During the calendar year 2017, India’s share in home textile exports to the US remained stagnant YoY at 33 per cent. The country’s market share (in dollar terms) in cotton sheets increased 1ppt YoY to 50 per cent during the above mentioned period. India has been consistently gaining a 1ppt market share in cotton sheets each year since the above mentioned period.

Also in the period under review market share for towels fell 1ppt to 39 per cent, led by multi-year low market share (sub 35 per cent) reported for the past four months.

Cotton Association of India data shows the pink bollworm infestation in major cotton producing regions of India resulted in an increase in cotton prices since mid-Dec’17 (+5 per cent to R111/kg) and 2 per cent reduction in cotton crop estimate for 2017/18.

Further, appreciation of the rupee (6.4 per cent YoY during the calendar year 18’YTD) continues to remain an issue. In Dec’17, India’s cotton sheet market share (dollar terms) came in at 50 per cent, a fall of 1ppt YoY. The calendar year ‘16market share rose 1ppt YoY to 50 per cent. This is the 6th year in which India saw a 1ppt YoY increase in market share. During the same year, China’s market share fell 2ppt YoY to 20 per cent, while Pakistan’s share remained flat YoY at 16 per cent.

India’s share in the terry towels segment fell sharply by 8ppt YoY to 30 per cent in Dec’17. The calendar year ‘17 market share also recorded a fall of 1ppt to 39 per cent. In calendar year ‘17, China’s market share increased 1ppt YoY to 24 per cent, while Pakistan’s lost 1ppt YoY share to 21 per cent. India’s calendar year ‘17 exports of cotton sheets to the US (in dollar terms) increased 1.9 per cent YoY to $717mn (as against a 0.3 per cent decline in world cotton sheet exports to the US), led by a 2.9 per cent rise in volumes, partially offset by a 0.9 per cent decline in realisation.