April 10, 2012

Bangladeshi cotton imports seen to drop

In MY 2011/12, the raw cotton imports of Bangladesh are forecast at 3.25 million bales, 12% lower from the MY 2010/11 import level.

Many Bangladeshi buyers are currently facing contract payment problems, however as the trade situation is expected to improve, MY 2012/13 imports are forecast to increase to 3.6 million bales. Last year, the US market share in Bangladesh raw cotton imports grew was around 12%, largely due to strong demand from new generation spinning mills.

Assuming normal monsoon conditions, MY 2012/13 domestic cotton production is forecast at 120,000 Bangladeshi (400 lbs) bales (21,818 tonnes) from 40,000 hectares.

MY 2011/12 cotton production is estimated at 95,000 Bangladeshi bales (17,273 tonnes), harvested from 36,000 hectares. Of this amount, 87,000 bales were medium staple American variety and 8,000 bales of short staple up-land cotton (locally called "Comilla" cotton).

A lack of short duration, high yielding, and pest tolerant cotton seed severely constrains the expansion of cotton acreage in Bangladesh.

Cotton cultivation is very susceptible to excessive rainfall/floods and pest infestations. However, during the last several seasons, cotton crops in Bangladesh benefitted from favourable weather conditions during the critical growing period (July to December).