We deal in all types of raw cotton primarily from Indian subcontinent; we also source raw cotton from African continent (Egyptian, West African), American (USA and Latin American countries) and Australian cotton and supply locally.
Cotton is a natural fibre of vegetable origin, like linen, jute or hemp. Mostly composed of cellulose (a carbohydrate plant substance) and formed by twisted, ribbon-like shaped fibres, cotton is the fruit of a shrubby plant commonly referred to as the "cotton plant".
The plant, growing up to 10 metres high in the wild, has been domesticated to range between 1 to 2 metres under commercial cultivation in order to facilitate picking. It thrives in dry tropical and subtropical areas.
Although cotton is widely planted in both hemispheres, it remains a sun-loving plant highly vulnerable to freezing temperatures. Cotton is crucially important to several developing countries.
Out of fifty species of cotton plants within the world only four are domestically cultivated for their fibres. The most commonly cultivated species of cotton in the world include
- Gossypium hirsutum (origin from Mexico)
- Gossypium barbadense (origin from Peru)
- Gossypium arboreum and (origin from Indo-Pakistan)
- Gossypium herbaceum (origin from southern Africa)
The quality of the cotton fibre is determined by three factors, namely, the Colour of ginned cotton, Purity (the absence of foreign matter) and quality of the ginning process, and the Length of fibres.
The colour of cotton ranges from white to yellowish and is classed into the groups "White", "Light Spotted", "Spotted Tinged" and "Yellow Stained", in descending order of quality.
Cotton Quality Specifications
1. Staple Length
The most important fibre quality is Fibre Length.
| Staple classification |
Length (mm) |
Length (inches) |
Spinning Count |
| Short |
Less than 24 |
15/16 –1 |
Coarse below 20 |
| Medium |
24-28 |
1.1/132-1.3/32 |
Medium count 20s-34s |
| Long |
28-34 |
1.3/32 -1.3/8 |
Fine count 34s-60s |
| Extra Long |
34-40 |
1.3/8 -1.9/16 |
Superfine count 80s-140s |
Notes:
- Spinning count does not depend on staple length only. It also depends on fineness and processing machinery.
- Length is measured by hand stapling or Fibro graph for 2.5% span length.
- 2.5% SL (Spun Length) means at least 2.5% of total fibres have length exceeding this value.
- 50% SL means at least 50% of total fibres have length exceeding this value
2. Uniformity Ratio
Length uniformity is calculated by 50 SL × 100 / 2.5 SL
UR% Classification
50-55 = Very Good, 45-50 = Good, 40-45 = Satisfactory,
35-40 = Poor, Below 30 = Unusable
3. Fibre Strength
Fibre strength is tested using Pressley instrument and the value is given in thousands of pounds per square inch (1,000 psi). For better accuracy, Stelometer is used and results are given in grams/Tex. Lately, strength is measured in HVI (High Value Instrument) and result is given in terms of grams/Tex.
Interpretation of strength value is given below:
| G/Tex |
Classification |
| Below 23 |
Weak |
| 24-25 |
Medium |
| 26-28 |
Average |
| 29-30 |
Strong |
| Above 31 |
Very Strong |
- Strength is essential for making stronger yarns and higher processing speeds.
- Fibre fineness and maturity are tested in a conjunction using Micronaire instrument.
- Finer fibres give stronger yarns but amenable for more neppiness of yarn due to lower maturity.
4. Micronaire for fineness and maturity
Usually Micronaire value is referred to evaluate fineness of cotton and its suitability for spinning particular count of yarn.
Micronaire values vary from 2.6 to 7.5 in various varieties.
5. Cotton Grade
Evaluating colours, leaf content and ginning preparation determines cotton grade. Higher-grade cottons provide better yarn appearance and reduced process waste.
VARIETIES OF RAW COTTON IN INDIA
The following are the main varieties of raw cotton grown in India.
Sr. No |
Variety |
States |
States Length |
Micronaire |
Strength |
Spinning Count |
Comparable Foreign Growth |
|
|
|
(mm) |
Inches |
Value |
G/Tex (lCC) |
GPT (HVn) |
PSI |
|
|
1 |
Bengal Deshi |
Punjab/Haryana/Rajasthan |
15-18 |
<13-16" |
6.0-8.0 |
15 |
19 |
57000 |
45,65, Surgical Cotton & Mattresses |
Not Compared/None |
2 |
V-797 |
Gujarat |
22-24 |
7/8" |
4.9-5.6 |
16-17 |
22 |
62000 |
Ne 245 |
None |
3 |
Jayadhar |
Karnataka |
22-24 |
7/8" |
4.0-5.0 |
17-18 |
23 |
65000 |
Ne 245 |
U.S MOT,Pakistan Afzal |
4 |
Y-1 |
Maharashtra/Madhya Pradesh |
23-25 |
<1" |
3.5-4.9 |
18-20 |
24 |
70000 |
Ne 245,265 |
U.S MOT, Pakistan Afzal |
5 |
J-34 Saw Ginned |
Punjab/Haryana/Rajasthan |
24-26 |
51"+ |
3.5-4.9 |
19-21 |
26 |
78000 |
Ne 265,305 |
U.S MOT,Pakistan Afzal/1467 |
6 |
NHH-44 |
Maharashtra |
24-26 |
1"+ |
3.5-4.9 |
19-20 |
25 |
76000 |
Ne 245,265,305 |
U.S MOT, Pakistan Afzal/1467 |
7 |
L.R.A |
Maharashtra/Tamil Nadu/Karnataka/Madhya Pradesh/Andhra Pradesh |
25-27 |
1"+ |
3.5-4.9 |
19-21 |
25 |
77000 |
Ne 265,305,365 |
U.S MOT,Pakistan Afzal/146 |
8 |
H-4/MECH1 |
Maharashtra/Madhya Pradesh/Andhra Pradesh |
27 -29 |
1-3/32" |
3.5-4.9 |
20-22 |
27 |
80000 |
Ne 405,445 |
W. African, BraziIian, T anzanian, Paraguan, Argentine |
9 |
Sankar-6 |
Gujarat |
27.5-29.5; |
1-1/8" |
3.5-4.9 |
21-23 |
28 |
88000 |
Ne 445,505,555 |
U.S. Fibre Max / Acala, W. African, Australian, Brazilian, Tanzanian, Syrian |
10 |
Bunny / Brahma |
Maharashtra/Madhya Pradesh/Andhra Pradesh/Karnataka |
29-32 |
1-5/32"to 1-1/4" |
3.5-4.5 |
22-24 |
29 |
88000+ |
Ne 505,555,605 |
U.S. SJV Acala, Egyptian Giza 86/ Giza 89, Sudanese Barakat, Chinese 229 |
11 |
MCU-5 |
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa |
32-34 |
1-1/4"+ |
3.2-3.7 |
23-25 |
30 |
92000 |
Ne 605,705,805 |
U.S. Ultima RG,Egyptian Giza861, Giza 89,Sudanese Barakat |
12 |
DCH-32 |
Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu |
34-36 |
1-3/8" |
2.8-3.3 |
24-29 |
32 |
97000+ |
Ne 905,1005 |
U.S. Pima, Egyptian Giza 88/Giza 70, Sudanese Barakat,Chinese 146,GIS ELS, Australian Pima,lsraeli Pima. |
13 |
Suvin |
Tamil Nadu |
38-40 |
1-7/16"+ |
2.9-3.2 |
30-32 |
38 |
115000 |
Ne 1005 |
Egyptian Giza 45. |
