Tiruppur exporters forced to offer discounts on US knitwear shipments to avoid losses
The knitwear capital of India is grappling with unsold goods worth ₹3000 cr amid rising US tariffs
Tiruppur (Tamil Nadu): Facing the impact of a steep 50% tariff hike on apparel exports to the United States, Tiruppur's knitwear exporters have begun offering discounts to move stock and avoid mounting losses. Several manufacturing units that depend entirely on the US market have reportedly stopped production.
According to KM Subramanian, president of the Tiruppur Exporters’ Association (TEA), the absence of any positive developments has left exporters with no choice but to ship completed knitwear orders to the US at discounted prices.
“Currently, our exporters are offering discounts of 2% to 5% to US buyers and shipping orders. In addition, orders from the US are likely to be affected as US buyers are not ready to face higher import tariffs on new orders. We will meet the central government officials in this regard in a few days,” The New Indian Express quoted Subramanian as saying.
N. Thirukumaran, general secretary of TEA, said that US buyers have asked exporters to hold previously placed orders, citing the tariff hike. This has resulted in Rs 3,000 crore to Rs 4,000 crore worth of knitwear stagnating in Tiruppur, much of it custom-made for US brands and unsellable in other markets.
Thirukumaran also noted that around 30% of companies in Tiruppur export 80–100% of their output to the US, making them particularly vulnerable to the disruption.
“Currently, exporters are trying to cope, but the situation should not last. The central government should take appropriate steps, and concessional schemes should be announced for exporters. In particular, a two-year moratorium for exporters on repayment of principal amounts of bank loans must be granted, apart from a special emergency credit facility for exporters,” he added.
Local exporter P. Shanmuga Sundaram shared that he has Rs 15 lakh worth of knitwear ready for shipment, but his US-based buyer has asked him to keep the consignment on hold due to tariff uncertainty.
In the last financial year, Tiruppur exported knitwear worth Rs 44,747 crore, with the US accounting for around 35% of the total shipments.
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Flagrant injustice to underprivileged: Mehbooba on govt action against Shopian school
Srinagar (PTI): PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said declaring Dar Ul Uloom Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian an unlawful entity under the UAPA was a "flagrant injustice" to the underprivileged sections of society.
She also alleged that banning such "altruistic institutions" without any solid evidence of anti-national activity "shows a deep seated prejudice and ill intention".
The institution allegedly run by individuals affiliated with a banned organisation has been declared an "unlawful entity" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In a post on X, Mehbooba said, "Every single day the j&k government acts as a mute bystander & a timid enabler of vicious assaults on J&Ks identity & dignity. Declaring Dar Ul Uloom Jamia Siraj Ul Uloom as an unlawful entity under UAPA is a flagrant injustice to the poor underprivileged sections of society".
The former chief minister said the institution served as a "beacon of quality education" for students unable to afford expensive schooling.
"It has produced reputed doctors and professionals who served this nation with dedication. Banning these altruistic institutions without any solid evidence of anti national activity shows a deep seated prejudice & ill intention," she added.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg issued a two-page order based on the dossier presented by Senior Superintendent of Police Shopian pointing towards the alleged illegal activities at Darul Uloom Jamia Sirajul Uloom at Imam Sahib in Shopian district in south Kashmir.
According to the order issued by Garg on April 24, there were "credible inputs and evidence on record, to indicate sustained and covert linkages of the institution with Jamaat-e-Islami, which the Government of India banned in 2019.
