Textile and garment exporters in Pune, India, are calling on the government to waive the 11% import duty on cotton due to a significant rise in domestic prices, which have surged 7-8% in the past month. This price increase is attributed to heightened demand as crude oil prices rise, leading mills to revert to natural cotton from synthetic fibers. The Cotton Association of India reports that ginned cotton prices have risen 11-12% recently, while international prices have escalated by 12-15%. The Confederation of Indian Textile Industries emphasizes that 60-70% of the textile value chain depends on cotton, making the duty waiver crucial for maintaining competitiveness against countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh, which benefit from duty-free raw materials. Industry leaders express concern over the reliability and cost of supply chains for raw materials, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions affecting crude oil prices.