Raw Cotton Prices Decline By 19.54% In 1996-97

The prices for all commodities went up by 6.39 per cent during 1996-97 fiscal year, while the prices of raw cotton and other cotton goods declined during the period, a statistics prepared by the industry reveals. In fact, the prices of raw cotton slipped by 19.54 per cent during 1996-97 as compared with the prices in 1995-96, as per the data.

But thanks to spurt in prices during 1993-94 and 1994-95, raw cotton prices have gone up by 27.31 per cent since liberalisation in 1991. Like raw cotton, the prices of cotton yarn declined by 5.27 per cent during 1995-96, cotton hank yarn by 2.70 per cent and cone yarn by 8.70 per cent.

 

As against the decline of these cotton products during the previous fiscal year, cotton yarn prices went up by 60.42 per cent since 1991-92, cotton hank yarn by 63.94 per cent and cone yarn by 57.05 per cent, it said.

However, in the case of mill-made cotton cloth, the prices increased by 8.54 per cent during 1995-96, while in the case of powerloom cotton cloth there was practically no change.

Besides, the data reveals a negative increase in prices of cotton handloom cloth, though its prices since 1991-92 have almost doubled.

The prices of mill-made cotton cloth increased by 76.06 per cent during 1995-96, while that of powerloom cotton cloth went up by 28.68 per cent.

In 1995-96, cotton hosiery prices went up marginally by 0.25 per cent, while cotton textiles prices registered an increase of 2.72 per cent.

As against this, the increase in cotton hosiery prices since 1991-92 was negligible, but cotton textiles prices during the period have gone up by 67.93 per cent.

Prices of khadi cloth increased by 2.94 per cent during 1996-97 since 1991-92, while khadi cloth prices registered an increase of 204.58 per cent.

In contrast, the prices of man-made textiles have increased by 3.97 per cent during 1995-96 and since 1991-92 they have gone by 34.93 per cent only.

Even the prices of dye-stuff used by the industry decreased by 1.25 per cent. Since 1995-96, their prices have increased by 32.34 per cent.

However, in view of the shortage of quality cotton, the prices of cotton have increased by at least 10 per cent during the last two months.

According to industry sources, the prices are likely to remain firm during the next crop year (Oct 1997-Sept 1998) since the prices have already hit the lowest mark.