Cotton yarn demand sluggish as polyester gains in north India

The Ludhiana market witnessed average demand for cotton yarn, with no significant price movement. A local trader told Fibre2Fashion, “The downstream industry is facing a cash crunch and labour shortages. Weaving units are cautious in their purchases and are increasingly interested in polyester or blended yarn for fabric production.”

In Ludhiana, 30 count cotton combed yarn was sold at ₹258-268 (~$3.01-3.13) per kg (inclusive of GST); 20 and 25 count combed yarn were traded at ₹248-258 (~$2.90-3.01) per kg and ₹253-263 (~$2.96-3.07) per kg, respectively; and carded yarn of 30 count was noted at ₹238-243 (~$2.78-2.84) per kg today, according to trade sources.

The Delhi market also reported weak demand for cotton yarn. Spinning mills are reluctant to lower prices as they have ongoing export orders and show limited interest in domestic sales. Meanwhile, polyester yarn continues to see strong demand. Trade sources noted that weaving units are more inclined towards polyester fabric, which is cheaper and more attractive to both buyers and manufacturers.

In Delhi, 30 count combed knitting yarn was traded at ₹260-261 (~$3.04-3.05) per kg (GST extra), 40 count combed at ₹285-286 (~$3.33-3.34) per kg, 30 count carded at ₹234-236 (~$2.73-2.76) per kg, and 40 count carded at ₹259-261 (~$3.03-3.05) per kg today.

In Panipat, finer counts of recycled yarn saw a price increase of ₹2–3 per kg over the past week, driven by seasonal demand. However, coarse counts of recycled yarn and raw materials like recycled polyester fibre and cotton comber remained stable. Trade sources noted that the summer season is driving demand for finer recycled yarns, and this trend may continue for a few more weeks. Consumers in north Indian states typically prefer finer bed sheets during periods of extreme heat and humidity.

In Panipat, 10s recycled PC yarn (Grey) was traded at ₹75-78 (~$0.88-0.91) per kg (GST paid). Other varieties and counts were noted at 10s recycled PC yarn (Black) at ₹52-55 (~$0.61-0.64) per kg, 20s recycled PC yarn (Grey) at ₹101-103 (~$1.18-1.20) per kg and 30s recycled PC yarn (Grey) at ₹130-135 (~$1.52-1.58) per kg. Cotton comber prices were noted at ₹100-103 (~$1.17-1.20) per kg and recycled polyester fibre (PET bottle fibre) at ₹74-79 (~$0.86-0.92) per kg today.

In north India, cotton prices edged up slightly despite thin trading activity. Prices rose by ₹10 per maund (37.2 kg) in Rajasthan and Haryana. On Wednesday, ICE cotton futures declined due to concerns over global demand. Traders said that a textile group based in Rajasthan made significant purchases at slightly higher prices, which supported local rates. Nevertheless, market sentiment remained weak due to slow procurement from spinning mills.

North India’s total cotton arrivals were 700 bales (170 kg each), comprising 500 bales in Haryana and 200 in upper Rajasthan. No fresh arrivals were reported from lower Rajasthan or Punjab. Cotton prices ranged from ₹5,700 to ₹5,710 (~$66.60–66.71) per maund in Punjab, ₹5,520–5,580 (~$64.49–65.19) in Haryana, and ₹5,690–5,760 (~$66.48–67.30) in upper Rajasthan. In lower Rajasthan, prices stood at ₹53,200–₹54,700 (~$620.39–639.09) per candy of 356 kg.

Disclaimer: The prices in this article are based on market sources and hence, readers are recommended to do their own research before making any decision. The publisher and their affiliates are not liable for any inaccuracies or actions taken based on this information.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)