Vijay Asks Narendra Modi to Remove 11% Cotton Import Duty, Flags Risk to Textile Industry Jobs

Vijay has appealed to Narendra Modi to abolish the 11% import duty on cotton, citing growing concerns over rising raw material costs and the impact on Tamil Nadu’s textile industry.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Vijay said the state’s textile and apparel sector — one of the biggest employment generators in Tamil Nadu — is facing mounting pressure due to a steep rise in cotton and yarn prices over the past two months.

The Chief Minister noted that cotton prices have climbed from Rs 54,700 to Rs 67,700 per candy, marking an increase of nearly 25%, while yarn prices have risen from Rs 301 to Rs 330 per kilogram. According to him, the surge has been driven by lower domestic cotton production and increased trading activity, resulting in a shortage of raw materials for the industry.

Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s position as India’s leading textile and apparel exporting state, Vijay said lakhs of people depend on the sector for employment, particularly women from rural and semi-urban communities.

He warned that the rising input costs were creating severe challenges for manufacturers and exporters, potentially affecting the sustainability of the entire textile value chain.

Vijay argued that removing the import duty on cotton would improve raw material availability, help the industry fulfil export commitments, and maintain competitiveness in international markets.

The Chief Minister also stressed that after agriculture, the textile and apparel industry remains one of the largest sources of employment in the state, making it essential for the government to safeguard jobs and support the sector during the ongoing price surge.

Urging immediate intervention from the Centre, Vijay requested that the import duty on cotton be reduced from the current 11% to zero to ease pressure on the industry and protect livelihoods tied to the textile sector.