Cotton Association of India Publishes Latest Cotton Pressing Estimates for 2025–26

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has retained its cotton pressing estimate for the 2025–26 season at 317.00 lakh bales. The assessment follows a virtual meeting of the CAI Crop Committee held on 9 February 2026 with representatives from cotton-growing regions across the country. The season commenced on 1 October 2025.

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has released its latest estimate for India’s cotton pressing for the 2025–26 season, maintaining the figure at 317.00 lakh bales of 170 kg each (equivalent to 332.65 lakh running bales of 162 kg each), with a margin of ±3 percent.

The CAI Crop Committee met virtually on Monday, 9 February 2026, with participation from 21 members representing various cotton-growing regions. The committee reviewed inputs from eleven state cotton associations and other trade sources. Based on these submissions, it finalised state-wise cotton pressing estimates for the 2025–26 season and prepared cotton balance sheets up to the end of January 2026 and up to the end of the crop year on 30 September 2026.

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 maintained at 317.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 332.65 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) +/- 3% i.e. same as estimated previously.

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 maintained India’s total cotton consumption during 2025-26 i.e. upto 30th September 2026 at the same level as estimated previously i.e. 305.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 320.06 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) as against 314.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 329.51 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) in last year.

Upto 31st January 2026, cotton consumption is estimated at 104.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 109.14 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 9.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each than 41.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each estimated for the last year.

Upto 31st January 2026, about 35.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 36.73 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) are estimated to have arrived the Indian ports.

4. EXPORTS 

The CAI has maintained its cotton exports estimate for the 2025-26 season at 15.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 15.74 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each), against 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 January 2026, about 6.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 6.30 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 maintained at the same level as estimated previously i.e. 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 January 2026 is estimated at 316.17 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 331.78 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 220.58 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each upto 31st January 2026 and imports of 35.00 lakh bales estimated till end January 2026. 

6. AVAILABLE SURPLUS 

Total available surplus (i.e. total supply of 427.59 lakh bales less total domestic demand estimated at 305.00 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 maintained 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 January 2026 is estimated at 206.17 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 216.35 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each), which consists of 75.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 78.70 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) with textile mills and 131.17 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 137.65 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) with CCI, Maharashtra Federation, MNCs, Ginners, traders, etc. including cotton sold but not delivered.