Cotton Prices Rise Amid Import Disruptions and Strong Demand

31-Mar-2026 11:53 AM

Mumbai: Disruptions are emerging in the import of cotton from abroad, while demand within the domestic sector remains robust. In light of this, the government agency—the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI)—has raised the minimum selling price for its cotton stocks.

The price of government-held cotton has been increased by ₹1,300 per candy (356 kg). With this latest hike, the Corporation has cumulatively raised the base price of its cotton by ₹3,200 per candy since the beginning of March.

According to industry analysts, cotton prices are consistently rising on a global scale, particularly within the futures trading segment of the ICE exchange. Since the first week of March, prices have witnessed an increase of approximately 15 percent.

At the New York-based Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the futures price for May delivery cotton has surged past 70.12 cents per pound, while the futures rate for the July contract is currently trading at 73.28 cents per pound.

As far as the domestic market is concerned, cotton prices have begun to firm up there as well. The bulk of the cotton produced during the 2025-26 season has already arrived in the *mandis* (markets), and the government agency has procured approximately 10 million bales from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Efforts are now underway to sell these stocks.

The price of high-quality cotton in markets such as Raichur and Adoni—as well as in certain regions of states like Maharashtra and Gujarat—has risen to a range of ₹8,400 to ₹8,700 per quintal, a level that stands above the Minimum Support Price of ₹8,110 per quintal.