(RTTNews) - Southern India Mill Association (SIMA) appealed to the Government to immediately ban cotton export and stop registering any cotton for export in view of the current tough scenario that the textile industry faces, reported the media.

SIMA Chairman J Thulasidara, in a statement said that the monsoon failure and floods in a few cotton growing states have impacted cotton production. He said that the actual production will be only around 260-lakh bales compared to 290-lakh bales produced last year. He added that, of the total cotton production, only 150 lakh to 160 lakh bales would be of good quality.

He further added that the domestic industry need 240-lakh bales of cotton. He warned that if cotton gets exported, the domestic industry will get only sub-standard and poor quality cotton and will be compelled to pay higher price. Moreover, the country has to depend on imported cotton to meet the customer needs.

Thulasidara also pointed out that the cotton prices would normally come down by at least Rs.1,000 to Rs.1,500 per candy in Oct-Nov. in comparison to September, but this time it has increased by almost Rs.2,000 per candy compared to September prices. The prices of standard varieties like Shankar-6 have already exceeded Rs 25,000 per candy as against Rs 22,600 prevailing in September, he added.

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