India’s cotton imports surged sharply during the April–January period of the 2025–26 fiscal year, reaching $1.79 billion, as domestic production remained tight and textile mills boosted purchases of raw fibre from overseas markets.
Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that imports of raw cotton and cotton waste climbed significantly over the period, responding to supply shortages and strong demand from the country’s massive textile and apparel industry.
Industry analysts noted that lower domestic cotton output combined with earlier duty exemptions on cotton imports helped mills secure competitively priced raw materials during much of the year, though the import duty was reinstated at 11 % from January 1, 2026 to support local growers.
The uptick in cotton imports comes amid broader challenges in the textile sector, where export growth has been under pressure from high tariffs in key markets such as the United States, even as trade negotiations and tariff reductions are expected to improve export competitiveness in the near term.
The rise in imports underscores the importance of stable raw material availability for India’s textile value chain — one of the country’s largest employment generators — and highlights ongoing policy discussions about import duties and domestic supply enhancement.
