New Delhi: Cotton imports from the USA have increased to meet the quality and supply requirements of the domestic textile industry, which consumes about 94% of India’s cotton, government told Parliament.
“During August-September 2025, including the period after the temporary exemption of the 11% import duty, imports from the USA aligned with industry needs,” said Pabitra Margherita, minister of state for textiles in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Overall, cotton imports in India rose to 41.40 lakh bales in 2024-25 from 15.2 lakh bales in 2023-24, helping bridge the demand-supply gap.
“These imports ensure the availability of specialized cotton varieties and support export-oriented production, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of India’s textile sector,” he said.
In a separate reply, he said that cotton imports are limited and largely confined to specialised varieties such as Extra Long Staple, and the temporary duty exemption is not expected to adversely impact farmers due to the continued protection of MSP operations.
Domestic cotton prices have moderated in line with global trends to around 751,500-752,500 per candy, balancing affordability for the textile industry while safeguarding farmers’ interests and strengthening India’s export competitiveness.
