In February 2018, Indian cotton exports were down 13.3 per cent from January, but up 45.2 per cent year on year. Cotton imports were up 37 per cent year on year and up 8.3 per cent month on month. In the first two months of 2018, exports were up 7.2 per cent year on year.

Bangladesh, Pakistan and Vietnam continued to be the major consumers of Indian cotton in February 2018. But exports to Bangladesh were down 17 per cent from January, those to Pakistan were down 34.2 per cent and those to Vietnam were flat from January.

From August 2017 to February 2018, imports were down 46.1 per cent year on year and in the first two months of 2018, imports were up 27.1 per cent year on year. Cotton imports have seen steady growth for four months, which is mainly pushed by the strong demand for quality cotton from Indian spinning mills.

In February 2018, the major cotton suppliers for India were US, Egypt and Mali. US cotton remained the largest volumes, taking a share of 49.14 per cent. Egyptian cotton continued to the second largest import origins, but its proportion declined to 21.44 per cent. Cotton imports have seen steady growth for four months, which is mainly pushed by the strong demand for quality cotton from Indian spinning mills.