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Vijay demands duty free cotton as Tamil Nadu textiles face export crisis and job risks
India
Published on 15 May 2026
Cotton jumped 25 percent in two months
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging removal of the 11% import duty on cotton. He says the state’s vast textile and apparel export sector is in crisis as cotton and yarn prices surge, driven by cotton production shortages and higher trading activity. Cotton rose from Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy in two months, while yarn moved from Rs 301 to Rs 330 per kg. Vijay argues duty-free imports are needed to meet export commitments and safeguard jobs.
- Vijay writes Modi to cut cotton import duty from 11% to 0%
- Cotton price rose Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy
- Yarn prices increased from Rs 301 to Rs 330 per kg
- Textile and apparel exports employ lakhs, including rural women
- CM links the spike to cotton shortage and heightened trading activity
- He says imports are required to ensure raw material supply and competitiveness
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times