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Australia shipped to India 10 % of the cotton it produced in 2024, which is higher than the previous years, said Cliff White, representing the Australian Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA).
Mr. White told The Hindu on Wednesday that Australia, which harvests and markets cotton from April to December, shipped 130 tonnes to India in 2024. Under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, India buys 51,000 tonnes of cotton duty free every year from Australia. In 2024, the total volume was 130 tonnes, which is 10 % of the 1.2 million tonnes of cotton Australia produces annually and a substantial quantity that attracted 11 % import duty in India.
The Indian imports of cotton from Australia is expected to go up and the ACSA will sign an agreement with the Cotton Association of India on Friday in Mumbai.
On enquiries for the current cotton season (2025), Mr. White said spinners were cautious world over because of the global situation.
They want to wait and watch. The ICE Futures price for July is close to 70 cents a pound and the price movement will depend on US and Brazil production, he said.
Australia produces cotton under strict environmental conditions. It has a “My Best Management Practices” programme for the last 30 years and plans to promote it internationally so that countries coming out with sustainability and traceability norms will have the required documents on Australian cotton. “The industry is discussing it,” he said.
Published – April 02, 2025 08:45 pm IST
