Demand for US cotton grows

COIMBATORE: As part of its efforts to enhance the export of PIMA extra long staple (ELS) cotton to India, Mark A Lewkowitz, Executive Vice-President, SUPIMA Association, USA, held an interactive session with captains of the textile industry in the region.

With India importing about 95,000 bales (480 lbs) of PIMA ELS last year, the association expected the import to grow by 15 to 20 per cent this year, Mark said while explaining about the licencing programmes to expand the business worldwide.

Saying that currently there were 295 licencees in 26 Nations to use Supima and its brand, including 31 in India, Mark said that his country produced 7.6 lakh bales of PIMA cotton during this year as against 7.3 lakh bales last year.

The production, he said, is expected to touch eight lakh bales during this season, with world ELS production expected to reach 3.52 million bales, from 3.39 million last year.

Members from the Southern India Mills' Association and South India Cotton Association, attended the session yesterday, where Mark discussed the crop prospects and clarified the enquiries on Supima and licenging programme.

He would hold a meeting with managements of textile mills in Chennai and Madurai in Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, Mark said.