Asian countries, particularly China and India, should boost their cotton consumption. Jose Sette, executive director of Washington, DC-based International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) speaking in Mumbai at the 8th Asian Textile Conference stated that although increasing cotton yield per hectare is important in India, China and India should focus on increasing its per capita cotton consumption.
Sette stated cotton consumption in Asia is below developed economies. The consumption trend does not match up with the growth in the income levels in these countries. Enhancing cotton consumption should be the major focus of the cotton sector.
Currently the per capita consumption of cotton in Pakistan is six kilograms, while it is less than two kilograms in India. According to Sette, if China and India´s consumption matches with that of Pakistan, there will be an additional cotton consumption of at least 12 mt.
Touching on the hot issue of cotton pricing, Sette stated that high cotton prices are unsustainable if cotton has to be competitive. The annual growth in cotton consumption is currently at a minuscule rate.