Cotton export begins 2018-19 with a bang, Bangladesh tops
Cotton export extended its elevated trend which ended the 2017-18 marketing year (Oct-Sept) with total shipment of 8.70 million bales (148 million kgs). Cotton export opened 2018-19 with shipment of 3.68 lakh bales (170 kg each) as against 0.89 lakh bales exported in the same month in previous marketing year. Thus, shipment jumped three times YoY.
Bangladesh was the largest importer of Indian cotton in October, followed by Pakistan and China. Vietnam was the fourth largest importer, followed by Indonesia. These top five importers accounted for 95% of total shipment during the month, while 12 other countries accounted for the rest. Pakistan had not imported any cotton from India in previous 2017. Thus, it was additional importer this year.
Cotton export unit prices realisation averaged INR133 per kg or US cents 82.79 per pound. Domestic spot prices were at US cents 80.40 per pound while global spot benchmark, the Cotlook ‘A’ index for October averaged US cents 86.83 per pound.
Realisation lowest from Vietnam
A noticeable difference was seen in unit prices realization this October among top five importers. Vietnam averaged the lowest at US cents 71.24 per pound while for Bangladesh it was US cents 85.91 per pound. Deciphering the type cotton they imported, the major type was of cotton length in the range of 28.5-34.5mm, although at only 30,000 bales by Vietnam, while Bangladesh’s major import was also of the same length. For the same length in realization from the former was US cents 72.21 per pound and US cents 85.89 per pound for the latter. The same length size fetched US cents 81.95 from Pakistan, US cents 81.85 from China and US cents 80.71 from Indonesia.
(Textile Beacon’s Fibre to Yarn Export Statistics – India covers monthly shipment of all kinds of fibres, spun yarns and filament yarns from Indian ports. It covers natural and manmade fibres, spun yarns of cotton, viscose, polyester, acrylic, and their blends, filament yarns of polyester, nylon, polypropylene and viscose. Three key variables, namely – Volume, value and unit price realization, are analysed by counts and markets.)
