Cotton importers eye on Kochi port

Tamil Nadu: The South India Mills Association and Indian Cotton Federation are looking at options to facilitate the import and re-export of containerised cotton through Kochi port.
Kochi’s proximity to spinning mills in Coimbatore, which is less than 200 km away, prompted them to seek a storage facility in the port for the transhipment of containers to facilitate local sales and cotton imports.

Moreover, the reduced transit time to Kochi, especially from West and East African ports and the US, would make the port an attractive destination, said G Radhakrishna, President, Coimbatore Cotton Association.

According to him, a lot of imports are being made to South India every year, and a majority of the consignments are handled at Tuticorin port. However, Kochi has a cost advantage to millers in Coimbatore, and the closing down of Walayar check post after GST has resulted in the faster movement of cotton to production units.