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Budget 2026–27 Wishlist: Textile Industry Seeks Duty-Free Cotton to Boost Competitiveness

Textile Industry Pushes for Duty-Free Cotton Imports Ahead of Budget 2026–27India’s textile and apparel industry has outlined a series of demands ahead of the Union Budget 2026–27, highlighting concerns over raw material availability, global quality standards, and cost competitiveness. The Budget will be presented by Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2026.The Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) has called for unrestricted duty-free cotton imports, warning that existing import duties could worsen supply constraints. It also proposed a separate classification for recycled and sustainable textile products, removal of import duties on speciality fibres, and elimination of anti-dumping duties on key raw materials such as PTA and MEG.SIMA noted that cotton productivity in India has declined in recent seasons, pushing output below industry requirements. It cautioned that supply gaps could emerge from late 2025 if import restrictions persist. According to the association, a permanent duty-free regime would stabilise prices, improve export competitiveness, and protect jobs in the sector.The industry also warned that India risks losing export orders to competitors like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Cambodia if raw material availability remains uncertain and costly.In addition, SIMA has urged the removal of import duty on cotton waste, widely used by handloom and powerloom clusters in Tamil Nadu for products such as towels, carpets, and home textiles. The current duty structure, it argued, weakens India’s position in recycled textile exports, especially against Pakistan, while putting pressure on open-end spinning mills.For the man-made fibre (MMF) segment, manufacturers have proposed a dedicated classification for recycled and sustainable textiles to enhance global recognition. They also recommended scrapping anti-dumping duties on PTA and MEG and allowing duty-free imports of speciality fibres not produced domestically, enabling expansion into technical textiles and high-value exports.MSME textile units have sought compliance relaxations aligned with revised MSME definitions, along with improved access to export financing. Industry stakeholders emphasised the need for stronger banking support for export bill discounting, particularly for shipments to Bangladesh, a key market for Indian yarn and fabric.Exporters have also suggested logistics reforms, such as permitting trucks carrying import cargo to transport export goods on return trips along major textile corridors. This would reduce empty runs, cut freight costs, improve efficiency, and lower emissions.The industry further called for faster rollout of technology upgradation subsidies, continuation of export incentives in cash form, and extension of interest subvention schemes for cotton yarn exports. It stressed that cotton yarn remains central to India’s long-term export growth and requires sustained financial support.Finally, the sector has urged stricter action against under-invoiced imports of garments and made-ups through yarn-forward or fabric-forward rules, along with broader credit guarantee frameworks and interest support to shield domestic manufacturers from rising global competition.read more :- Cotton sector hopes for new seed technology

EU-India trade agreement, boost to apparel-textile sector

EU to Seal Trade Deal With India, Boosting Apparel, Textile Prospects | The European Union is set to formalise its largest trade agreement to date with India on 27 January, in a move expected to significantly deepen economic ties between Brussels and New Delhi and reshape trade flows across multiple sectors, including apparel and textiles.According to a report by European news outlet Euractiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen informed Members of the European Parliament during a closed-door briefing that the agreement would be concluded later this month. Von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are scheduled to sign the agreement alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to New Delhi.Von der Leyen described the agreement as a major signal of the European Union’s trade policy ambitions. The deal would be the bloc’s largest free trade agreement to date, granting enhanced access to a market representing roughly a quarter of the world’s population.The agreement is expected to have particular significance for the apparel and textile sector. The European Union is currently India’s second-largest export destination for apparel, accounting for nearly 27% of India’s total garment exports. Annual apparel shipments from India to the EU are valued at more than US $ 7.5 billion, while total textile and clothing exports to the bloc—including yarn, fabrics and home textiles—are estimated to exceed US $ 11 billion annually.At present, Indian apparel exports to the EU face import duties ranging from 8% to 12%, reducing price competitiveness compared with suppliers such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Turkey, which benefit from preferential or duty-free access under existing trade arrangements. Industry stakeholders expect an FTA to significantly lower or eliminate these tariffs, improving India’s position in the European sourcing market.UK and European apparel brands, including Marks & Spencer, Primark and Next, have already begun preliminary negotiations with Indian suppliers as the agreement moves closer to ratification. Buyers have increased factory audits and supplier assessments in major manufacturing hubs such as Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, indicating plans to initiate or expand sourcing from India once the agreement comes into force.Industry analysts say the deal could accelerate a shift in European sourcing strategies, particularly as brands seek to diversify supply chains amid rising costs and regulatory pressures in other manufacturing regions.read more :- US market slow, India's hold in China strong

