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Rupee Closes Flat at 85.64 Against DollarThe Indian rupee on wednesday  Flat to close at 85.64 per dollar, while it opened at 85.64 in the morning.read more :- CAI urges cotton trading community to stop all trade with Turkiye, explore other options

CAI Urges Cotton Traders to Halt Business with TurkiyeMUMBAI: The Cotton Association of India on Tuesday urged the industry to stop all trade with Turkiye as it sided with Pakistan during ‘Operation Sindoor’.During India’s ongoing ‘Operation Sindoor’, Turkiye has demonstrated its anti-India stand and openly sided with Pakistan against our country, CAI president Atul S Ganatra said in a statement.He said Turkiye imports cotton and other material from India and in 2024, its total imports from India including cotton was around USD 74.27 million whereas its exports to India during the same period stood at USD 2.84 billion.“Therefore, keeping the recent geopolitical developments and Turkiye’s anti-India policies in mind, we earnestly request our cotton trading community to consider stopping all our cotton trade with Turkiye and explore alternative options to suit our nation’s interest and promote a strong and self-reliant India,” he added. (PTI)read more :-Centre backs development of cotton plucking machine in Maharashtra

Centre Boosts Cotton Harvesting Tech in StateNagpur : Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan appreciated Maharashtra for working on developing a cotton plucking machine. Chouhan said the govt will offer full support as he also directed his ministry's mechanisation division to work on a similar project. Chouhan said he saw a similar machine during his visit to Brazil, and it can carry out work equivalent to 12 farmhands.The topic came up as state's minister for agriculture Manikrao Kokate said the availability of farm workers is a major problem affecting the sector and mechanisation can be a solution to it. Cotton plucking is a labour-intensive job. Chouhan also stressed the need to understand soil health to ascertain the right cropping pattern.The minister asked the farmers to give natural farming a chance too. It's not necessary to entirely convert to natural farming. One can start with a small portion of the entire holding. If done properly, natural farming does not bring down the input. However, some farmers do not follow the proper method and miss out on certain inputs.He also called for diversification of crops to maintain soil health. Chouhan was speaking at a function to launch "One Nation-One Agriculture-One Team", a programme aimed at bringing coordination among all the stakeholders in the sector.read more :- Rupee down 01 Paise to 85.64 Against Dollar

Indian rupee opens 01 paise lower at 85.64 against US dollarThe local currency opened at 85.64 against the US dollar, as compared to 85.63 at the previous close against the greenback.read more :-Rupee Falls 16 Paisa, Closes at 85.63 Against US Dollar

The Indian rupee on tuesday lower 16 paise to close at 85.63 per dollar, while it opened at 85.47 in the morning.At closing, the Sensex was down 872.98 points or 1.06 percent at 81,186.44, and the Nifty was down 261.55 points or 1.05 percent at 24,683.90. About 1398 shares advanced, 2415 shares declined, and 127 shares unchanged.read more :-  USDA Projects Decline in India’s Cotton Acreage for MY 2025/26 Amid Crop Shifts

USDA Forecasts Drop in India’s 2025/26 Cotton AcreageThe U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) forecasts India’s cotton acreage at 11.4 million hectares for the 2025/26 marketing year (MY), marking a 3% decline from the previous year. The reduction is attributed to farmers shifting toward more profitable crops, including pulses and oilseeds.Despite the smaller planted area, India’s cotton production is projected to reach 25 million 480-lb. bales, assuming a normal monsoon. The average yield is expected to rise to 477 kilograms per hectare—up 3% from the official MY 2024/25 estimate of 461 kilograms per hectare—due to increased cultivation in irrigated regions with reliable water access.However, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal maximum temperatures across much of the country—excluding southern regions—from March to May 2025. While cotton is relatively heat- and drought-tolerant, prolonged heatwaves and inadequate soil moisture could adversely affect yields.On the demand side, mill consumption remains strong, with projections at 25.7 million 480-lb. bales. Robust international demand for yarn and textiles is expected to sustain this level, suggesting continued reliance on imports to meet domestic consumption.On March 10, India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released its second advance estimate for MY 2024/25, lowering production to 23 million 480-lb. bales (equivalent to 29.4 million 170-kg bales or 5 million metric tons), a 2% drop from the prior forecast. Nevertheless, FAS maintains its MY 2024/25 projection at 25 million bales, based on 11.8 million hectares.FAS notes that rabi season sowing in southern India continues through December, and additional acreage data is anticipated at the close of the marketing year (October–September).Regional Planting TrendsNorth India:* Punjab’s cotton area remains stable.* Haryana sees a 5% decline as farmers pivot to paddy rice.* Rajasthan is expected to reduce cotton area by 2%, shifting to guar, maize, and mung beans; however, improved pest control may support yields.Central India:* Gujarat’s cotton area is projected to drop 3%, with growers favoring pulses, groundnut, cumin, and sesamum due to high input costs.* Maharashtra's area remains unchanged as farmers diversify away from soybean.* Madhya Pradesh expects a 5% decrease, driven by a move toward pulses and oilseeds.South India:* A 7% reduction is forecast across Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, where government incentives for ethanol production are encouraging shifts to maize and rice.read more :-India's $100-bn textile export target hinges on MSME: Primus Partners

