Govt waives cotton import duty till October 30 to boost supplies, ease input costs

The government has exempted all customs duties on cotton imports for five months till October 30, 2026, in a move aimed at improving cotton availability for the domestic textile industry and reducing input costs for manufacturers, PTI reported.According to a finance ministry notification, the duty exemption will come into effect from June 1, 2026.The government said the measure is intended to increase the availability of cotton for the Indian textile sector, which relies on adequate raw material supplies to support production.The temporary exemption is expected to lower input costs across the textile and apparel value chain, providing targeted relief to manufacturers and consumers while keeping the interests of domestic cotton farmers in mind.The ministry said the move is likely to have a positive impact on the performance of the domestic textile industry, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), by ensuring better availability of cotton in the market.The duty waiver will remain in force until October 30, 2026.