The globally renowned “Textile City” of Panipat is witnessing a robust surge in demand for its blankets, not just within India but increasingly from overseas markets. Industry insiders report that the district’s blanket manufacturing sector has “caught the fancy” of international buyers, successfully challenging China’s long-standing dominance in the segment.
According to Naveen Bansal, President of the Bapoli Industrial Zone, Panipat has emerged as the world’s largest manufacturer of blankets, producing a staggering 4,000 tonnes per day. “Ten years ago, in 2016-17, there were only 12 blanket manufacturing units here. Today, that number has swelled to 150 units, which include 125 dedicated to mink blankets, 30 to polar, and 12 to flano blankets,” Bansal stated. He noted that while India previously imported 98% of its blankets from China, the tables have turned, with Panipat now fulfilling 99% of domestic demand and capturing markets in the Middle East, Europe, and the US.
The optimism in the market is further fueled by the recent Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with the UK and European Union, which exporters believe will provide a massive boost to the sector. Currently, while the domestic market consumes the lion’s share, exports stand at around 50 tonnes per day, a figure expected to rise sharply as tariffs on Chinese goods make Indian textiles more competitive.
Birbhan Singla, President of the Industry Area Manufacturers Association, highlighted that despite the high volume, maintaining stocks of mink blankets remains a challenge due to their fluffy nature, which loses “grace” upon compression. However, the season has been profitable, with common mink blankets selling at ₹200 per kg, super-soft varieties at ₹210 per kg, and flano blankets at ₹270 per kg.
