The Coffee Board has developed sustainability standards and is in the process of implementing the certification process, said Kurma Rao, its Chief Executive Officer and Secretary.

India, the world’s seventh-largest coffee producer and fifth-largest exporter, exported coffee worth more than $2 billion in 2025-26, with nearly 39% comprising value-added products., he said.

Indian coffee’s distinctive advantage lies in its traditional shade-grown cultivation, which the Board aims to leverage through the new sustainability standards.

“We have published the standards. We are in the process of implementing the certification and a steering committee has been formed for it,” he told The Hindu.

The certification will be done at three levels – first will be done by the Board based on self certification by the growers. The second level will involve independent third-party verification, while the third level will benchmark Indian standards against internationally recognised sustainability frameworks.

COONOOR

India is encouraging tea exports to explore new markets as shipments to Iran is hit by the war.

Amit Kumar, Joint Secretary of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, told The Hindu on Wednesday that the government is focusing on markets such as Oman that is increasing its purchase of Indian tea. “We are analysing the data. There is substantial increase in export of tea to Oman (from India).”

When asked about the increase in import of tea and the concerns raised by the planters in this regard, he said the focus is on increasing exports to diverse markets and creating new markets for the exporters.

According to data shared by the United Planters Association of Southern India, India exported 153.24 million kg of tea between January and July last year and it declined 16.11 % to 128.56 million kg between January and June this year. India imported 15.1 million kg of tea between January and June 2026 as against 10 million kg during the same period last year.

Ajoy Thipaiah, outgoing president of UPASI, said at its annual meeting at Coonoor on Wednesday, “This renewed inflow of imported tea is a matter of concern for the domestic industry and calls for appropriate remedial measures to safeguard the interests of Indian tea producers.”

Technology and institutional finance, which are accessible to small-scale growers too, in the plantation sector are critical for the sector’s growth, said Amit Kumar, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, on Wednesday (September 23).

Speaking at the annual conference of the United Planters Association of Southern India and presenting the TGLIA:STC awards at Coonoor, he said the future of the sector lies in partnership among all the stakeholders of the sector.

An eco system should be built for inclusive growth of the sector, where every kilogram of plantation produce has better value addition and is globally recognised.

The plantation sector contributes to agriculture output and export earnings, is a means of livelihood to thousands, provides raw material to multiple industries, and supports many downstream industries. Hence, it is an entire economic ecosystem, he said.

In a developed India, the plantation sector should have higher value per hectare, better technology adoption, increased exports, higher income for growers, and higher productivity. Its focus should move from commodities to value-added products.

Research in plantation sector should be connected to the farmer, who in turn should be connected to the processor. The processor should develop brands that target global consumers. “Sustainability should be part of our business model. The plantation sector should be able to produce more with less water and other natural resources,” he added.

At the annual meeting of the Association, Abhishek Poddar, managing director of Matheson Bosanquet Enterprises, has been elected president of The United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) for 2026-27.

Anil Mathew, executive director (Plantations), A V Thomas Group Companies, has been elected vice-president of UPASI for 2026-27. He has 35 years of experience across a wide range of plantations crops, including tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and pepper.

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Textile mills are witnessing a revival in cotton yarn demand, with capacity utilisation crossing 90%, but a sharp rise in cotton prices is raising concerns over the sustainability of operations.

“The demand for cotton yarn started reviving almost five months ago and currently, mills are not holding much yarn stocks,” said Durai Palanisamy, chairman of the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA).

Cotton prices have risen sharply since mid-March, with domestic prices increasingly moving in line with ICE Futures, he said, adding mills are also maintaining relatively low inventories, with most having less than two months of cotton stock.

Cotton prices, which remained in the range of ₹51,700 to ₹57,000 a candy between October last year and the end of March 2026, had climbed to ₹70,000 a candy on September 2 on an ex-gin basis.

“Various factors such as higher demand from China and lower production expected from the U.S. and China are pushing the prices up,” said Nishant Asher, secretary of Indian Cotton Federation.

The increase in raw material costs has also pushed up cotton yarn prices.

“Our cotton yarn cannot be consumed fully by the domestic apparel sector. Textile mills need to tap opportunities in the international market for viable operations. Yarn prices adjust to cotton prices. Internationally too, yarn availability is under pressure, pushing prices up,” said Ravi Sam, vice-chairman of the Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council.

Industry sources said Indian cotton prices remain lower than international prices. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), which holds a substantial quantity of cotton procured under the minimum support price (MSP) regime, should stabilise domestic cotton prices.

T

Buoyed by a positive response in Nepal, Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy said on Monday that it will launch the Ather 450X Overtones Series in the Himalayan nation.

Ather entered Nepal in November 2023 with the 450 Series, marking its first international market. Since then, the company has built out its presence across the country through 14 experience centres and 31 fast charging points via its national distributor, Vaidya Energy, the company said.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy Ltd, said, “Since we entered Nepal in 2023, we’ve seen a strong response to Ather, and that’s translated into incredible growth for us in the market. We’ve significantly expanded our footprint, built out our retail, service and charging network, and grown the portfolio.’’

With the 450X Overtones Series, the company aimed to build further momentum in exports, particularly as Nepal continued to emerge as a steadily growing market, he added.

Highlighting the continued expansion in its international presence, Ather said in Sri Lanka, the company now has 42 experience centres.

Production of cotton during the current marketing season that commenced on October 1, 2025 is estimated to be seven lakh bales less than the previous year.

The Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption that met in Mumbai on July 29 expected the production this season to be 290.24 lakh bales of 170 kg each while the production in 2024-2025 was 297.24 lakh bales. Consumption of cotton by large-scale and MSME textile mills, which are the main consumers of cotton in the country, is like to be 320 lakh bales while it was just about 306 lakh bales last season.

While cotton exports so far are six lakh bales less than the 2024-2025 season, imports are up by almost 15 lakh bales. “We expect the cotton season to end in September with nearly 60 lakh bales of import,” said chairman of the Southern India Mills’ Association Durai Palanisamy.

The next cotton season will start in October with nearly 42 lakh bales of stock, which is the lowest in the last three years. “Cotton yarn exports have crossed 100 million kg a month for the last six months. The domestic demand is also good. Hence, the demand for cotton will continue to grow,” said Mr. Palanisamy.

The Cotton Association of India is of the view that total cotton production, including imports, will be 337 lakh bales. There is an improvement in yield, it said.

However, the trade and industry have expressed concern over the decline in area under cotton for the next season. The progress of cotton production will depend on the monsoon rains, they said.

The Union government has set a target of $21 billion worth textile and apparel exports from Tamil Nadu by 2030, said T.N. Venkatesh, Principal Secretary, Department of Handlooms, Textiles, Khadi, and Handicrafts, Tamil Nadu, in Tiruppur on Sunday (June 28, 2026).

India is expected to achieve $100 billion export of textiles and apparel by 2030 and Tamil Nadu’s contribution will be one-fifth, and Tiruppur cluster alone would contribute nearly $11.5 billion. “This will be easy to achieve with the investments in research and development and free trade agreements,” he said.

One of the main demands of the Tiruppur garment industry was hostels for the women workers. The Tamil Nadu government has allocated ₹1,250 crore to construct “Thozhi hostels” in industrial clusters, and hostels for women workers in Tiruppur will be constructed under this scheme. A Centre of Excellence for athleisure (athletic wear) will also be set up in Tiruppur, Mr. Venkatesh said.

Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh told the garment exporters at the meeting organised by the Tiruppur Exporters Association that annual exports of textiles and apparel hit the $44 billion mark only once since 1998. It is now at $38 billion and the target is $100 billion by 2030.

India has a free trade agreement with Japan. But, its exports to Japan are not much. Garment exporters need to diversify at least 20% of their exports to new markets, he said.

With the shrimp prices falling in the market due to the impact of US-Israel-Iran war, which is causing huge losses for the aqua farmers, the latter are selling their produce in local shandies at lower prices.

