While the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) had estimated the exports of cotton during 1997-98 at 4.00 lakh bales, the actual export of cotton from the country was merely around 1.95 lakh bales as on September 28, the EICA pointed out.

The association said that of the total quantity shipped, 1.28 lakh bales comprised of staple cotton and remaining Bengal deshi. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) shipped 50,700 bales including 600 bales to Nepal, which accounted for nearly half the total export of staple cotton. The ginning section was allotted a total quota of 1.02 lakh bales out of which 31,000 bales were shipped.

The maximum underutilisation was by the state co-operative marketing federations which could export only 37,350 bales against the allotted quota of 3.05 lakh bales. Nafed, which was allotted 45,000bales, could not ship any quantity, the EICA added.