18 Sept 2025
Cotton sowing for the upcoming season is progressing in line with expectations, with acreage showing a marginal rise in major producing states. According to data from the Agriculture Ministry, as of July 7, cotton had been sown across 79.54 lakh hectares (lh), slightly above last year’s 78.58 lh.
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) projects closing stocks for the 2024-25 season (ending September) at 55.59 lakh bales (170 kg each) — a sharp 84% increase from last year’s 30.19 lakh bales.
CAI President Atul Ganatra said cotton pressing for the season is estimated at 311.40 lakh bales, higher than the earlier projection of 301.14 lakh bales, owing to improved crop size. Maharashtra alone contributed an additional 5 lakh bales, while Gujarat and Telangana added 1.5 lakh bales each, Karnataka 1 lakh bale, and other states such as Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan reported smaller increases due to better arrivals.
Till end-June, total cotton supply stood at 356.76 lakh bales, comprising 296.57 lakh bales of pressings, 30 lakh bales of imports, and 30.19 lakh bales of opening stock. Of this, 233.5 lakh bales were consumed domestically, while exports reached 15.25 lakh bales. Stocks at the end of June were estimated at 108.01 lakh bales, including 32 lakh bales with textile mills and 76.01 lakh bales with CCI, state federations, multinational traders, ginners, and exporters (including cotton sold but pending delivery).
Looking ahead, CAI has revised its total cotton supply estimate for the full 2024-25 season to 380.59 lakh bales, up from the earlier 370.34 lakh bales, supported by higher output in key states. Domestic consumption is pegged slightly higher at 308 lakh bales versus the earlier 305 lakh bales, while exports are projected at 17 lakh bales — down 40% from last year’s 28.36 lakh bales.
Imports, however, are expected to rise sharply. For 2024-25, imports are estimated at 39 lakh bales, more than double last year’s 15.2 lakh bales. By June-end, around 30 lakh bales had already arrived at Indian ports, CAI confirmed.