CAI Revises India’s Cotton Pressing Estimate For 2025-26 Season To 317 Lakh Bales
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has raised its estimate for India’s total cotton pressing in the 2025-26 season to 317 lakh bales of 170 kg each (+/-3%), an increase of 7.5 lakh bales from the previous estimate of 309.5 lakh bales. This revision follows the virtual meeting of the CAI Crop Committee on 13 January 2026, attended by 22 members representing cotton-growing regions across the country. Inputs were collected from eleven state-level cotton associations and other trade sources to arrive at the updated state-wise estimates and cotton balance sheets.
Among the states, Telangana saw the largest increase of 4.5 lakh bales, followed by Maharashtra (+3.0 lakh bales), Karnataka (+1.0 lakh bales) and Tamil Nadu (+0.5 lakh bales), while Madhya Pradesh (-1.0 lakh bales) and Orissa (-0.5 lakh bales) recorded slight reductions.
The CAI has estimated India’s total cotton consumption for the 2025-26 season at 305 lakh bales, compared with 314 lakh bales last year. Up to 31 December 2025, domestic consumption is estimated at 76.25 lakh bales. Cotton imports are projected at 50 lakh bales, consistent with earlier forecasts and higher than the 41 lakh bales imported in 2024-25.
By the end of December 2025, approximately 31 lakh bales had arrived at Indian ports. In contrast, cotton exports have been revised downward to 15 lakh bales, compared with 18 lakh bales in the previous season, with around 4.5 lakh bales shipped by the end of December 2025.
Overall, the total cotton supply for the 2025-26 season is estimated at 427.59 lakh bales, including the opening stock of 60.59 lakh bales, pressing of 317 lakh bales, and imports of 50 lakh bales. This represents a significant increase from last year’s total supply of 392.59 lakh bales.
The total available surplus for the season is projected at 122.59 lakh bales, while the closing stock at the end of the season on 30 September 2026 is expected to reach 107.59 lakh bales, up 47 lakh bales from the previous year. As of 31 December 2025, the available stock stood at 166.03 lakh bales, comprising 66 lakh bales with textile mills and 100.03 lakh bales with the Cotton Corporation of India, state federations, ginners, traders, and other stakeholders, including cotton sold but not yet delivered.
The CAI Crop Committee will continue to monitor cotton pressing, consumption and trade developments over the coming months and update its estimates in subsequent reports, if necessary.
