Association says move will support textile competitiveness.
The Northern India Textile Mills Association (NITMA) has welcomed the Government of India’s decision to temporarily remove the 11 per cent import duty on raw cotton from 1 June to 31 October 2026. The association said the move would provide margin relief to the MSME-dominated textile and apparel sector during off-season shortages.
NITMA said the duty waiver addresses a cost disadvantage faced by Indian manufacturers across spinning mills, fabric production and garment exports. It added that lower raw material costs would help exporters make better use of upcoming trade agreements, including the proposed UK free trade agreement.
Sidharth Khanna, President, NITMA, said the 11 per cent import duty had been a major hindrance to the sector’s global competitiveness, as key Asian peers already have duty-free access to international cotton.
The association said specialised cotton imports would help bridge domestic supply gaps for export orders without displacing local produce. It added that the intervention would support India’s textile export goals and help counter the recent FY26 export decline.
Munish Avasthi, Senior Vice President, NITMA, said the removal of import duty is a strategic intervention that would stabilise the supply chain and support the entire textile value chain during raw material stress.
NITMA said it would continue to work with policymakers to build a resilient and globally competitive textile sector.