Tamil Nadu CM writes to PM Modi seeking removal of import duty on cotton

Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre to remove the 11 per cent import duty on cotton, citing growing pressure on Tamil Nadu’s textile and apparel industry due to rising cotton and yarn prices.

According to a press release issued on May 14, 2026, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said the state is India’s largest textile and apparel exporting region and that lakhs of people depend on the sector for direct and indirect employment. The letter highlighted that a large section of the workforce in the industry comprises women from rural and semi-urban areas.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the textile sector has been facing difficulties in recent months because of a sharp rise in cotton prices, which has also pushed up yarn prices. The increase, he said, has been driven by lower cotton production and increased trading activity in the domestic market.

As mentioned in the letter, cotton prices have risen from Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy over the last two months, registering an increase of around 25 per cent. During the same period, yarn prices increased from Rs 301 to Rs 330 per kilogram.

The Tamil Nadu government said the continued supply of raw material could be ensured only through imports under the current circumstances. However, the existing 11 per cent import duty on cotton is making imports more expensive for the industry.

In his communication to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister said allowing duty-free cotton imports would help textile manufacturers meet export commitments and remain competitive in global markets. He also noted that after agriculture, the textile and apparel sector is among the largest employment-generating industries in the country.

The letter further stated that the Centre has a responsibility to protect the livelihood of workers dependent on the textile sector and support the industry during a period of rising raw material costs and market uncertainty.

The demand comes at a time when textile manufacturers have been raising concerns over fluctuating cotton prices and the impact on production costs and exports.