Indian cotton prices gain on monsoon delay, spike in global rates

The rise in international futures coupled with delay in progress of monsoon to Central India has boosted the sentiment in cotton with prices witnessing an increase over the past few days, stakeholders said.

Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) prices were cumulatively up by about ₹1100 per candy (356 kg) over the past few days.

As per the latest data from the Agriculture Ministry, the cotton sowing is down by about 25 per cent at 17.13 lakh hectares (lh) as of June 19 over 22.82 lh a year ago, with weak progress of monsoon, delaying the sowing.

Atul Ganatra, chairman of Crop Committee at Cotton Association of India (CAI), attributed the price increase mainly to the firming trend in international futures. “The ICE Dec Futures has gone up from 75 cents per pound to 80 cents per pound,” he said.

The ICE Futures for July are hovering around 76.05 US cents per pound, while ICE December Futures are hovering around 79.67 cents per pound.

“Delay in monsoon arrival is the main reason for prices firming up” said Arun Khetan, a broker in Akola. In Vidarbha, a key cotton growing region, sowing is yet to start although a few people with access to drip irrigation have taken up sowing, he said.

“The cotton sowing can be taken up till July 15 in the region, while the overall expectation this year is that there could be a 10 per cent increase in area,” Khetan said.

Ramanuj Das Boob, a sourcing agent in Raichur said ICE Futures and the uncertainty over progress of monsoon and its impact on sowing has led to the firming trend in prices. While cotton prices have moved up, there is no corresponding increase in the yarn prices, he said.

Over the past few days, CCI has seen good demand for its cotton, and some 7 lakh bales have been sold last week, Das Boob said. The multinational companies are selling at a higher price of around Rs 1,000 per candy over the CCI price, while the resellers are quoting at Rs 300-500 higher than CCI, he said. CCI prices are hovering around ₹62,500-63,200 per candy (356 kg).

Anand Popat of CotYarn Tradelink LLP estimates stocks at around 182.50 lakh bales of 170 kg each with spinners having 94 lakh bales, CCI having an unsold stock of 25.50 lakh bales and stocks with MCX, ginners and traders at 63 lakh bales.

“In India, the physical cotton prices strengthened in line with the rise in international futures. Strong sales of CCI cotton indicate active buying interest from spinning mills. Daily arrivals continued to decline as the marketing season approaches its final phase, while the unsold CCI stocks reduced further to approximately 25.50 lakh bales. Tightening availability of quality cotton and sustained mill demand continue to support domestic prices,” Popat said in his weekly note CotYarn.