The State-run Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has procured approximately 46 per cent of the total cotton arrivals in the Marketing Year 2024-25 (MY). Recent data shows, CCI has purchased over 6.3 million bales of kapas (raw cotton), nearly half of the estimated market arrivals of 13.6 million bales (170 kg each).
Lalit Kumar Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, CCI, reports significant regional purchases. Telangana leads with 3.2 million bales procured, followed by Maharashtra at 1.6 million bales. In Gujarat, procurement reached 500,000 bales, while Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka each accounted for 300,000 bales. Madhya Pradesh contributed 225,000 bales, Odisha 125,000 bales, Rajasthan 50,000 bales, Haryana 30,000 bales, and Punjab 1,000 bales.
CCI has ramped up its purchasing activity in recent weeks, increasing from 3.1 million bales as of mid-December.
Despite CCI's aggressive procurement, raw cotton prices remain below the government-set minimum support price (MSP). Kapas prices are currently between Rs 7,100 and Rs 7,200 per quintal in major producing regions, compared to the MSP of Rs 7,121 per quintal for medium-staple cotton and ₹7,521 per quintal for longer varieties.
Pressed cotton prices have risen by Rs 1,000-1,250 per candy (356 kg) in the past week, stabilizing between Rs 53,500 and Rs 54,500 per candy. Additionally, cottonseed prices have increased by 10-15 per cent to Rs 3,400-3,500 due to tight supplies, said Ramanuj Das Boob, a sourcing agent in Raichur.
However, mill buying remains sluggish, with no significant bulk purchases reported, Boob noted.
Daily cotton arrivals now exceed 200,000 bales, primarily from Maharashtra and Telangana. Delayed harvests and assembly elections in Maharashtra slowed initial arrivals but are now gaining momentum.
Telangana has recorded over 3.44 million bales of arrivals so far, with CCI procuring 3.2 million. In Maharashtra, out of 2.69 million bales, CCI has purchased 1.6 million.
Approximately half of the estimated crop size of 30 million bales has arrived in markets as of early January. The Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption projects a slightly lower crop size of 29.9 million bales, while CAI estimates 30.2 million bales, citing reduced acreage during the kharif season.
