India’s cotton prodn to be lower in 2015-16: CAI

The Dollar Business Bureau

India’s cotton production, during the crop year 2015-16, is estimated to be 341.50 lakh bales, as per the Cotton Association of India (CAI). The industry body has put April estimate of cotton output at 341.50 lakh bales (1 bale = 170 kgs) for 2015-16 crop year (October-September).

The overall output of cotton for the crop year 2014-15 was 382.75 lakh bales, the Association said in a statement. The lower estimate is primarily due to the damage caused to the crops by white-flies this year, in the northern region of the country. The total production of cotton in the northern area during 2015-16 season is expected to be 41 lakh bales, lower from 53.50 lakh bales a year earlier, the statement added.

The cotton arrival, during the month of April, is estimated to be 22.25 lakh bales against 27.05 lakh bales that was arrived during the same month in the previous year. The overall arrivals of cotton this season, till the month of April, are expected at 302.40 lakh bales that comprise about 89 percent of the total crop estimated.

The projected balance sheet prepared by the CAI for 2015-16, expects total supply of cotton at 429.10 lakh bales whereas consumption in the local market is expected to be 305 lakh bales, thus, creating a surplus of around 124.10 lakh bales.

India is second largest country in cotton production after China, accounting for around 18 percent of the world’s cotton output. The country has the largest area under the cultivation of cotton in the world at 12.2 million hectares, which constitute about 25 percent of the world’s area under cotton cultivation.