Alok to open mill in the US

Indian textile manufacturer Alok Industries is planning to open its first textile mill in

the US, in an effort to save on energy costs. Alok counts Walmart and Macy's among customers for its home textiles like sheets and towels. The mill, which would spin US-grown cotton into yarn or thread, would be a major shift in the textile industry. For years the US has shipped its cotton to mills overseas for processing and then imported the finished products. The mill would spin US cotton and export the yarn to weaving and sewing factories in Latin America.

The US is the world’s third-largest cotton producer. More significantly, energy costs in the US are almost a fourth of what they are in India. The US is experiencing lower electricity costs as abundant supplies of natural gas are being extracted from shale rock formations.

Alok is India's largest fully integrated textile company with a dominant presence in the cotton and polyester segments.