Comprehensive media, December 15th, India agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said on Wednesday that a group of ministers will meet in 2-3 days to decide whether traders will have more time to export after the deadline for the export of cotton in December 15th, because late rainfall delays harvest.

India is allowed to export 5 million 500 thousand bales of cotton (170 kg / pack) in the market in October 1st.

Within a few days after the government's open export registration, traders have booked all the quantities according to local regulations before the middle of 12 to make use of the global supply shortage.

However, traders have asked for more time to export because they say the harvest delay makes it difficult for them to complete the shipment deadline.

Rita Menon, Secretary of the Ministry of textiles, said that no matter whether the deadline was extended, the government would allocate the former.

India is the second largest exporter of cotton in the world, and exported 1 million 500 thousand bales in October 1, 2009 -12 31.

The extension of the deadline will help exporters to perform export orders to major buyers such as China, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Demand for cotton in India has surged in the past few months as the country expects to produce 32 million 500 thousand bales of cotton in 2010/11, benefiting from increased planting area.

Other major producers, China and Pakistan, have predicted a decline in production and affected by floods.

The textile industry in India is firmly opposed to extending the deadline for export or more exports, for fear of a shortage of raw cotton.