Fabric exports decline slowed down
After prolonged period of sharp declines, woven fabric shipments fall tapered to 2.4 per cent in terms of volume in August, and remained positive in value term. Shipments aggregated 382 million sqmtr during the month valued at US$328 million or INR2,070 crore. During the first five months of 2017-18, total woven fabric exports were at 1,720 million sqmtr, down 5 per cent year on year.
In August, 141 countries imported woven fabrics from India, with Bangladesh being the largest importer, followed by UAE and Sri Lanka. The three together accounted for 28 per cent of total woven fabrics export during the month. During the month, 10 countries did not import any fab-ric from India as they did last year. However, they were replaced by 23 countries which import-ed fabric worth US$3 million this August.
Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Cote D’Ivoire, Nepal and Hungary were the fastest growing markets for woven fabrics, and accounted for 5 per cent of total value exported in August.
Woven fabrics made of 100% cotton accounted for 49 per cent of all fabrics exported, worth US$160 million (INR1,010 crore) with volumes at 172 million sqmtr. The average unit price realization was at US$0.93 a sqmtr, about 10 cents more than a year ago.
Plain fabrics accounted for 65 per cent of all kinds of woven fabrics exported in August 2017, while denim was the second largest woven fabric exported in August (US$35 million), posting an increase of 22 per cent in volume year on year. They were mainly imported by Bangladesh, Egypt, Turkey, Guatemala and Lesotho. Denim exports to these markets were worth US$24 million.
About 48 per cent of all woven fabrics exported were of medium weight (>136 <281 GSM) worth US$1598 million while light weight (<136 GSM) were valued at US$129 million (39 per cent). Medium weight fabric were mainly exported to Bangladesh, USA and United Arab Emirates, while light weight fabrics were exported mainly UAE, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Yarn exports growth positive
Spun yarn export shipment reversed the falling trend in August, largely due pent up volume of June and July and a low base of previous year. Yarn export were hovering above 100 million kgs until June 2016 and thereafter it trickled down below 90 million kgs apart from more than 125 million kgs reported in December 2016 and January 2017.
Exports aggregated 95 million kgs in August 2017, up 17 per cent year on year and 22 per cent in value at US$304 mil-lion. Unit value realization averaged US$3.21 per kg, up US cents 9 from previous month and US cents 14 up compared to August 2016.
Cotton yarn was exported to 80 markets worth US$240 million (INR1,535 crore) and volumes at 73 million kg. The aver-age unit price realization was at US$3.31 a kg, US cents 8 more than previous month and US cents 16 up from the same month a year ago. China remained the largest importer of cotton yarn from India in August, followed by Bangladesh and Portugal. 10 countries did not import any cotton yarn from India this August as they did last year. However, they were replaced by 18 countries which imported yarn worth US$1.90 million. Chile, Czech Republic and Turkey were among the fastest growing markets for cotton yarn, and accounted for 4 per cent of total value of cotton yarn exported in August.
100% man-made fibre yarns export was at 7.3 million kg in August, comprising 4.4 million kg of polyester yarn, 2.7 mil-lion kg of viscose yarn and 0.2 million kg of acrylic yarn. Polyester yarn exports jumped 50 per cent in value while viscose yarn exports value plunged 23 per cent during the month. Acrylic yarn exports were down 69 per cent in August.
Polyester spun yarns were exported to 45 countries in August with average unit price realization at US$2.37 a kg. Turkey was the largest importer of polyester yarn, followed by Brazil and Egypt.
Viscose yarn worth US$8.4 million or INR53 crore was exported in August, implying average unit price realization of US$3.15 per kg. Belgium was the top importer worth US$1.75 million, followed by Iran with imports worth US$1.3 million.
Blended spun yarns worth US$42 million were exported in August, up 20 per cent YoY in both volumes and value terms. During the month, 7.9 million kg of PC yarns was exported worth US$20 million. Another 4.7 million kg of PV yarns were exported valued at US$13 million. Turkey and Brazil were the largest importers of PC yarn from India in August followed by Bangladesh while, Turkey was the largest importer of PV yarns from India followed by Pakistan.
