India, the worldΆs second-biggest grower, may allow fresh cotton exports of up to two million bales, a government official, who declined to be identified citing rules, said.

The government will tomorrow consider resuming exports of the commodity, Trade Minister Anand Sharma said in New Delhi earlier today. He will discuss matters including availability of cotton with IndiaΆs farm and finance ministers, Sharma said.

India barred cotton exports on March 5 to secure domestic supplies after shipments surged before the ban to about 9.5 million bales, more than the 8.4 million-bale surplus the government estimated. The curbs were partially ended a week later after protests from growers, traders and China, the biggest buyer.

Cotton inventories in the nation may decline to the lowest level in eight years because of record exports depleting reserves. Stockpiles may fall to 2.5 million bales of 170 kilograms each on Oct. 1 from 3.9 million bales a year earlier and 5.5 million bales estimated on Jan. 24, Textile Commissioner A.B. Joshi said April 18.
India has already shipped 10.6 million bales in the year that started in October, Minister Sharma said.