Cotlook Index: 31-07-2026
90.00 (+1.25)
India fixes cotton MSPs; Suvin gets highest support at $103/quintal
Mon. 3rd Aug 2026, (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: The Government of India has notified MSPs for all Fair Average Quality (FAQ) cotton varieties for the 2026-27 season, with extra-long staple Suvin receiving the highest support price of ₹9,867 per quintal. The Cotton Corporation of India will begin procurement from October 1 if market prices fall below MSP. The schedule also includes quality-linked premiums, deductions, and moisture norms.
The Government of India has notified the minimum support price (MSP) for all Fair Average Quality (FAQ) cotton varieties for the 2026-27 cotton season, with premium extra-long staple (ELS) variety Suvin receiving the highest MSP of ₹9,867 ($103.6) per quintal. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) will begin procurement from October 1, 2026, whenever market prices fall below the notified MSP. The notification follows the government's earlier announcement of benchmark MSPs for medium staple cotton at ₹8,267 per quintal and long staple cotton at ₹8,667 per quintal. Based on staple length, micronaire values and quality differentials, the Ministry of Textiles has now fixed MSPs for all recognised cotton varieties grown across India's cotton-producing states. Suvin is an extra-long staple (ELS) cotton variety grown mainly in Tamil Nadu, in the Coimbatore region. Developed by crossing India's Sujata with Egyptian St Vincent cotton, it is valued for its superior fibre quality and is used to produce premium fine-count yarns and high-end textiles. Suvin cotton will be purchased by the government’s company at ₹9,867 per quintal. Suvin was followed by DCH-32 at ₹9,067 and MCU-5/Surabhi at ₹8,867, reflecting the premium attached to extra-long staple cotton. In the long staple category, Bunny/Brahma has been fixed at ₹8,667, Shankar-6/10 at ₹8,617, while H-4/H-6/MECH/RCH-2 and F-414/H-777/J-34 Hybrid are priced at ₹8,567 per quintal. For medium-long staple cotton, MSPs range from ₹8,267 for J-34 (Rajasthan) to ₹8,417 for F-414/H-777/J-34 Hybrid. Medium staple varieties such as Jayadhar, V-797/G Cot 13/G Cot 21, and AK-7Y-1/MCU-7/VSVPR-2 are priced between ₹8,017 and ₹8,117 per quintal. The lowest MSP of ₹7,767 per quintal has been fixed for short staple varieties Assam Comilla and Bengal Deshi.
The MSP schedule reflects India's diverse cotton production landscape, covering short staple, medium staple, medium-long staple, long staple, and extra-long staple cotton. The indicative varieties listed in the notification are widely cultivated across major cotton-producing states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. While the benchmark MSP is fixed for two principal kapas grades, the final support prices vary according to fibre length and quality parameters to ensure equitable returns across different cotton-growing regions. The order also prescribes quality-linked premiums and deductions based on micronaire values. Medium-long staple cotton qualifying within the specified micronaire range will receive a premium of ₹30 per quintal, while deviations attract deductions. For long and extra-long staple cotton, MSP is reduced by ₹25 per quintal for every 0.2 variation in micronaire outside the prescribed range. The minimum acceptable micronaire has been fixed at 3.0 for most cotton classes and 2.8 for extra-long staple cotton. The government has retained the baseline moisture content at 8 per cent for procurement. Cotton with moisture above 8 per cent and up to 12 per cent will receive proportionately lower prices, while produce with moisture below 8 per cent will qualify for incentives. Cotton with moisture exceeding 12 per cent will not be accepted under MSP procurement. Procurement agencies have also been directed to scientifically assess micronaire and other fibre quality parameters at purchase centres to ensure transparent and uniform procurement operations.
India-China cross-border trade through Shipki La resumes after 6 years
Sun. 2nd Aug 2026, (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: Cross-border trade through Shipki La, the ancient silk route linking India with Tibet, resumed yesterday after six years. Himanchal Pradesh revenue and horticulture minister Jagat Singh Negi flagged off the first batch of 16 traders. Goods exchange would take place via a barter system and the traders would have to return within 72 hours. Seventy two Indian items and 30 Chinese items can be bartered. Cross-border trade between India and China through Shipki La, the ancient silk route linking India with Tibet, resumed yesterday after six years.
