India lifts ban on cotton exports

The Indian government has lifted the ban on cotton exports, said Commerce Secretary - Rahul Khullar on Monday.

The ban on cotton exports imposed by the Indian government has been lifted within a week after it was announced on March 5.

A formal announcement in this regard will be made by the Commerce Ministry on March 12.

The decision came following large scale protests from ginners in Gujarat and other political parties.

Meanwhile, the ginners of Gujarat who had given a call for an indefinite strike have now withdrawn their strike call and will resume normal operations from March 5.

The ban on cotton exports was imposed as a precautionary measure on apprehension of a likely shortage in domestic markets, the Textiles Secretary had said earlier.

Cotton exports in the current season has already topped 9.5 million bales (1 bale = 170 kgs), and export registration contracts too have touched the 12 million bales mark.