To offer subsidy of 2,000 yuan per T of cotton outside Xinjiang
* Not as generous as scheme in Xinjiang, the main growing province
* But expected to slow drop in cotton output
* Support for farmers seen as crucial for political stability (Adds comment, detail)
By Dominique Patton
BEIJING, Nov 5 (Reuters) - China will pay farmers subsidies of 2,000 yuan ($330) per tonne of cotton harvested this crop year outside its top producing region, potentially slowing a drop in output in the world's No.1 consumer of the fibre and further curbing demand for imports.
Traders said that while the amount was less generous than a subsidy scheme in the main growing province of Xinjiang, it was in line with expectations as the country abandons a years-long stockpiling programme that had reduced supply to market and bolstered global prices.
An end to that buying and the switch to subsidies has seen U.S. prices drop to five-year lows over market fears of weaker demand from China amid plentiful global supplies.
"(The new subsidy) will probably mitigate the decline in cotton production in eastern China, but I would still expect production to drop somewhat," said a trader in China who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.
"Without this subsidy it probably would have collapsed."
The new subsidy will be available to growers in the provinces of Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi and Gansu, the China Cotton Association said on its website, citing details from a government meeting held on Tuesday.
Subsidies had initially been planned only for Xinjiang, the northwestern region that accounts for more than half of China's cotton production, leading analysts to predict a sharp drop in cotton output in the country. But government officials said in September that payments would be offered to other growers too.
However, the subsidy for the nine provinces is significantly lower than for Xinjiang growers, who will be paid the difference between the market price and a target price of 19,800 yuan per tonne.
Spot prices for nearby cotton in Shandong province are currently around 14,600 yuan per tonne.
"It's better than nothing," said Zhu Xiaoyan, cotton analyst at Dalu Futures. But she added that farmers had been hoping for more.
Last year farmers in Shandong earned 4.1 yuan per kg of seed cotton. Based on current selling prices and the new subsidy, they will make about 3.6 yuan, said Zhu.
"Next year, production in inland provinces could still drop by more than 50 percent," she said.
Cotton-growing has already declined significantly in provinces outside Xinjiang in recent years as farmers seek higher wages in cities or turn to less labour-intensive crops such as wheat. The cotton association has said China's total cotton acreage declined by nearly 7 percent in 2013 from the year before.
EXPECTED TO DROP
China's cotton imports in the 2014/15 crop year were already expected to fall to a 10-year low of 1.3 million tonnes, less than half the previous year's total.
Chinese futures prices, which have lost more than a third of their value this year, are unlikely to see much impact from news of the subsidy, said Zhu, as rumours of the amount had been in the market for some time.
But she said more cotton would change hands as farmers had held off selling until details of the subsidy were finalised.
Provincial governments will decide whether to issue the subsidy to farmers based on acreage or production amounts.
In future years, the subsidy will be set at a level of not more than 60 percent of the amount offered to Xinjiang growers, added the association report.
Beijing is determined to keep cotton output in Xinjiang at stable levels as it seeks to turn the province into a major textile hub, attracting more garment makers to boost local employment.
The country's eastern provinces, closer to large urban centres, offer more options for workers and farmers.
"(The new subsidy) is some kind of compromise. Cotton is not a strategically important crop like food," added the trader.
China views the financial support of its 700 million farmers as crucial for both its food supply and political stability, particularly in regions with large ethnic minorities such as Xinjiang.
The country still holds nearly 12 million tonnes of fibre in state reserves, according to the International Cotton Advisory Committee. That is around 60 percent of global stocks. (1 US dollar = 6.1106 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Dominique Patton; Editing by Joseph Radford)
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Meet us at..
1. Rajkot - October 18, Golden Gujarat Cotton Summit 2014.
2. Switzerland - November 11 - 13 2014, Global Grain Geneva.
3. Mumbai - November 24 - 26, 2014, Cotton India 2014, Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel.
Pankaj Katba
FGA Cotton & Yarn Brokers
(A Group Of Feed & Grain Agri Brokers)
"We Care Our Name & Commitment"
(International Brokers / Buyers sourcing agent for Cotton Yarn only)
905, Star Plaza, Phulchhab Chowk , Rajkot 360 001 Gujarat – INDIA
Tel : +91 -281- 3065002 Fax: +91 -281- 3065002
Cell No : +91-88-6666-3400, +91-98246 -01900,
E-mail : Pankaj@FeedGrainAgri.com & FGAbroker@gmail.com
MSN : FeedGrain@Hotmail.com
Skype : FeedGrainAgri BBM PIN:7FD47B0E What's up / Viber: +918866663400
Web : www.FeedGrainAgri.com Blog : www.FeedGrainAgri.Blogspot.
Meet us at..
1. Rajkot - October 18, Golden Gujarat Cotton Summit 2014.
2. Switzerland - November 11 - 13 2014, Global Grain Geneva.
3. Mumbai - November 24 - 26, 2014, Cotton India 2014, Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel.
