Garments makers to protest against rising cotton prices

Protesting against rising prices of cotton and cotton yarn, the apparel industry will keep its operations shut tomorrow, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has said.

"The entire apparel industry in the country will keep its operations shut tomorrow in protest against continuous rise in cotton yarn prices which has risen by over 30 per cent in the last two months," AEPC Chairman Premal Udani said in a statement here.

The industry wants the government to ban cotton yarn exports immediately to ensure its availability at reasonable prices in the domestic market, he said.

The industry, which employs about 7 million workers, has been reeling under pressure in the wake of steep rise in cotton yarn prices, which rose by Rs 55 per kg to Rs 240 per kg in the last two months.

The size of the country's textiles industry is estimated at $63 billion.

Garments exports alone account for about $11 billion.

Most of such units are located in Tirupur, Panipat and Ludhiana.