A nation-wide truckers’ strike entered its seventh day on Thursday, the disruption in movement of commodities is hurting cotton trade and grains and vegetables, officials said.

Truckers’ body All India Motor Transport Congress began an indefinite strike on July 20 demanding reduction in central and state taxes on diesel by bringing the fuel under the GST ambit. “The shipment of cotton has stopped, leading to non-fulfilment of obligations by the exporters, resulting in order cancellation and delayed shipment,” said Atul Ganatra, president of the Cotton Association of India.

“Cotton ginning factories are on the verge of closure because of the lack of raw material,” said Ganatra. China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Pakistan are the main buyers of Indian cotton.

Supply of vegetables like onions and potatoes has fallen in big cities, including Mumbai and Delhi.

Some vegetables such as potatoes have become costlier, but the rise is modest for now as traders have left-over stock.

Exporters in the southern region said goods worth over Rs 5,000 crore are stuck at factories. A Sakthivel, regional chairman, Federation of  Indian Export Organisations, said, “We are no able to deliver products on time and delay of two to three days will result in losing business. In the case of many products, including textiles, buyers have to option to move to competing countries.”