Many aqua farmers and fishermen were seen selling shrimp and fish on the roadsides to prevent losses. A couple, Kumba Venkatesh and his wife, Kondalamma, were seen selling 10-count prawns (10 prawns per kg) on Vijayawada outskirts on Saturday. “We sold the large-sized shrimp at ₹400 per kg. In fact, 20-30 count prawns are being sold at ₹450 to ₹500 in the market. As exports have dropped, the prices of fish and shrimp have decreased in the domestic market,” Ms. Kondalamma told The Hindu.

According to shrimp farmers, good quality shrimp of a large size (10-20 count) and crab raised in Andhra Pradesh are in high demand in Vietnam, Thailand, China, and other markets.

Meanwhile, many farmers were seen selling their produce on the roadsides, particularly during the weekends, at Eluru, Gudivada, Kaikaluru, Machilipatnam, Avanigadda and other places to overcome the losses. “Catla (Bocha in Telugu) Common Carp (Bangaru Teega), Rohu (Seelavathi), Grass Carp (Gaddi Chepa) and other varieties are being sold at ₹200 to ₹300 per kg,” said a fish vendor Lakshman.

Shipments to the Middle East and other countries were disrupted as the crude oil prices rose globally, increasing freight expenses, which directly impacted seafood exports for the last few months.

Shrimp and fish farmers are the worst-affected in A.P., which contributes about 35% of the total marine exports from the country. Besides, some lakhs of stakeholders in aquaculture have reportedly suffered losses in the State.

In a major overhaul of trade policy, resource-rich Indonesia announced that key commodities can soon only be exported via a state-run agency. Speaking to Parliament on May 20, President Prabowo Subianto said the Government Regulation on Natural Resource Commodity Export Governance, as the measure is called, would mean that the Indonesian Government will be the sole exporter of natural resource products, beginning with palm oil, coal and ferro alloys.

The new policy requires the resource producers to sell their commodities to PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia, a state-run agency under the sovereign wealth fund Danantara. From here, the agency will engage in transactions with foreign buyers, eradicating direct sales between private resource companies and international buyers.

“This policy will optimise tax revenue and state revenue over the management and sale of our natural resources,” Mr. Prabowo said. Analysts say the announcement signals a major tightening of the government’s grip over the Indonesian economy. Indonesia is the world’s biggest producer and exporter of palm oil and thermal coal, and a major source of nickel. The move has sent commodities markets into a frenzy, with experts warning that its impact will be felt globally. The centralisation is set to come into effect by September, with a transition period of at least three months beginning in June. Details of the plan including the legislation and members of the agency are yet to be announced.

In his address, Mr. Prabowo said Indonesia had lost over $900 billion in revenue over the past 34 years because of fraud and under-invoicing. The new mandate would give the state control over the tax revenue and pricing, while strengthening overall oversight to to minimise revenue leaks. Despite being resource-rich, Indonesia has struggled to convert that wealth into consistent economic growth, with state revenue-to-GDP at around 12%, whereas the Asia-Pacific average is 19.5%, and the OECD average is 33.9%. Increasing tax revenue and plugging leaks allows for investment into the country’s development goals and supports its reserves, which have taken a hit due to energy shocks from the war in West Asia. The plan’s State controlled pricing would also ensure fair transfer pricings. “If they don’t support our price, then they don’t have to buy it. We can use it ourselves,” Mr. Prabowo said.

Market response

Following Mr. Prabowo’s announcement, Indonesian stocks dropped to the lowest in over a year. The Jakarta Composite Index fell by 2.4% on May 20, with major declines in energy and mining firms.

