High cotton prices are creating ripple effects across Indian economy and employment with spinners from South India opting for cotton from the high plains of Texas. The spinning industry in India is largely concentrated in Coimbatore, Erode and Thirppur regions of Tamil Nadu. Textile mills are also situated in the cotton growing areas of Virudhunagar districts. Indian spinners are looking for alternatives to Indian cotton owing to its high prices and lack of consistent quality. Spinning associations have also been demanding a 10 per cent waiver on cotton import duty to boost imports.

Velmurugan Shanmugam, General Manager of Jayalakshmi Textiles says, his company has booked 300 tons of High Plains cotton which is expected to arrive in Tuticorin port in 3-4 months. He hopes, by that time, the government will make a favorable decision on the import duty on cotton. The company has been using small quantities of Giza cotton for high quality yarns of 100-120s. Indian cotton mills are also focusing on the quality and consistency of the available cotton besides encouraging farmers to achieve high quality standards.