Cotton production in India the next cotton season (October 2015 to September 2016) is expected to be approximately 385 lakh bales. Though deficient rainfall in states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra were expected to bring down production, rains in these states during the last 10 days have given hope that production will be almost the same as last year. Prices are also expected to be stable next season.

Textile mills, who are the main buyers of cotton in the country, are facing financial problems because of slow movement of yarn. They want the Center to come out with a scheme to extend financial support to mills to purchase the raw material, that is, cotton. Cotton exports this year are lower than last year and are 63 lakh bales so far. Imports have touched 13 lakh bales. Cotton stock is available in surplus globally. International cotton associations are also expecting a surplus carryover of cotton stock the world over.

India is the second largest producer of cotton in the world after China, accounting for about 18 per cent of world cotton production. It has the distinction of having the largest area under cotton cultivation in the world, ranging between 12.2 million hectares and constituting about 25 per cent of the world area under cotton cultivation.