The Cotton Association of India (CAI) again increased its estimate of cotton production to 301.15 lakh bales of 170 kg for the current cotton season 2024–25 (October–September). In its April 2025 report, it had estimated production at 291.35 lakh bales.
India’s cotton production last year was 327.45 lakh bales. Region-wise, cotton production in north India is likely to dip to 28.80 lakh bales during this season from 45.62 lakh bales. In central India, production is likely to rise to 180 lakh bales from 202.21 lakh bales during the previous year. Cotton production in South India, however, is likely to increase to 86.50 lakh bales from 73.85 lakh bales, CAI said in a press statement.
Cotton stock is expected to be 48.34 lakh bales by the end of the current season, from 30.19 lakh bales the previous year. Consumption of cotton in the country is likely to fall to 305 lakh bales from 313 lakh bales the previous year. Cotton exports are also likely to decrease to 17 lakh bales from 28.36 lakh bales the previous season, while imports could double-and-a-half to 39 lakh bales from 15.20 lakh bales.
CAI said the persistent hike in minimum support prices (MSP) of cotton is causing concerns. Higher MSPs not just distort market forces and block the natural price discovery mechanism, but also increase the cost of production for textile mills, which can result in increased consumer prices and blunt the global competitiveness of Indian cotton.
Since the CAI 2024-25 cotton output threatens the very survival of the entire value chain, stakeholders stressed the importance of an equitable solution that still retains remunerative prices for farmers without tainting the competitiveness of trade and industry.
Some proposals were floated during the meeting, such as the implementation of a Bhavantar-like scheme and modifications to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) sales policy.
Suresh Kotak, chairman, Textile Advisory Group and chairman, Kotak Group of Companies, welcomed the concerns of the stakeholders and accepted the necessity for revising the MSP framework and CCI selling policy. He mentioned the proposals and said that he would bring them up with the government.
