If the industry body Cotton Association of India (CAI) is to be believed, cotton exports, in the 2018-19 marketing year, are expected to jump 43 per cent to 10 million bales (of 170 kg each) on strong overseas demand, especially from China.
Cotton shipments are likely to cross 7 million bales in the ongoing 2017-18 marketing year (October-September). Already, 6.2 million bales have been exported till May 2018, CAI said.
CAI said that the total cotton exports to China could increase to 30-40 lakh bales in the next marketing year from 10 lakh bales this year as the crop in the neighbouring country is pegged lower and its buffer stock was also getting exhausted.
Of India’s total cotton shipment of 6.2 million bales till May of this marketing year, 20 lakh bales have been exported to Bangladesh; 10 lakh bales to China; 12-13 lakh bales to Vietnam; 11-12 lakh bales to Pakistan; 7-8 lakh bales to Indonesia and the rest to Sri Lanka and others.
