Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove the 11% import duty on cotton, warning that the state’s textile industry is facing severe pressure due to rising raw material prices.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Vijay said the current import duty of 11% on cotton has increased production costs for textile manufacturers and affected the competitiveness of India’s textile exports. He stressed that Tamil Nadu, one of the country’s largest textile and garment manufacturing hubs, depends heavily on stable cotton supply for its industries.
The Chief Minister said the textile sector provides employment to lakhs of workers, especially women and small-scale labourers, and any continued rise in cotton prices could threaten jobs and industrial growth. He requested the Centre to immediately scrap the import duty to ensure adequate cotton availability at affordable rates.
According to industry representatives, domestic cotton prices have remained high because of lower production, rising demand and supply shortages. Textile manufacturers have reportedly been forced to import cotton at higher costs due to the existing duty structure.
Vijay noted that removing the duty would help stabilise raw material prices and support exporters already facing pressure from global competition and weak international demand. He also said the move would protect small and medium textile units struggling with increasing operational expenses.
Tamil Nadu has repeatedly raised concerns over issues affecting the textile industry, including rising power costs, global market slowdown and fluctuations in cotton prices. Industry bodies in the state have also demanded policy support from the Centre to improve exports and sustain employment.
Textile associations welcomed the Chief Minister’s appeal, saying duty-free cotton imports could help reduce manufacturing costs and improve the competitiveness of Indian textile products in international markets.
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