A delegation led by Dr A. Sakthivel, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), met the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, , and submitted a representation seeking removal of the existing 11 per cent import duty on cotton in order to strengthen the global competitiveness of India’s apparel and textile sector.

During the meeting, the delegation highlighted that India’s apparel and textile industry is entering a crucial growth phase with the signing of several Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), which are expected to open significant export opportunities in key international markets. The industry stressed that removal of the import duty on cotton would help Indian exporters compete more effectively with neighbouring countries, which enjoy easier access to raw materials at globally competitive prices.

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The delegation noted that while global demand for apparel is expected to rise, India’s competitiveness could be impacted by higher raw material costs arising from the prevailing cotton duty structure. They emphasised that rationalising cotton import duty would enable the Indian apparel sector to attract more sourcing business from FTA partner countries, strengthen supply chain efficiency, and support exporters in securing larger global orders.

The delegation also pointed out that the textile industry’s cotton requirement for the current year is projected at around 337 lakh bales, whereas cotton arrivals for the 2025-26 season are estimated at 292.15 lakh bales, resulting in a supply-demand gap of nearly 45 lakh bales. The industry stated that this shortage is placing pressure on spinning mills and downstream textile manufacturers due to limited availability of quality raw material and rising input costs.

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Dr A. Sakthivel highlighted that the apparel and textile sector remains one of the largest employment generators in the country and plays a critical role in export growth and foreign exchange earnings. He urged that timely policy support through removal of cotton import duty would help the industry fully leverage emerging global opportunities and position India as a stronger and more competitive sourcing destination.

The delegation included representatives from leading textile and apparel industry associations from the Tirupur cluster, including TEA, SIHMA, TTPK, DAT, TEKMA, TEKPA and SIIMKA.
CREDITS: PR received from Pallavi Mishra l Public Relations Officer l Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) official id. The content has not been edited and reviewed by us.

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