Apparel exporters eyeing Japan, Oz and Canada

Apparel exporters of Tirupur and Noida have started tapping the markets of Japan, Canada and Australia amid fears that the deepening downturn in the US and European Union-their main buyers-will hit their trade, which recorded good growth last month.

"Japan at present buys 5% of their apparel requirements from India. But with Covid again spreading in China, it is looking at alternative countries to source readymade garments," said Lalit Thukral, president of Noida Apparel Export Cluster.

"We had a meeting with leading Japanese buyers and it is expected that they may divert 15-20% of their purchase to India."