CAI INCREASES INDIA’S COTTON PRESSING ESTIMATE FOR
2025-26 SEASON TO 317.00 LAKH BALES +/-3%
---------
Cotton Association of India (CAI) has released its latest estimate of India’s total cotton pressing numbers for 2025-26 season, which began on 1st October, 2025. The CAI Crop Committee met on Tuesday, the 13th January 2026 virtually which was attended by 22 members representing various cotton growing regions of the country. Based on the input received from the members of eleven cotton growing state associations and other trade sources, the CAI Crop Committee has estimated cotton pressing estimate of each state for 2025-26 season and also drawn cotton balance sheets till the end of December 2025 and upto the end of ongoing crop year 2025-26 ending on 30th September 2026. The state-wise break-up of cotton pressing numbers as well as balance sheets as drawn by the CAI Crop committee at the above meeting are enclosed.
The following are the salient features of the CAI Crop Report: -
1. COTTON PRESSING
As per the latest report submitted by upcountry associations and trade sources at the above CAI Crop Committee meeting, CAI’s total cotton pressing estimate of the country for 2025-26 season has been increased by 7.50 lakh bales to 317 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 332.65 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) +/- 3% from 309.50 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 324.78 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) estimated earlier.
The changes made in the state-wise cotton pressing numbers compared to those estimated previously are given below: -
(In lakh bales of 170 kgs. each)
|
States |
Increase (+) / Decrease (-) |
|
Maharashtra |
+3.00 |
|
Madhya Pradesh |
-1.00 |
|
Telangana |
+4.50 |
|
Karnataka |
+1.00 |
|
Tamil Nadu |
+0.50 |
|
Orissa |
-0.50 |
|
TOTAL |
+7.50 |
The Committee members will have a close watch on the cotton pressing numbers in the subsequent months and if any addition or reduction is required to be made in the pressing estimates, the same will be made in the CAI reports of the subsequent months.
2. CONSUMPTION
CAI has estimated India’s total cotton consumption during 2025-26 i.e. upto 30th September 2026 at 305.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 320.06 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) as against 314 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 329.51 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) in last year.
Upto 31st December 2025, cotton consumption is estimated at 76..25 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 80.02 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each).
3. IMPORTS
The CAI has maintained its estimate of cotton imports into India during 2025-26 season at 50.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 52.47 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) i.e. same as estimated previously.
The cotton imports estimated by the CAI for the ongoing 2025-26 season are higher by 9 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each than 41.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each estimated for the last year.
Upto 31st December 2025, about 31.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 32.53 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) are estimated to have arrived the Indian ports.
4. EXPORTS
The CAI has decreased its cotton exports estimate for the 2025-26 season by 3.00 lakh bales to 15.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 15.74 lakh running bales of 162 kgs each) from 18.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 18.89 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) estimated for 2024-25 season.
Upto 31st December 2025, about 4.50 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 4.72 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) are estimated to have been shipped by the country.
5. TOTAL COTTON SUPPLY
Total cotton supply till end of the 2025-26 season i.e. upto 30th September 2026 is estimated at 427.59 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 448.71 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) as against the last year’s total supply of 392.59 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 411.98 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each). The total cotton supply estimated for the ongoing 2025-26 crop year consists of the opening stock of 60.59 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 63.58 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) at the beginning of the season on 1st October 2025, cotton pressing numbers for the season estimated at 317.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each and imports for the season estimated at 50.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each.
Total cotton availability till end December 2025 is estimated at 246.78 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 258.97 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) and the same consists of the opening stock of 60.59 lakh at the beginning of the season on 1st October 2025, cotton pressing estimated at 155.19 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each upto 31st December 2025 and imports of 31.00 lakh bales estimated till end December 2025.
6. AVAILABLE SURPLUS
Total available surplus (i.e. total supply of 427.59 lakh bales less total domestic demand estimated at 305 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each) works out to 122.59 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 128.64 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) at the end of 2025-26 season upto 30th September 2026 as against the last year’s available surplus of 78.59 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 82.47 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each.
7. CLOSING STOCK AS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER 2026
The closing stock at the end of 2025-26 season on 30th September 2026 is estimated at 107.59 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 112.90 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) which is higher by 47.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each from the closing stock of 60.59 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 63.58 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) for the previous year on 30th September 2025.
The closing stock as on 31st December 2025 is estimated at 166.03 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 174.23 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each), which consists of 66.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 69.26 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) with textile mills and 100.03 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 104.97 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) with CCI, Maharashtra Federation, MNCs, Ginners, traders, etc. including cotton sold but not delivered.
Vinay N. Kotak Atul S. Ganatra
President Chairman, CAI Crop Committee
Mumbai
Date: 14th January 2026
