Textile, yarn firms demand duty-free cotton imports on dwindling supplies

Pipeline stocks will last for just about three-four months, companies say

With cotton textile and yarn makers bracing for a shortfall in the supply of raw materials in the months to come, the firms have once again called upon the government to immediately allow duty free import of raw cotton.

Trade sources while discounting the possibility of any big ticket hoarding by traders and multinational companies, said that on March 31, 2022, around 3 million bales is left as stocks in the pipeline as against a normal of 5-6 million bales (1 bale=170 kilograms), while another 5 million bales is with the farmers.

This would make a total pipeline stock of