The import of raw cotton into the country has been temporarily banned by Egypt to stop the domestic prices from further declining. The ban would be effective until the local crop gets sold.
Farmers in Egypt grew more cotton this year as they reaped good prices last season. However, prices in the domestic market have fallen this season in comparison to last year's prices and cotton growers are facing problems in stocking their produce.
At present, the price of imported cotton is about EGP 1,500 per qintar (1 qintar = 160 kg) of cotton, while farmers are asking a price of EGP 1,700 per qintar to sell their produce.
Egypt's domestic cotton production this season is estimated to be about 3.7 million qintars. As the country is likely to export nearly 2 million qintars, only 1.7 million qintars will be left for domestic use. This quantity would not be sufficient to meet the demand of local textile industry and hence the ban on import of raw cotton is not expected to last long.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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