New Delhi, Dec. 20 -- In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita said the removal of the 11 per cent import duty on cotton has helped soften domestic prices, while MSP procurement and other support mechanisms continue to protect farmers' interests.

Impact of Import Duty Exemption on Prices

The minister said domestic cotton prices have eased broadly in line with global trends following the duty exemption.

International prices of equivalent S-6 cotton declined from about 79.15 US cents per pound prior to August 19, 2025, to around 73.95 US cents per pound in December 2025. Correspondingly, domestic prices softened from nearly Rs 57,000 per candy to around Rs 52,500 per candy, and ar...