Demand for Pima cotton soars
30/04/2010
A company founded to promote the use of US-grown Pima cotton has announced that it sales to export markets have increased by 462% so far this year.
As of April 22, California-based Supima had registered export sales of Pima cotton of 658,800 bales. At the same point last year, export sales were 142,700 bales. California produces 95% of Pima cotton grown in the United States.
China is the largest consumer of the fibre, a high-end, long-staple cotton originally made from a hybrid of American and Egyptian cotton plants. The country has, so far, purchased 315,900 bales. India is the second-largest buyer, with 123,600 bales, and Pakistan is the third, with 64,400 bales. Indonesia has purchased 22,200 bales, and Japan has purchased 20,800. These five countries represent 83% of the total.
There are currently 400 spinners and apparel makers licenced to market Supima products, as well as numerous apparel manufacturers and retailers. Licensees pay a $5,000 annual fee, which allows them to use the Supima label on their products.
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