Cotton production to drop in the 2025-2026 season
Cotton production for the 2025-2026 season is projected to decline to 290.24 lakh bales, down from the previous year's figures. Despite rising domestic and export demand, industry experts are concerned about reduced planting areas and the impact of monsoon variability.
Why it matters
Cotton is a vital commodity for India's textile industry, and production fluctuations significantly impact the national economy and global supply chains.
Production of cotton during the current marketing season that commenced on October 1, 2025 is estimated to be seven lakh bales less than the previous year.
The Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption that met in Mumbai on July 29 expected the production this season to be 290.24 lakh bales of 170 kg each while the production in 2024-2025 was 297.24 lakh bales. Consumption of cotton by large-scale and MSME textile mills, which are the main consumers of cotton in the country, is like to be 320 lakh bales while it was just about 306 lakh bales last season.
While cotton exports so far are six lakh bales less than the 2024-2025 season, imports are up by almost 15 lakh bales. “We expect the cotton season to end in September with nearly 60 lakh bales of import,” said chairman of the Southern India Mills’ Association Durai Palanisamy.
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