India’s Textile Export Target Rests on MSMEsIndia’s target to hit $100 billion in textile exports in five years revolves largely around how well the country can support and scale its micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), according to a new Primus Partners report, which says textile MSMEs form the backbone of the industry, but are held back now by fragmented value chains, high costs, skill shortages and limited global market access.India accounts for just 4.6 per cent of global textile exports, while China’s share is 48 per cent.Titled ‘Roadmap for $100 Billion Exports in 5 Years’, the consulting firm’s report asserts that unlocking MSME potential is key to narrowing this gap and placing India among global leaders in textile manufacturing.While geopolitical shifts offer an opportunity for Indian firms, textile MSMEs must evolve to exploit this, the report points out.Readymade garments and home textiles, which account for 75 per cent of India’s textile exports, are expected to benefit the most. The shift in sourcing patterns by global brands under the ‘China Plus One’ strategy makes India an increasingly attractive destination—if MSMEs can keep pace.MSMEs may be aggregated into formal clusters, like farmer producer organisations, enabling them to negotiate better pricing, adopt standardised practices and directly access global buyers, it recommends. These aggregations would also improve creditworthiness and streamline supply chain operations.However, a major constraint is skills. Only 15 per cent of workers in the textile manufacturing sector have received formal training, according to the National Skill Development Corporation. This contributes to a 20-30 per cent loss in productivity.Primus Partners suggests setting up dedicated training centres in tier-II and tier-III cities, especially where PM MITRA Parks are coming up, to bridge this gap.Finance remains another bottleneck. MSMEs often struggle to access affordable credit for modernising machinery or expanding operations. The report recommends expanding operational subsidies and employment-linked incentives to reduce input costs and boost competitiveness.Infrastructural inefficiencies, particularly in logistics, continue to inflate production costs. India’s logistics costs stand at 14 per cent of GDP, compared to the global benchmark of 8-10 per cent. The report urges faster development of integrated supply chain parks and better port connectivity to support textile MSMEs in becoming export-ready.Trade access is also essential. While competitors like Sri Lanka enjoy duty-free access to Europe under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), Indian exporters face tariff disadvantages. The report calls for accelerated negotiations of free trade agreements with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States to make Indian goods more price-competitive.The report also stresses on the need to integrate textile MSMEs into the growing technical textile segment, projected to reach $274 billion globally by 2027.read more :- Rupee Falls 7 Paise to 85.47 vs Dollar

