Shipment Below 9%

India has made an actual shipment of only nine per cent of the total export quota of cotton released for the 1997-98 season. Out of the 7.20 lakh bales released for the season, the total shipment reported as on March 31 was only 65,500 bales. The decline in the shipment was due to the unfavourable price situation prevailing in the global market, South India Cotton Association sources said. Out of the total 5,75,000 bales staple cotton released, only 48,400 bales were shipped, while only 17,100 bales of Bengal deshi cotton were exported out of 1,45,000 bales released for 1997-98, they added.