‘Duty waiver shields industries amid Middle East disruptions’

ANI

New Delhi

Industry leaders have welcomed the Centre’s decision to grant full customs duty exemption on critical petrochemical products, calling it a timely step to stabilise supply chains amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.

The exemption, valid until June 30, 2026, aims to ease cost pressures across key sectors including pharmaceuticals, textiles, automotive and speciality chemicals. The move comes as disruptions in the Middle East continue to impact global logistics, energy prices and input availability. Experts said the decision would help cushion domestic manufacturing from rising freight and raw material costs. Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, noted that the crisis has significantly affected supply chains, particularly energy and delivery timelines. 

 He added that government intervention would help ensure availability of medicines and support healthcare security.Viranchi Shah, National President of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association, said the measure would support affordable medicine availability across the country. Namit Joshi, Chairman of Pharmexil, described it as a forward-looking step that would stabilise prices and benefit manufacturers as well as consumers.

 The textile sector, heavily dependent on petrochemical-based inputs, also expects relief. Siddhartha Rajagopal of the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council said the waiver would help stabilise input costs, maintain supply continuity and support competitiveness, especially for small and medium enterprises. Automotive and speciality chemical industries also anticipate improved stability. Saharsh Damani of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations said the move could reduce disruption risks for auto components reliant on plastics and polymers.