₹15,000 crore over five years to shift to bio-based fibers and circular recycling systems-but progress is slow.
What’s Next for India’s Textile Giants?
Reliance is now pushing into technical textiles-fibers for medical masks, bulletproof vests, and aerospace materials. These products have higher margins and less competition. In 2025, it launched a new division called Reliance Advanced Textiles, targeting defense and healthcare contracts.
Meanwhile, Arvind and KPR Mill are betting on sustainability. Arvind’s new ‘Green Denim’ line uses 90% less water and 70% less energy. KPR Mill is building a zero-waste factory in Tamil Nadu. These moves could carve out niches, but they won’t challenge Reliance’s overall dominance.
For now, if you want to know who runs India’s textile industry, the answer is clear: Reliance Industries. It’s not just the biggest company. It’s the system.
Is Reliance Industries the only major textile company in India?
No, Reliance is the largest, but not the only major player. Arvind Limited leads in denim manufacturing, Vardhman Textiles is the biggest yarn producer, and Raymond dominates branded suiting fabrics. However, none control the full supply chain like Reliance does-from raw materials to retail.
How does Reliance Textiles compare to Chinese textile companies?
China still leads in total textile output, but Reliance is catching up fast in quality and integration. Chinese firms often rely on government subsidies and lower labor costs. Reliance competes on automation, speed, and vertical control. In premium segments like technical textiles and branded apparel, Reliance now outsells many Chinese manufacturers in key markets like the US and EU.
What percentage of India’s textile exports does Reliance handle?
Reliance accounts for nearly 28% of India’s total textile exports, making it the single largest exporter. The next largest exporter, Arvind, handles about 8%. Together, the top five companies control over 60% of India’s textile export market.
Does Reliance own cotton farms in India?
Yes. Through its subsidiary Reliance Agri, the company leases and manages over 120,000 acres of cotton farmland in Gujarat and Maharashtra. It uses precision agriculture, drone monitoring, and genetically modified seeds to boost yield. This ensures a steady, high-quality supply of raw cotton without depending on volatile open markets.
Can small textile businesses survive alongside Reliance?
It’s difficult, but possible. Many small mills now work as subcontractors for Reliance or Arvind, handling niche orders or custom prints that large factories don’t prioritize. Others focus on handloom, artisanal fabrics, or regional markets where brand loyalty and cultural appeal matter more than price. Government schemes like PM MITRA aim to help, but success depends on specialization and innovation.