Tiruppur exporters press Centre to scrap 11% cotton import duty as 45-lakh-bale shortfall hits FY26
AEPC and Tiruppur Exporters' Association have urged the Centre to remove the 11% cotton import duty, flagging a 45-lakh-bale supply gap against 337-lakh-bale demand. The cluster drives 68% of India's knitwear exports worth ₹44,747 crore in FY25 and warns FTA rivals are eroding competitiveness.
AEPC and Tiruppur knitwear exporters urged Centre to scrap 11% cotton import duty, citing a 45-lakh-bale supply gap threatening apparel export competitiveness against FTA rivals; cluster contributes 68% of India's knitwear exports worth ₹44,747 crore.