Jagat Singh Negi, revenue and horticulture minister of India’s Himachal Pradesh state, flagged off the first batch of 16 traders. The exchange of goods would take place via a barter system and the traders would have to return within 72 hours, he was cited as saying by Indian media reports. The state minister also inaugurated a modern trade mart—Chhuppan Trade Mart—constructed in the Shipki La area in the border district of Kinnaur to facilitate cross-border trade. He urged traders to strictly adhere to the import-export regulations prescribed by the union Ministry of Commerce, ensuring transparency and compliance. Seventy two Indian items and 30 items from the Chinese side can be bartered. Traders have requested the state government to expand the scope of traded goods, and the minister said the proposal would be placed before state Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu so that it could be conveyed to the Chinese government through the Ministry of External Affairs.
Giriraj Singh Backs Kapas Kranti
Mon. 3rd August 2026, Yash Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Giriraj Singh Reaffirms Commitment to 'Kapas Kranti' on CCI's 56th Foundation Day; Emphasizes Boosting Farmers' IncomeChhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Maharashtra): Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh reaffirmed the Central Government's commitment to making India's cotton sector more productive, competitive, and sustainable during the 56th Foundation Day celebrations of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, on Saturday. He stated that the government is continuously working to increase farmers' income, improve cotton quality, boost productivity, and promote modern, technology-driven farming. Ministers from the Maharashtra government—Sanjay Shirsat, Sanjay Savkare, and Atul Save—along with senior officials from the Ministry of Textiles, scientists, researchers, industry representatives, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and a large number of cotton farmers participated in the event. In his address, Giriraj Singh remarked that cotton is a vital cornerstone of India's rural economy, agricultural prosperity, and the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). He highlighted that during the 2025-26 cotton season, the CCI successfully executed one of the largest Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement drives in its history. During this period, over 522 lakh quintals of seed cotton were procured through transactions involving approximately 24 lakh farmers, and a sum of ₹41,530 crore was transferred directly into the farmers' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. He noted that the MSP for seed cotton has been increased by approximately 7 percent for the 2026-27 cotton season, ensuring better prices and income security for farmers. Referring to the recently approved 'Cotton Productivity Mission – Kapas Kranti', the Minister stated that this five-year mission, with a budget of ₹5,659 crore, focuses on enhancing cotton productivity and quality, modernizing ginning and processing infrastructure, strengthening branding and traceability through 'Kasturi Cotton India', and promoting climate-resilient and sustainable farming practices. He stated that this initiative would play a pivotal role in establishing a "Farm to Fashion" identity for Indian cotton, aligning it with international quality standards. On this occasion, the Minister launched the 'Kapas Darshan' bulletin, which will provide farmers with regular updates on weather, market trends, scientific farming practices, quality management, and government schemes. Cotton plucker machines, cotton stalk shredder machines, and contamination control kits were also distributed to farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). During the event, four significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with the aim of strengthening India's cotton ecosystem. These partnerships—involving CCI, ICAR-CIRCOT, GIZ, CITI, ICAC, MERAGO/GEOCLARA, TEXPROCIL, and Manjeet Cotton Pvt. Ltd.—focus on quality improvement, traceability, sustainable farming, and the promotion of premium Indian cotton. Lalit Kumar Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of CCI, stated that the Corporation has been safeguarding farmers' interests for the past 56 years through transparent, technology-driven, and farmer-centric initiatives. He affirmed that CCI would continue to work with full commitment to ensure better prices for farmers, promote the production of high-quality cotton, and realize the vision of 'Viksit Bharat @2047'.
