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CAI RELEASES ITS FIRST COTTON PRESSING ESTIMATE FOR 2024-25 SEASON |
Cotton Association of India (CAI) has released its first estimate of the cotton pressing numbers for 2024-25 season beginning from 1st October 2024. At the CAI Crop Committee meeting which was held on 21st October 2024, all India total cotton pressing numbers for the 2024-25 season have been estimated at 302.25 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 317.18 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each). These numbers are provided by all state association presidents / secretaries who were present in the meeting. The CAI also drew an estimated cotton balance sheet as on 30th September 2025. The State-wise break-up of the cotton pressing numbers and balance sheet for the season with the corresponding data for the previous crop year are enclosed. The Committee however felt that there could be a variation of +/- 5% in the cotton pressings and balance sheet numbers on account of unpredictable monsoon pattern and other factors influencing the crop.
As per CAI data, the highest cotton yield in India during the last five years was 2.67 bales per hectare in 2019-20 season, the lowest cotton yield during the last five years was 2.42 bales bales per hectare in 2021-22 season and the average yield during the last five years was 2.55 bales per hectare. Considering this and the showing of 112.90 lakh hectare reported by the Ministry of Agriculture in its report dated 27th September 2024, the highest cotton production in India during 2024-25 season would be about 301 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 315.86 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each), the lowest cotton production during 2024-25 season would be about 273 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 286.48 lakh running bales of 162 kgs, each) while the average cotton production in India during the ongoing crop year 2024-25 would be about 288 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 302.22 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each.
The total cotton supply till end of the cotton season 2024-25 (i.e. upto 30th September 2025) is estimated at 357.44 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 375.09 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) as against the last year’s total cotton supply of 371.69 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 390.05 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each). The estimated cotton supply consists of the opening stock of 30.19 lakh bales (equivalent to 31.68 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) at the beginning of 2024-25 season on 1st October 2024, cotton pressing numbers estimated for 2024-25 season at 302.25 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 317.18 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) and imports for the season estimated at 25 lakh
bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 26.23 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each). The cotton imports estimated by the CAI for the season are higher by 7.50 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each compared to last year. The domestic consumption estimated by the CAI is the same as last year i.e. 313 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 328.46 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each). The exports for the season 2024-25 are estimated by the CAI at 18 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 18.89 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) as against 28.50 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 29.91 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) estimated for 2023-24 season.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE CAI CROP COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 21ST OCTOBER 2024
The CAI Crop Committee, which met on 21st October 2024, was attended by 20 members across all 10 cotton growing states. Based on the input given by the representatives of each state association, the CAI Crop Committee has estimated total cotton pressing numbers for 2024-25 season and has also drawn cotton balance sheet for 2024-25 season.
The following are the salient features of the CAI crop report:-
1. CONSUMPTION
CAI has maintained cotton consumption for 2024-25 season at 313 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 328.46 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each).
2. COTTON PRESSING
As per the crop report submitted by upcountry associations and trade sources at the meeting of the CAI Crop Committee, there are reports of crop damage due to excessive rainfalls in several cotton growing states. Also the Ministry of Agriculture has reported acreage under cotton to be lower by 10% that last year. Overall, CAI estimates a reduction of 23.04 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each in the pressing numbers for the ongoing season – 302.25 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 317.18 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) as against 325.29 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 341.35 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) in last year. The break-up of Zone-wise reduction of 23.04 lakh bales in cotton pressing numbers compared to last year are given below: -
| (in lakh bales of 170 kgs. each) | |
| Zone | Reduction |
| North Zone | 9.62 |
| Central Zone | 11.05 |
| South Zone | 1.85 |
| Orissa | 0.52 |
| TOTAL REDUCTION | 23.04 |
3. IMPORTS
The cotton imports into India are estimated at 25 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 26.23 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) during 2024-25 season as against 17.50 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 18.36 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) estimated for last season. The cotton imports estimated for the ongoing crop year 2024-25 are higher by 7.50 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each compared to last year.
4. EXPORTS
The cotton exports for 2024-25 crop year are estimated to be at 18 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 18.89 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) as against 28.50 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 29.91 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) estimated for the last season.
5. CLOSING STOCK AS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER 2025
The closing stock as on 30th September 2025 is estimated at 26.44 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 27.75 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) as against 30.19 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each (equivalent to 31.68 lakh running bales of 162 kgs. each) in last year.
| Mumbai | Atul S. Ganatra | |||
| Date: 22nd October 2024 | President | |||