EU Industrial Growth Hits 1.9% in MarchIn March 2025, compared with February 2025, seasonally adjusted industrial production increased by 1.9 per cent in the EU and 2.6 per cent in the euro area, according to first estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In February 2025, industrial production grew by 1.1 per cent in both the euro area and the EU.In the euro area, industrial production showed mixed results in March 2025 compared with February 2025. Production increased by 0.6 per cent for intermediate goods, 3.2 per cent for capital goods, 3.1 per cent for durable consumer goods, and 2.3 per cent for non-durable consumer goods. However, production of energy declined by 0.5 per cent, marking the only category with a decrease during the period.In the EU, industrial production in March 2025 compared with February 2025 showed overall growth across most categories. Production rose by 0.2 per cent for intermediate goods, 3.0 per cent for capital goods, 2.8 per cent for durable consumer goods, and 1.3 per cent for non-durable consumer goods. The only decline was seen in energy production, which dropped by 1.7 per cent during the same period, according to the report.The highest monthly increases were recorded in Ireland (+14.6 per cent), Malta (+4.4 per cent) and Finland (+3.5 per cent). The largest decreases were observed in Luxembourg (-6.3 per cent), Denmark and Greece (both -4.6 per cent) and Portugal (-4.0 per cent).On an annual basis, industrial production in both the euro area and the EU showed notable growth in March 2025 compared with March 2024, particularly in consumer goods. In the euro area, production increased by 15.7 per cent for non-durable consumer goods, 2.2 per cent for energy, 1.1 per cent for durable consumer goods, and 1.0 per cent for capital goods, while intermediate goods saw a slight decline of 0.2 per cent. Similarly, in the EU, production rose by 12.2 per cent for non-durable consumer goods, 1.3 per cent for durable consumer goods, 1.0 per cent for capital goods, and 0.8 per cent for energy, with intermediate goods also decreasing by 0.2 per cent.The highest annual increases were recorded in Ireland (+50.2 per cent), Malta (+10.1 per cent) and Lithuania (+7.8 per cent). The largest decreases were observed in Bulgaria (-8.3 per cent), Romania (-7.8 per cent) and Denmark (-5.7 per cent).read more:- Rupee Falls 7 Paise to 85.47 vs Dollar

Rupee opens 7 paise lower at 85.47 against US dollarThe Indian rupee opened 7 paise lower at 85.47 against the US dollar on Tuesday, compared to its previous close of 85.40.read more :-Rupee Gains 04 Paisa, Closes at 85.40

Rupee Strengthens 04 Paisa Against Dollar, Closes at 85.40The Indian rupee on monday higher 04 paise to close at 85.40 per dollar, while it opened at 85.44 in the morning.India's benchmark Sensex closed 270 points lower at 82,059, while the Nifty ended 74 points down at 24,945. On the BSE, 2,524 stocks advanced, 1,571 declined, and 178 remained unchanged.read more :-port curbs on bangladesh imports may create Rs 1,000 crore biz for textiles

Import Curbs May Boost ₹1,000 Cr Textile Biz in BangladeshIndia's ban on imports from Bangladesh through the land ports could generate an additional business of more than ₹1,000 crore for the domestic textile industry, said industry experts. However, certain branded garments may see some supply issues in the winter season, which could raise prices of items like T-shirts and denims 2-3%.The director general of foreign trade (DGFT) in a notification on Saturday banned imports of garments and several other products from Bangladesh through land routes, but allowed them to be shipped in via Kolkata and Nhava Sheva ports.The local industry had been demanding restrictions on imports, concerned about a double-digit growth in textile imports from Bangladesh due to zero import duty.The move is also expected to curb the back-door import of Chinese fabric, which otherwise attracts 20% import duty.The trade and industry unanimously think that Bangladesh will lose more than India due to change in the import policy."India is not going to lose much... It will be difficult for Bangladesh to import by sea route through containers over the land route, which took a couple of days," said Bimal Bengani, chairman (eastern region) at Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).Boost Local Manufacturing: The ban on land route imports from Bangladesh may boost local manufacturing, industry insiders said."We were importing garments worth ₹6,000 crore annually from Bangladesh. We can now expect imports worth ₹1,000-2,000 crore to be replaced with Indian manufacturing," said Sanjay K Jain, chairman of National Textile Committee, Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).Indian companies have been importing woven and knitted apparel from Bangladesh due to the zero-duty advantage."With this move (ban on imports via land routes), the reduction in imports will help strengthen domestic production and support local manufacturers," said Prabhu Dhamodharan, convenor of Indian Texpreneurs Federation, which represents the entire value chain of the textile industry.According to industry estimates, India meets between 1-2% of its apparel consumption through imports, while Bangladesh accounts for about 35% of total garment imports in the country."This move would also reduce the backdoor entry of Chinese fabrics into India (without duty) that were getting converted in Bangladesh and being sent to India duty free," Jain said.Supply Disruption: All the leading Indian brands as well as the global brands present in India source between 20% and 60% garments from Bangladesh, according to industry estimates.The supply chains of these brands and many MSME units are expected to be disturbed in the short term."Buyers will be impacted as temporarily their supply chain will be disrupted and would have higher cost and lead time," Jain said.read more :- Maharastra : Cotton to dominate Kharif sowing in Wardha district