Central Government exempts customs duties on cotton imports 1 Jun–31 Oct 2026
Textile and apparel import procurement and customs teams must apply zero customs duty to cotton imports landed between 1 June and 31 October 2026 — the exemption is time-limited and lapses automatically.
PIB
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Change
On 30 May 2026, the Central Government temporarily exempted all customs duties on imports of cotton, effective 1 June 2026 through 31 October 2026.
Why it matters
The exemption removes customs duty from cotton imports for a five-month window, creating a time-limited opportunity for lower-cost imported raw material. Import consignments must clear customs within 1 June–31 October 2026 to access the relief. The measure is intended to improve cotton availability and provide targeted relief to manufacturers, especially small and medium enterprises. Standard customs duty rates resume automatically from 1 November 2026.
Implications
- — Textile and apparel import compliance and customs brokerage teams must apply zero customs duty to cotton import entries landed between 1 June 2026 and 31 October 2026 and update customs declarations before filing to claim the exemption — failure to apply the exemption results in avoidable duty payment.
- — Procurement teams at textile and apparel manufacturers must schedule and contract cotton shipments to land within 1 June–31 October 2026 to capture the duty exemption — shipments landing outside this window attract prevailing customs duties.
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