MUMBAI, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Poor yield could lower India's cotton output in the year ending September 2009 by 7-10 percent from earlier projections, and while exports too may suffer, local suplies are likely to stay steady, industry officials said on Thursday.
"Output will definitely be lesser than last year no doubt...may be 29-30 million bales," from 31.5 million bales last year, P.D. Patodia, former president of Mumbai-based Cotton Association of India, said.
In October, Cotton Advisory Board (CAB), a body of textile players including government, cotton growers and industry associations, had said India's 2008/09 cotton output may touch 32.2 million bales.
The Board is meeting on Friday to review the output and export estimates. CAB was expecting exports to touch about 7.5 million bales this year from about 8.5 million bales in 2007/08.
"Exports may not cross even 5 million bales this year as Indian prices had been at least 5-8 percent higher than international prices between October to January," I. J. Dhuria, chief general manager of Vardhman Textiles (VART.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), said.
Source : REUTERS INDIA