Cotton arrival estimated at 256 lakh bales in 2006-07

Coimbatore: Total arrivals of cotton so far (for the second week of May) in the 2006-07 season (Oct-Sept) is pegged at 256 lakh bales on all-India basis as compared to the 222 lakh bales recorded for the same period during last year. According to the South India cotton Association (SICA) sources, Gujarat, whose total production for the current season is estimated to reach 10 million bales, is reported to have moved out close to 90 lakh bales, with only another 10 lakh bales still remaining with the farmers. SICA sources maintained that the market appeared firm price-wise despite the sluggishness prevailing in trade enquiries both in local market and exports. The trade has discounted scope for any easy price tendency as the cotton farmers remained reluctant on liquidating their stocks.