Indian textile industry worried over cheap US cotton
By yash chouhan 2026-02-23 12:52:05
The textile industry of the country including Kolhapur is in crisis due to the fear of cheap American cotton coming to India after the India-US trade agreement.
Kolhapur: After the new import tax structure between India and America, the textile industry in the country was likely to flourish. But in reality the picture looks different. Cotton prices in India are falling due to the possibility of large-scale import of low-cost cotton from the US after this agreement. The price of yarn has fallen and the demand for fabric has also cooled.
The Indian textile industry was going to get relief from America's reduction in import duty on Indian goods from 50 percent to 18 percent. However, this equation has become problematic in some cases in the first stage. With this agreement, some agricultural products of America will be sold in the Indian market. Since cotton is allowed in it, the sensitive Indian textile industry is feeling the impact due to the fear of importing large quantities of American cotton into India.
America's cotton problem
The production of BT (genetically modified) cotton in America is double, triple that of India. India imported cotton worth Rs 3,428 crore from America in 2024-25. India, once a major exporter of cotton, has now become an importer of cotton from Brazil, Australia and the United States. After the latest deal, American cotton imports are expected to be at a lower rate than Indian cotton.
Losses to mills, farmers
Cotton prices are currently falling in the country. Analysts say the price of cotton, which was Rs 56,500 per khandi (356 kg) a fortnight ago, has fallen by Rs 1,000 to Rs 55,500 after the agreement. On the other hand, due to fall in cotton prices, farmers who had held cotton in the hope of price increase from CCI (Cotton Corporation of India) are in financial distress.
