China Cotton Commercial Stock Monthly Report – August, 2012

In August, domestic cotton spot price kept increasing moderately and the market was still sluggish. Commercial cotton stock reduced over last month, though still much higher than the ending month of last season, largely attributed by import cotton. Xinjiang cotton transport has ended for this season, and daily wagon was 140 in August.

According to survey to 123 warehouses done by CCA cotton warehousing branch, by the end of August, commercial cotton carryover stock was 498,000 ton, including 439,000 ton inland stock and 59,000 ton Xinjiang stock. The running total reduced by 221,000 ton over the month, while increased by 90,000 ton compared with the same month last year. Among the commercial stock, there are 291,000 ton of Xinjiang cotton, 106,000 ton of inland cotton, and 101,000 ton of import cotton. Calculation based on this is that the national commercial carryover stock is 610,000 ton, 261,200 ton less than last month. During August, Xinjiang cotton transported via 22 transfer stations was 23,000 ton, 66,000 ton less over the month, and 43,000 ton less on Y/Y level. According to the 22 transfer stations, during the 2011/12 season (September, 2011 to August, 2012) the running total of transported cotton via railway from Xinjiang was 1,637,000 ton.

1. Inland commercial carryover stocksBy the end of August, commercial cotton carryover stock in 101 warehouses was 439,000 ton, 134,000 ton less over the month, while 102,000 ton more than last August. The inland stock includes 234,000 ton from Xinjiang, and 106,000 ton from inland, and 99,000 ton of import cotton.

As for the distribution of inland stocks, Shandong and Jiangsu provinces still have the largest shares, about more than half of the national total, then followed by Henan, Hebei and Hubei provinces. Among these, Shandong has 22%, 12% less over the month, Jiangsu increased by 10% over the month to 30%. Henan was 14%, 4% up over the month; Hubei was 9%, unchanged; Hebei was 7%, 2% less over the month; Anhui was 3% and Hunan was 1%, both unchanged.

2. Xinjiang commercial carryover stocks By the end of August, the carryover stock in 22 warehouses in Xinjiang was 59,000 ton, 87,000 ton less over the month, while 12,000 ton less than last August. Among these, 57,000 ton was Xinjiang cotton and 2,000 ton import cotton. In August, the actual daily wagons for Xinjiang cotton transport was 140, including 17 wagons of commercial cotton, and 123 wagons of reserve cotton. For this month, commercial cotton transported via railway was 23,000 ton, 66,000 ton less over the month, while 43,000 ton less than last August. Calculation based on this was 5,000 ton Xinjiang cotton still on the way by the end of August.