Improved Cotton Output Expected Despite Lower Sown Area
17-Oct-2025 01:11 PM
Mumbai. Although cotton sown area has declined by approximately 300,000 hectares this year compared to last year, and crop damage has been caused by excess rainfall and flooding in some areas, the remaining crop is in good condition and yields are expected to remain high.
Based on this, cotton production in the country is estimated to improve to between 312 and 335 lakh bales (each bale weighing 170 kg) during the current marketing season (October-September) of 2025-26.
The arrival of new cotton stock in important markets of major producing states has begun to increase rapidly, while supplies are expected to continue to increase steadily in the coming days.
Meanwhile, market prices are softening. Nationally, the average daily cotton arrivals have risen to over 100,000 bales, but weak demand is keeping prices below the minimum support price (MSP).
Large imports from abroad are expected to increase cotton stocks to 60.59 lakh bales for the 2025-26 season, an increase of 21.40 lakh bales from the 2024-25 season's outstanding stock of 39.19 lakh bales.
The President of the Cotton Association of India (CAI), a leading trade organization, stated that the current cotton crop is in good condition, and official production figures will be released by the end of October. Good rainfall and adequate soil moisture in all 10 Bt cotton-producing states have led to better growth of cotton plants. Consequently,
cotton production is estimated to be between 312 lakh bales and 335 lakh bales. There are signs of increasing yields in top producing states like Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Data from the Union Agriculture Ministry shows that the cotton sown area at the national level has declined from 113 lakh hectares last year to 110 lakh hectares this time.
The arrival of new goods in the markets is increasing day by day. For the last four days, more than one lakh bales of goods have been arriving daily. On October 16, 2025, 1.17 lakh bales of cotton were recorded in the markets.