Farmers worried about fluctuations in cotton prices

Guaranteed Rates Fall; Farmers Upset by Lower Grading: Cotton Prices Surge in Open Market, Reaching Eight Thousand; a Rs. 600 Increase RecordedWhile the price of cotton has decreased at the guaranteed purchase centers, it has surged in the open market of the district. The implementation of a second grade by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has lowered the guaranteed price, but the open market has seen an increase of Rs. 500 per quintal.The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has introduced a second grade for cotton at its guaranteed purchase centers. This has reduced the guaranteed price by Rs. 100 per quintal. As a result, the price of cotton at the procurement center has fallen from Rs. 8110 to Rs. 8010 per quintal. On the other hand, the price of cotton in the open market of Yavatmal district has increased significantly. Cotton, which was previously priced between Rs. 7,200 and Rs. 7,500 per quintal, has now increased by Rs. 500 to Rs. 600, with prices reaching as high as Rs. 8,100 per quintal. This has created a sense of enthusiasm among farmers, and there is a rush to sell in the open market.However, farmers are complaining that despite having good quality cotton, they are being given a lower grade at the guaranteed centers. Farmers are demanding that the previous grading system be reinstated. However, since no new notification has been issued by the central government in this regard, procurement at the guaranteed centers is currently being done according to the second grade.Discussion on Import Duty: The central government had given an 11 percent exemption on import duty on cotton. There are discussions that these charges have now been reversed. However, an official notification in this regard has not yet been issued. Agricultural experts believe that even if the import duty is reversed, it will not have much impact on market prices.read more :-  Cotton imports increase in December quarter due to duty-free incentives

Cotton imports increase in December quarter due to duty-free incentives

India's Dec quarter cotton imports soar amid duty-free import pushMUMBAI, Jan 14  - India's cotton imports rose 158% year on year to a record 3.1 million bales in the December quarter after New Delhi allowed duty-free ‌imports, boosting overseas purchases, a leading industry body said on Wednesday.Higher imports by the world's second-largest cotton producer are expected to support global prices , but they could weigh on local prices, ‌which had been rising due to crop damage.New Delhi exempted cotton imports from the 11% duty during the December quarter.India's cotton imports in the 2025/26 marketing year, which began ‍on Oct. 1, are likely to jump 22% from a year earlier to a record 5 million bales, the Mumbai-based Cotton Association of India (CAI) ⁠estimated.India's imports reached a record 4.1 million bales last ‍year from the U.S., Brazil, Australia and Africa.The industry body raised its ‌estimate ‌for the current season's cotton crop to 31.7 million bales, up from the previous forecast of 30.95 million bales, mainly due to higher output in the western state of Maharashtra ⁠and the ⁠southern state of Telangana.The textile industry is one of the largest employers in India, directly employing over 45 million people.The CAI forecasts cotton consumption will ‍decline 2.9% to 30.5 million bales in 2025/26, amid weak overseas demand for Indian fabric and apparel.The U.S., which takes nearly 29% of India's $38 billion annual textile exports, doubled ‍tariffs on imports from India to as high as 50%, effective August.read more :- INR Drops 05 Paise, Closes at 90.30 per Dollar

Showing 551 to 561 of 4460 results
title Created At Action
CCI increased cotton prices, weekly sales 17,500 bales 17-01-2026 01:09:42 view
Budget 2026–27 Wishlist: Textile Industry Seeks Duty-Free Cotton to Boost Competitiveness 16-01-2026 23:54:17 view
Cotton sector hopes for new seed technology 16-01-2026 23:42:13 view
Rupee fell 50 paise to close at 90.87 per dollar 16-01-2026 22:49:18 view
EU-India trade agreement, boost to apparel-textile sector 16-01-2026 19:51:03 view
US market slow, India's hold in China strong 16-01-2026 19:19:18 view
Rupee open Falls 07 Paise to 90.37/USD 16-01-2026 17:32:41 view
Cotton Market Situation Report – As on 31/12/2025 16-01-2026 01:24:46 view
Farmers worried about fluctuations in cotton prices 15-01-2026 18:04:42 view
Cotton imports increase in December quarter due to duty-free incentives 15-01-2026 01:10:12 view
INR Drops 05 Paise, Closes at 90.30 per Dollar 14-01-2026 22:43:40 view
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