A ban on cotton shipments from India, the world's second-largest grower and exporter, may affect as many as 2.5 million bales of the commodity, the Cotton Association of India said in an e-mailed statement.
The government's decision to indefinitely suspend registration of raw cotton export shipments from Monday would have little impact on domestic cotton prices as most of the exports for the current cotton season have been committed, trade and industry officials said in Kolkata on Tuesday.
The government Friday lifted ban on exports of almost all varieties of raw cotton and cotton waste, but henceforth, exporters will have to apply for a license.
A textile industry body has cautioned the government that lifting ban on cotton exports from the country at this moment will have "disastrous" consequences for the Indian textile sector.
The government's move to ban cotton exports is to bring down its prices and to prevent its shortage in the domestic market, said Union Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran.
Bangladesh's spinners are trying to import cotton yarn and raw cotton from Africa, Austria, the US and Brazil after India recently imposed a ban on its export.
The Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA), the apex body for Indian jute mills, urged the government to impose immediate ban on raw jute exports to ensure domestic availability of the raw material.