Cotton Production Estimate Raised by 3 Lakh Bales

29-Jul-2026 09:24 PM

Mumbai: The Cotton Association of India (CAI), a leading trade body, had initially projected cotton production at 334 lakh bales (each bale weighing 170 kg) for the 2025-26 marketing season (October-September); this figure has now been raised by 3 lakh bales to 337 lakh bales. Notably, the CAI reviews cotton production estimates monthly, basing them on information, data, and insights gathered from associations and other trade sources active across the country's 11 major cotton-producing states.

For the northern zone states—Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan—the CAI had initially projected production at 29 lakh bales for the 2025-26 marketing season and has maintained this figure in its latest monthly report. However, the production estimate for the central zone has been raised from 203 lakh bales to 206 lakh bales. Within this zone, the estimate for Maharashtra has been increased, while figures for Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh remain unchanged. Maharashtra's cotton production estimate has been raised from 115 lakh bales to 118 lakh bales. Production in Gujarat is estimated at 70 lakh bales, and in Madhya Pradesh at 17.50 lakh bales.

No changes have been made to the production estimates for the southern zone. A combined production of 97 lakh bales is projected for the states in this region: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Additionally, production estimates stand at 3.50 lakh bales for Odisha and 2 lakh bales for other states, remaining consistent with the previous report.

Taking these figures into account, the total national cotton production is estimated at 337 lakh bales. These figures also reveal that Maharashtra emerged as the country's leading cotton-producing state in the 2025-26 season, surpassing Gujarat by a significant margin. The current 2025-26 marketing season will conclude in September, and the new 2026-27 marketing season will begin in October; the sowing campaign for the latter is currently underway.