Manjeet Cotton Joins Kasturi Mission
Mon. 3rd August 2026, Yash Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Manjeet Cotton and TEXPROCIL Join Hands to Produce 30,000 Bales of Kasturi Cotton The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), during its Foundation Day celebrations, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Shri B.S. Rajpal, Managing Director, Manjeet Cotton Pvt. Ltd., and Dr. Siddhartha Rajagopal, Executive Director, TEXPROCIL, for the production of 30,000 bales of Kasturi Cotton. The agreement covers the production of 20,000 bales of Long Staple Cotton and 10,000 bales of Extra Long Staple Cotton, reinforcing efforts to promote premium-quality Indian cotton.(SIS)
The MoU was signed in the august presence of Hon'ble Union Minister of Textiles, Shri Giriraj Singh, along with senior Ministers from the Government of Maharashtra, marking a significant milestone in strengthening collaboration for the promotion and production of Kasturi Cotton.(SIS)
Brazil Cotton Exports Surge
Mon. 3rd August 2026, Yash Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Brazil's Cotton Exports to India Jump Over 40-Fold in Two Years
Brazil's cotton exports to India have surged dramatically over the past two years, with shipments exceeding 350,000 tonnes during the 2025/26 marketing year. The remarkable rise has made India one of Brazil's key cotton export destinations, reflecting growing trade ties and strong demand from the Indian textile industry.
The export momentum continued in July 2026. During the first four weeks of the month, Brazil exported 127,600 tonnes of cotton, while the average daily shipment volume was 28.2% higher than in the corresponding period of July 2025, highlighting the country's strong presence in the global cotton market. On the production front, Brazil's cotton harvest reached 29.23% completion as of July 30, 2026. Harvesting has been completed in Paraná, while progress stood at 87% in São Paulo, 65% in Mato Grosso do Sul, 62.84% in Piauí, 55% in Maranhão, 43.06% in Goiás, 35% in Minas Gerais, 29.55% in Bahia, and 26% in Mato Grosso. Cotton ginning operations also gathered pace, reaching 14.94% completion nationwide. Ginning was reported at 85% in São Paulo, 80% in Paraná, 20% in Mato Grosso do Sul, 15% in Minas Gerais, 14.21% in Goiás, 14% in Bahia, 12% in Maranhão, 11.2% in Piauí, and 3% in Mato Grosso. The steady progress in harvesting and processing is expected to support Brazil's export commitments in the coming months as global demand remains firm, particularly from India.
India's Rising Cotton Import Dependence Calls for Technology and Policy Reforms: Dr RS Paroda
Mon. 3rd Aug 2026 (Source: www.eng.ruralvoice.in)
India's rising dependence on cotton imports has triggered fresh concerns over the sector's declining competitiveness. Veteran agricultural scientist Dr RS Paroda calls for next-generation GM technologies and a science-based regulatory framework to restore India's global leadership in cotton production.Expressing serious concern over India's growing dependence on cotton imports, eminent agricultural scientist, Padma Bhushan Dr RS Paroda, called for urgent technological and policy reforms to restore the country's global competitiveness in cotton production. He described the current situation as a major setback for Indian cotton farmers and the textile industry, noting that while cotton-producing countries across the world have rapidly adopted new agricultural technologies and innovations, Indian cotton farmers have been deprived of access to the same GM technology for more than two decades. Dr Paroda stressed that this prolonged technological stagnation has adversely affected productivity, competitiveness, and farmers' incomes, underscoring the need for a transparent, science-based regulatory framework. Reacting to the latest estimates released by the Cotton Association of India (CAI), Dr Paroda, Founder Chairman of the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) and former President of both the Indian Science Congress and the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, urged the Government to undertake a critical review of the sector and adopt a long-term strategy centred on advanced biotechnology, science-based regulation, and innovation-led growth. According to the latest CAI estimates, cotton imports during the 2025–26 season are projected to reach 60 lakh bales, while exports are expected to decline sharply to 15 lakh bales. At the same time, domestic consumption has been revised upwards to 348 lakh bales, highlighting a widening gap between production and demand and signalling India's increasing dependence on imported cotton. This trend raises serious concerns about the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the domestic cotton sector.
