Tamil Nadu Exports Hit 60-Crore Daily Loss as US Tariffs Persist
Tamil Nadu Exports Hit 60-Crore Daily Loss as US Tariffs Persist
Tamil Nadu appeals to PM Modi to resolve US tariffs, detailing ₹60 crore daily losses in textiles and leather as Tiruppur exporters struggle and orders dry up.
Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has pressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a quick resolution to the United States’ 50% tariffs on Indian exports. In a detailed letter, he outlined the scale of the impact, noting a combined daily revenue loss of about ₹60 crore across exporters in Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Erode, and Karur districts. He highlighted that Tamil Nadu is the backbone of India’s textile and apparel exports, accounting for 28% of the country’s textile exports and employing around 75 lakh workers. The state also contributes nearly 40% of India’s leather and footwear exports, employing more than 10 lakh workers. Stalin described the current trade stalemate as not just an economic setback but a looming humanitarian challenge that threatens livelihoods.
In Tiruppur—the Knitwear Capital of India—exporters report a wipeout of ₹15,000 crore in confirmed orders, along with production cuts of up to 30% across units. New orders are drying up at an alarming rate, pushing many small and medium enterprises toward the brink. Tariffs have squeezed margins, forcing exporters to offer deep discounts just to retain clients, eroding long-term viability of several outfits and clusters.
Stalin’s letter frames the tariff issue as an urgent matter requiring swift action from the central government. He emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s export sectors are integral to India’s economic growth and that a protracted trade dispute could ripple across allied industries and regional employment. The state government plans to continue pressing for relief or a viable workaround that preserves market access while negotiations proceed.
Beyond Tiruppur, other affected clusters are feeling the pressure of lost demand and uncertain futures. Exporters in leather and footwear hubs in Vellore, Ranipet, and Tirupattur report similar strains as confidence wanes and orders remain scarce, underscoring the broad regional stakes of the tariff clash.