Traders and buyers are still understanding the impact of the decision and how the immediate changes will unfold. The commodities in question are vital to daily life and found in products globally. Palm oil is used globally in everything from processed foods to cosmetics, and half of the world’s thermal coal exports in 2025 came from Indonesia, with China, India, Vietnam and the Philippines being the top importers. Shortages in LNG supply because of the standstill in Iran is further pushing Asian nations, like Japan and South Korea, to lean on coal to fill energy gaps. Fears around the new regulations are leading to private companies selling the resources, like palm oil, in bulk and at discounts, with India and Malaysia among the buyers.China, in particular, is a major buyer of Indonesian nickel pig iron, a cheap alternative that is used in stainless steel production. The mineral is also a key material used in electric vehicle manufacturing. Experts say that the Asian superpower, which has come to rely heavily on Indonesia for its critical minerals, is monitoring the situation closely. Ahead of Mr. Prabowo’s announcement, the China Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, a group representing Chinese companies, wrote a five-page letter to the President, regarding their fears over the rise in “excessively stringent regulation, over-enforcement and even corruption and extortion by competent authorities.”

Concerns over the centralisation

In 2020, the then administration suddenly and immediately banned the export of raw nickel ore. The move intended to force global companies to invest in Indonesian nickel processing plants, thereby increasing the value of exports and bringing more revenue into the country. It was this move that led to Indonesia’s nickel dominance. Last year, Jakarta created Danantara, the country’s second sovereign wealth fund. The fund has become an instrumental part of Indonesia’s economic policy. However, it has done little to soothe investors about its commitment and staying power, especially in the face of political uncertainty and corruption risks.

Similar worries have been raised now. Private companies are expected to be hit hardest, as the state-run agency monopolises their role. Many also worry about how this will affect existing contracts and any limitations this will cause on Indonesia’s access to the global market.

With the U.S. tariffs hitting hard, apparel and textile exports saw a 12.91% slump in October compared with last October.

While textile shipments last month were worth $1,597 million, apparel exports were $1,069.42 million, as against $1,833 million (textiles) and $1,227 million (apparel) in October 2024.

Exports of jute and carpets dropped 27.27% and 15.8% respectively, and cotton yarn, fabrics, and made-ups went down 13.31%.

“Many buyers in the U.S. who were placing orders with us regularly are still doing so. But, we are supplying at heavy discounts,” said A. Sakthivel, vice chairman of the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC).

The garment exporters got the spring season orders. But the summer orders are slow. Things may improve with a bilateral trade agreement expected soon and the support measures announced by the Indian government, said Mithileshwar Thankur, secretary general of the AEPC.

The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council Executive Director Siddhartha Rajagopal said yarn exports to China did see a slight improvement. But supplies to other markets slumped. Fabric movement is also sluggish. Exporters were earlier front-loading the goods, and hence there was a good movement in August-September. They are offering 15% to 25% discount now to the U.S. buyers. “One season is gone. In markets other than the U.S., the competition is high,” he said.

He urged the Central government to look at the textile industry as one integrated value chain and offer financial support to the entire value chain.

Meanwhile, in a notification issued on Tuesday (November 18, 2025), the Union Ministry of Textiles rescinded the order issued on December 29, 2022, thus removing the Quality Control Order on viscose staple fibres.

Removal of the QCO will strengthen the manmade fibre ecosystem and benefit the industry in the long-run. The tariff issue should be resolved to address the current challenges, said Durai Palanisamy, chairman of the Southern India Mills’ Association.

Viscose staple fibre and several speciality fibres within this order are critical inputs for several value-added garments and made-ups. Revoking the QCO for viscose fibres and polyester yarn and fibres will address the price and availability concerns raised by the users of these raw materials in the MMF segment. This measure will contribute significantly to raising the competitiveness of the Indian textile and apparel sector, said Ashwin Chandran, chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry.

The Textile Ministry also said on Tuesday (November 18) that 17 new applications for a cumulative investment of ₹2,374 crore were approved under the Production Linked Incentive Scheme, round three. The proposed projects are expected to achieve projected sales of over ₹12,893 crore and generate employment for about 22,646 persons in the coming years.

The PLI Scheme for Textiles was notified on September 24, 2021, with an approved outlay of ₹10,683 crore to promote the production of MMF apparel and fabrics, and products of technical textiles.