In January 2024, the Cotton Association of India (CAI) upheld its projection for cotton output production and consumption, keeping the cotton output steady at 294.10 lakh bales of 170 kg and domestic consumption at 311 lakh bales for cotton season 2023-24. This suggests that India's cotton production could decline from the 318.90 lakh bales recorded in the previous season of 2022-23.
CAI has said in a statement that India's total cotton supply in 2023-24 will be 345 lakh bales, which includes 28.90 lakh bales of opening stock and 22 lakh bales of imports. CAI had estimated output at 318.90 lakh bales, opening stock at 24 lakh bales, and imports at 12.50 lakh bales for the last season 2022-23. Opening stock and imports are likely to increase in the current season from the previous season. Total availability of cotton may reduce to 345 lakh bales in the current season from 355.40 lakh bales of the previous season.
CAI maintained domestic demand at 311 lakh bales in January this year, consistent with its estimate from December 2023. This aligns with the organisation's previous season projection, with mills' consumption, Small Scale Industries (SSI) consumption, and non-mill consumption are estimated at 280 lakh bales, 15 lakh bales and 16 lakh bales, respectively, as was estimated in December 2024.
In January 2024, the available surplus of cotton remained steady at 34 lakh bales, consistent with the December 2023 estimate. This figure marks a decrease from the previous season's surplus, which stood at 44.40 lakh bales. India's cotton export is expected to decrease to 14 lakh bales from 15.50 lakh bales. Additionally, the projected closing stock at the end of the current season in September 2024 is 20 lakh bales, compared to 28.90 lakh bales from the previous year.
CAI has also maintained the cotton output at 42 lakh bales in the north region, broken down as follows: Punjab 4.50 lakh bales, Haryana 15 lakh bales, upper Rajasthan 11 lakh bales, and lower Rajasthan 11.50 lakh bales. In the central region, the output is projected at 179.60 lakh bales, with Gujarat at 85 lakh bales, Maharashtra at 76.70 lakh bales, and Madhya Pradesh at 18 lakh bales. Meanwhile, the southern region is expected to produce 67.50 lakh bales, with Telangana at 30 lakh bales, Andhra Pradesh at 12.50 lakh bales, Karnataka at 18.50 lakh bales, and Tamil Nadu at 6.50 lakh bales. Most of the producing states in the country are estimated to experience lower production.
