Govt exempts import duty on cotton till October

“This notification shall come into force with effect from the 01st day of June, 2026, and shall remain in force up to and inclusive of the 31st day of October, 2026,” the Union finance ministry said in an order. The import duty on cotton was reinstated at 11% on January 1, after a brief hiatus from August to December 2025.

A government spokesperson said the government has “temporarily” exempted all customs duties on import of cotton to augment its availability for the Indian textile sector.

“The temporary duty exemption is expected to reduce input costs across the textile and apparel sector, thereby providing a targeted relief to manufacturers and consumers, while also keeping the interests of domestic farmers in mind,” he said, adding that the measure was expected to have a positive impact on the performance of the domestic textile industry, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs).