India’s cotton production is projected to decline to 29.5 million bales during the current season ending in September 2025 from the 32.5 million bales produced in the previous season.

As a per a report by the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption, India’s cotton imports in the 2024-25 season are expected to increase to 2.5 million bales from 1.6 million bales in 2023-2024. Cotton exports are predicted to rise to 1.8 million bales. Domestic textile industry consumption is estimated to decline by 700,000 bales to 30.2 million bales from the last season. This cotton season is expected to end with a stock of lower stock of 3 million bales as against 6.2 million bales in 2022-2023 and the 4.7 million bales in 2023-2024.

With textile and clothing exports increasing, the demand for yarn has also risen. SK Sundararaman, Chairman, Southern India Mills’ Association, has urged the government to eliminate the import duty on cotton. This would ensure textile mills have sufficient cotton supplies between August and November of this year, he argues.