Bhubaneswar: The Central Government has announced a temporary exemption of all customs duties on cotton imports from June 1, 2026, to October 31, 2026, to augment the availability of cotton for the domestic textile industry.
The decision is aimed at ensuring adequate raw material supply for textile and apparel manufacturers while addressing concerns over cotton availability and input costs in the sector.
According to the government, the temporary duty waiver is expected to reduce production costs across the textile value chain, providing targeted relief to manufacturers and helping improve the competitiveness of Indian textile and apparel products.
Officials said the measure is also likely to benefit consumers by easing cost pressures in the industry, while maintaining a balanced approach that takes into account the interests of domestic cotton farmers.
The textile sector is one of India’s largest employment-generating industries and plays a significant role in exports. The temporary exemption is expected to support production, stabilise raw material supplies and strengthen the sector during the exemption period.
The government stated that the duty-free import window will remain in effect from June 1 to October 31, 2026, after which the existing customs duty structure is expected to be restored unless further policy decisions are taken.
-OdishaAge
