Yarn merchants protest export of raw cotton

: Three thousand-odd textile shops and yarn merchants today downed shutters here, a major textile hub, protesting the increase in yarn prices and demanding a ban on cotton exports.
The closure was in response to the call given by ten textile and yarn merchants associations to urge the Central government to stop export of raw cotton, which they claimed has led to an increase in yarn prices.
Association office-bearers said yarn prices had increased by 30 per cent in the last one month resulting in higher production cost.
They claimed the loss of business due to closure of shops was estimated to be Rs 15 crore.