Recent estimates by Cotton Association of India (CAI) put India’s cotton crop for the recent season ending this September to be 35.2 million bales (170 Kgs each).
“Looking at the demand for cotton seed, it is likely that cotton is going to see once again good acreage level,” said Dhiren Sheth, President of Mumbai based CAI.
Gujarat state will be the number-1 cotton producing state with an estimated production of 8.5 million bales. Second place will be taken by the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, whose crop is estimated to at 7.4 million bales. Maharashtra will come third this year with a projected crop of 7.1 million bales. This is a change from last season, where Maharashtra came second.
Total cotton supply during this season is estimated to be 42.5 million bales. Total demand is pegged at 27.8 million bales. The available surplus this season is estimated to be 14.7 million bales.