CCI rules out possibility of buying cotton this season

03 Mar 2012 Evaluate

The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has ruled out the possibility of intervening in the market this season given the higher price of cotton than its Minimum Support Price (MSP). The price of the natural fibre is currently 10% above its MSP.

CCI usually intervenes on the government's behalf when market prices are below MSP. But cotton prices are now quoting Rs 700-800 per quintal more than the MSP. The CCI, which procured 13 lakh bales in the 2010-11 cotton season (Oct-Sep) has so far purchased less than one lakh bales. The higher price of cotton has been attributed to the slow pace of its arrival in the market as compared to last year.

Domestic market supply saw a decline of 4% to 223.43 lakh bales (of 170 kg each) as on February 26, against 233.84 lakh bales that arrived for sale during the same period last year, data put out by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) showed. Although supplies in February showed an increased, recovering from a 14% fall until January-end, they were cumulatively lower compared with the previous year. The marketing year for the crop runs from October to September.

Cotton mills too haven’t buying too much cotton despite declining arrivals due to the tight liquidity situation. Usually mills maintain four to six months' inventory but it has now dwindled to two months due to erosion in working capital. Textile mills on their part have urged the government to empower CCI to play a larger role in stabilizing the volatile cotton prices.

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