Pearl Global flags US tariff risk as buyers reassess Indian apparel sourcing

Potential US tariffs of up to 100% could prompt buyers to shift India-bound apparel orders to Bangladesh, Vietnam or Indonesia, Pearl Global Industries says. The risk threatens recent order momentum as US sourcing economics come under review.

— Source publishedThu, 17 Sept, 2026, 13:15 IST·First seen Thu, 17 Sept, 2026, 13:25 IST·Source CNBC-TV18 · Companies

What happened

Potential US tariffs of up to 100% are making buyers reassess Indian apparel sourcing. Pearl Global Industries says US-bound orders could be shifted to

Key facts

  • Up to 100% additional tariffs
  • India monthly exports to US: around $8.5 billion
  • Earlier India monthly exports to US: nearly $6 billion
  • Additional Section 301 tariff for India, Bangladesh and Indonesia: 10%
  • Additional levy for Vietnam: 2% to 2.5%

What changed

Potential US tariffs of up to 100% are making buyers reassess Indian apparel sourcing. Pearl Global Industries says US-bound orders could be shifted to Bangladesh, Vietnam or Indonesia if tariffs materialise, slowing recent order momentum.

Why this matters

Prepare contingency sourcing and buyer-retention plans as potential US tariffs could redirect apparel orders from India to lower-tariff alternatives such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia.

What to watch

  • Specific US tariff announcement, legal authority, effective date, country coverage and whether apparel receives exemptions or differentiated rates.
  • Buyer purchase-order timing, cancellation rates, order deferrals and tariff-sharing requests reported by Indian exporters.
  • Monthly US apparel import data by origin for India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia, especially changes in unit volumes versus value.
  • Management commentary on US order-book visibility, factory utilization, pricing, receivables and overseas-capacity plans from major Indian exporters.
  • India-US trade negotiations and any reciprocal-tariff framework that lowers the expected effective duty.