"These estimates are a wake-up call," Dr Paroda said. "India's cotton sector has been steadily losing its global leadership over the past few years. Rising import dependence in a crop where India was the world's largest producer until 2014 and the second-largest exporter underscores the urgent need to embrace next-generation GM technologies through science-based regulatory reforms and establish a long-term policy framework that can revive both our productivity and global standing. This is especially critical at a time when our Hon'ble Prime Minister has called for self-reliance across strategic sectors. Increasing dependence on cotton imports exposes the country to unnecessary geopolitical and market risks."
Dr Paroda observed that the challenges facing the cotton sector are structural rather than cyclical, arising from the absence of an enabling policy environment that fosters innovation—the very factor that drove cotton's remarkable success over the past 25 years. Noting that India's cotton sector supports nearly seven million farmers and provides raw material to one of the country's largest employment-generating industries, Dr Paroda cautioned:
"We must reduce our import dependence and become Atmanirbhar once again. We have the scientific capability and technical competence to achieve this. Unfortunately, the Cotton Mission announced recently is silent on scaling up GM cotton, a proven technology that can significantly benefit both farmers and Indian agriculture."
Dr Paroda emphasised that India's regulatory framework must keep pace with global best practices to facilitate the timely adoption of scientific innovations that drive agricultural growth. He further stated that countries that have attained global leadership have consistently embraced innovation while adopting robust, forward-looking regulatory and intellectual property frameworks.
"India needs a critical relook to ensure a transparent, predictable, and science-based regulatory system that enables farmers to benefit from scientifically proven and safe technological advances, just as we did when Bt cotton was introduced under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who at the time also held the Agriculture portfolio," Dr Paroda said.
Ministry of Textiles to celebrate 12th National Handloom Day on 7 August 2026
Sat. 1st Aug 2026 (Source: www.eng.ruralvoice.in)
The Ministry of Textiles will celebrate the 12th National Handloom Day on 7 August 2026 with a national function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre (RBCC), New Delhi, to celebrate India's rich handloom heritage and recognise the contribution of the handloom weaving community to the nation's cultural and economic developmentThe Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. The function will also be attended by the Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh, Union Minister of State for Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita, Smt. Neelam Shami Rao, Secretary (Textiles) and Dr. M. Beena, Development Commissioner (Handlooms). The celebrations will be attended by Sant Kabir Handloom Awardees and National Handloom Awardees and their family members, handloom weavers from across the country, members of the Awards Selection Committee, eminent personalities associated with the handloom sector, senior Government officials, media representatives and other distinguished guests. A major highlight of the celebrations will be the presentation of the Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and the National Handloom Awards for the year 2025. A total of 22 awards, comprising 03 Sant Kabir Handloom Awards and 19 National Handloom Awards, will be conferred upon outstanding handloom weavers for their outstanding craftsmanship, innovation and contribution to the preservation of India's handloom traditions. The occasion will also witness the release of four commemorative postage stamps celebrating India's rich and diverse handloom weaving traditions. Two publications—"Earth. Root. Thread – Aal Dyed Handloom Textiles of Central India" and the Handloom Awards Book 2025—will also be unveiled during the function. An exhibition showcasing award-winning handloom products will be organised on the sidelines of the event. Visitors will also have an opportunity to witness live demonstrations of traditional Kani weaving and Wall Hanging weaving, providing a glimpse into the diversity and craftsmanship of India's handloom traditions. In addition to the main function on 7th August, 2026, other significant events planned around the National Handloom Day include exhibitions, conclaves (designer, IIHT) etc. India's handloom sector continues to be one of the country's largest sources of sustainable rural employment, supporting the livelihoods of more than 35 lakh persons, with women constituting over 70 per cent of the workforce. Besides its economic significance, the sector remains a custodian of India's rich textile traditions and an important contributor to environmentally sustainable production practices. National Handloom Day is observed every year on 7 August to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement launched on 7 August 1905, which gave renewed impetus to indigenous industries and India's handloom sector. The observance recognises the enduring contribution of handloom weavers to the country's cultural heritage and socio-economic development. Since its inception in 2015, National Handloom Day has served as an occasion to celebrate the artistry, skill and dedication of India's handloom weavers while reaffirming the Government's commitment to the preservation, promotion and sustainable development of the handloom sector.
