Surat, December 14 – The Surat textile market is witnessing a significant slowdown in demand as the festive season draws to a close. Textile traders are now pinning their hopes on the arrival of buyers from outside textile hubs at the beginning of January 2025. Despite strong sales before Diwali, the post-festival demand has failed to sustain momentum, leaving traders concerned about the immediate future.
With numerous auspicious dates for weddings extending until June 2025, traders expect business to pick up in the coming months, particularly around the Makar Sankranti festival.
South and North India Contributing to the Slowdown
Prahlad Agrawal, president of the Surat Cloth Brokers Association, cited multiple reasons for the slump. "Pongal-related purchases in South India have been minimal. Meanwhile, severe winter in North India has diverted traders towards warm clothing hubs like Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and Amritsar," he said.
Agrawal explained that most traders across the country had already stocked up for November and December weddings before Diwali. With the onset of the inauspicious Kharmas period on December 15, all demand for wedding-related textiles has come to a standstill. He added, "Unseasonal rains in the South, extreme cold in the North, and Kharmas have collectively impacted the Surat textile market."
Agrawal, however, expressed optimism about improved demand closer to Makar Sankranti. "Buyers from other states are likely to start arriving in Surat a week before Makar Sankranti, leading to better business post-Uttarayan," he said.
Minimal Demand Observed Across Regions
Raju Ordiya, a prominent figure in the Surat Textile Market, highlighted that the market has been operating at merely 10-20% of its capacity since Diwali. "Andhra Pradesh has shown some activity, but there’s negligible demand from states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana," he said.
According to Ordiya, traders in Andhra Pradesh have already stocked up, limiting new orders for Surat. He predicted that textile traders from other states will begin visiting Surat in early January, leading to a revival in sales. "With auspicious wedding dates extending until June 2025, we expect steady demand from January through May," he added.
Outlook for 2025
While the current situation remains grim, textile traders in Surat are hopeful about a turnaround in January. The extended wedding season and the influx of buyers from across the country could bring much-needed relief to the market. Until then, traders are bracing for challenging times as they navigate through this temporary lull.
