Rakhine handloom makers want to import raw Indian cotton through Sittwe port

After opening of Sittwe port, the Arakanese handloom makers now wantto import raw Indian cotton directly through the deep seaport.

Now the Indian cotton is brought to Arakan State through Mandalay and Monywa with a higher price.

Daw Ma Aye, owner of Shwe Tiger handloom industry in Sittwe, argued that if the cargo ships arrive in Sittwe from India, it would be better.

Now the Indian cotton is brought through the mainland Myanmar that increases the price. So using Sittwe port will be more convenient for the Rakhine handloom workers, he added.

The owners of Rakhine textile mills often use the brands of  two hundred (2/100) and two eighty (2/80) type raw Indian cotton.

In the years 2019 and 2020, the (2/100) type cotton was sold with Kyats eight thousand per 2.5 kilogram bag. The other type (2/80) was sold with Kyats six thousand per 2.5 kg bag.

Presently, the price of 2/100 type cotton is Kyats 140,000 per 2.5 kg bag and that of 2/80 type is Kyats nine thousand per 2.5 kg bag, said a wholesaler.

A woman who runs a loom at Wabo village under Sittwe township informed that the price of Indian raw cotton is now higher as it has to be brought through the mainland. It reduces their profit drastically, he added.

The traditional Arakanese handloom workers are available in several townships like Sittwe, Ponnagyun and Thandwe. Many villages like Wabo in Sittwe locality have looms in every household. They have maintained the tradition since time immemorial.

The traditional fabrics from Wabo village are sold not only in Rakhine State, but also in other places where the Rakhine people live. The Arakanese woman skirts are sold from Kyats 20,000 to 75,000. Sittwe port was opened today for trading with India through Kolkata port in presence of Indian ports, shipping & waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Rakhine handloom makers want to import raw Indian cotton through Sittwe port Narinjara News, 9 May 2023

After opening of Sittwe port, the Arakanese handloom makers now want to import raw Indian cotton directly through the deep seaport. Now the Indian cotton is brought to Arakan State through Mandalay and Monywa with a higher price.

Daw Ma Aye, owner of Shwe Tiger handloom industry in Sittwe, argued that if the cargo ships arrive in Sittwe from India, it would be better. Now the Indian cotton is brought through the mainland Myanmar that increases the price. So using Sittwe port will be more convenient for
the Rakhine handloom workers, he added.

The owners of Rakhine textile mills often use the brands of  two hundred (2/100) and two eighty (2/80) type raw Indian cotton.

In the years 2019 and 2020, the (2/100) type cotton was sold with Kyats eight thousand per 2.5 kilogram bag. The other type (2/80) was sold with Kyats six thousand per 2.5 kg bag.

Presently, the price of 2/100 type cotton is Kyats 140,000 per 2.5 kg bag and that of 2/80 type is Kyats nine thousand per 2.5 kg bag, said a wholesaler.

A woman who runs a loom at Wabo village under Sittwe township informed that the price of Indian raw cotton is now higher as it has to be brought through the mainland. It reduces their profit drastically, he added.

The traditional Arakanese handloom workers are available in several townships like Sittwe, Ponnagyun and Thandwe. Many villages like Wabo in Sittwe locality have looms in every household. They have maintained the tradition since time immemorial.

The traditional fabrics from Wabo village are sold not only in Rakhine State, but also in other places where the Rakhine people live. The Arakanese woman skirts are sold from Kyats 20,000 to 75,000.

Sittwe port was opened today for trading with India through Kolkata port in presence of Indian ports, shipping & waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal.