The Egyptian Cotton Yarn Exports to US Market Is Threatend By The Lack of Egyptian Cotton Fiber
Egypt is the 4th largest supplier to the US market with its share of 8% in the entire volume of US imports of cotton yarn, and 10% share of its value imports in 2003. Pakistan is the largest exporter of cotton yarns to the US and it represents around 27% of US cotton yarn imports. The exports of Pakistan of cotton…
Egytex News Desk
Egytex
Meanwhile, Egypt cotton yarn unit value exports to the US market is ranked 2nd after Italian cotton yarn unit value prices which reflects the quality of Egyptian cotton. Although demand in the US market for Egyptian cotton yarn lately has shifted towards lower count yarns, but US importers are interested in high quality Egyptian cotton yarn for their home textile products such as terry towels and bed sheets.
The Egyptian combed yarn exports to the US market during 2003 have increased dramatically by 168% compared with 2002 as it reached more than 3,300 tons. The annual US imports of combed cotton yarn in 2003 were 45,000 Tons and 81,000 Tons of carded cotton yarn. The latest surge in US imports of combed cotton yarn is probably due to the closures of US spinning capacities after the recent increase in cotton prices, while US demand for quality yarns remained relatively stable.
Egypt exports to the US market is mainly carded cotton yarn as it represented 75% of its exports to the US market during 2003, while it represented more than 85% in 2002.
The Egyptian cotton yarn exports to the US market is threatend by the lack Egyptian cotton fibers to the Egyptian spinning mills due to the low cotton crop during this season and the non existance of Egyptian cotton fiber carry overs from previous years since it has been exported in the season 2002/2003.
The Egyptian Government has confirmed that this situation will not occur again in the fiuture during the "Cotton Cultivation & Egyptian Textile Industry by 2005; Challenges & prospects" conference that was held on 17th of February, 2004. Also, there will be srategic reserve of Egyptian cotton fibers to secure the demand of Egyptian spinning mills in the coming seasons.
The cultivation area will be increased by 750,000 feddans in the next season which represent 36% increase over the last year Egyptian cotton cultivated area.
(1 Feddan = 4,200 meters)
From the Egytex news archive, first published on 19 February 2004. Figures and names are as reported at the time.
