Page 25 - February-March-2019
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 Egypt's cotton exports   Cotton arrival shows 6.8pc decrease




 up 45% in Q1 2018-19  Seed cotton (Phutti) equivalent to over 10,741,381   showing a decrease of 9.34 per cent. Sindh ginneries


             bales of cotton has reached ginneries across
                                                              recorded arrival of 4,149,063 bales while last year Sindh
             Pakistan in March, showing a decrease of 6.8 per
                                                              compared to corresponding period of last year.
             cent as compared to corresponding period last year   received 4,253,258 bales with 2.45 per cent less as
 The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and   the country.  when ginneries received 11,524,581 bales.
 Statistics (CAPMAS) in its quarterly newsletter for the      Textile mills had bought 9,433,830 bales while
 first quarter of 2018-19 said that cotton exports from   In December last year, the Egyptian government   PCGA said that fortnightly report revealed that   exporters bought 102,330 bales and total bales sold
 Egypt increased to 128,300 metric quintals during   appointed an official steering committee to safeguard   ginneries in Punjab recorded arrival of 6,592,318   out so far were calculated at 9,536,160 bales. Total
 September-November 2018, registering an increase   the future of the Egyptian cotton brand. Egyptian   bales against the last year arrival of 7,271,323 bales   1,205,221 bales were lying unsold, PCGA informed.
 of 45.1 per cent over exports made during the   cotton fibers are considered by many to be the best
 corresponding period of the previous agricultural year.  because of their length, strength, and softness.
 The new steering committee, appointed by the
 The consumption of cotton in the domestic market,   minister of trade & industry, is responsible for the
 however, fell to 25,700 metric quintals during the   licensing and promotion of Egyptian cotton globally,
 period under review, showing a fall of 42.2 per cent   as well as policing the integrity of the supply chain to
 year-on-year. The sharp drop in domestic   ensure full compliance, traceability, and
 consumption was due to suspension of   transparency. The Cotton Egypt Association (CEA) is
 manufacturing activities by some textile factories in   also a part of the new structure.
                The negative impact of US


                        withdrawal of GSP on


 Bangladesh seeks tariff   India’s garment exports



 benefits for increased cotton


 imports from US  The U.S. government has decided to withdraw   According to the Apparel Export Promotion Council
              trade concessions granted to India under the
                                                              (AEPC), the US imports $586.58 million worth of
              Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The
                                                              RMG products under 15 categories that currently
              programme, which allows duty-free entry for certain   enjoy GSP. India's share of this pie is $17.97 million.
 If the American government offers duty benefits for   (BTMA), Bangladesh imports nearly 8 million bales   products into the U.S. market, has benefited both
 apparel items manufactured of American cotton,   of cotton from across the world annually, of which   countries, as shown by the growing volume of   The MFN (most favored nation) tariff in 15 products
 Bangladesh will import more cotton from the   6.93% is from the USA. According to international   trade over the years.  varies from 0.86 per cent to 14.6 percent in which
 United States.  trade administrator Otexa’ data, Bangladesh   India gets duty access with 100 percent margin of
 exports to the US market stood at $5.20 billion, up   The plan to end the preferential trade status   preference.
 BGMEA president Mr Siddiqur Rahman made the   by 5.72% in January-November of 2018. Apparel   granted to India by US President Mr Donald Trump
 proposal at a meeting with the US Ambassador to   exports to the US market saw a 6% jump to $5   may have negative impact on textile exports from   It may be noted that these 15 products contribute
 Bangladesh, Mr Earl R Miller, at the trade body’s   billion in the period.  the country.  to only 0.46% of India’s apparel exports. The bulk
 headquarters. In addition, BGMEA informed the                of the benefit is concentrated on Woven silk
 ambassador that Bangladeshi spinners are keen to   But during the talks, he assured the ambassador   According to the Industry experts, while the impact   dresses for women, which make up 58.5 percent of
 set up spinning mills in the USA, if the US   that Bangladesh has met all the 16 conditions   would be marginal, under the current   India's total trade under GSP. India exported goods
 government would grant tariff benefits for RMG   attached for the restoration of GSP trade facilities.   circumstances it would not be good as exports are   worth $6.2 bn in 2018 under the GSP, the highest
 made with yarn imported from such factories in the   He added, the business leader also said that the   already dropping. They have also said Centre   since 1997. However, the GSP’s share in India’s
 USA.  duty free market access will ultimately benefit US   should compensate the price increase through
 consumers and increase bilateral trade as well as   subsidy or incentives and should learn from the US   total exports to the U.S. has come down recently
 According to Bangladesh Textile Mills Association   help Bangladesh in creating jobs.  when it comes to protectionism.  after peaking in the mid-2000s.


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