Anil Jadhao Tue Aug 5,
Pune News: Due to declining domestic production and low prices in the international market, cotton imports have increased in the country this year. In the first eight months of the current season, imports have reached the highest level in the last six years. The country imported 27 lakh bales of cotton.
Interestingly, this year, more cotton was imported from Brazil than from the US and Australia. Prices are still low in the international market. Therefore, importers say that cotton imports are likely to increase further.
India is known as a cotton exporter. However, due to the country's declining production and increasing consumption, imports are increasing. Cotton production in the country has reached its lowest level in many years this year. On the other hand, cotton consumption is stable. Therefore, India has to meet its needs by importing cotton. Secondly, production in the country has decreased, but prices have also improved due to demand. Meanwhile, cotton prices in the international market have been under pressure. Therefore, imports are increasing in the country.
In the current season, 27 lakh bales of cotton were imported between October 2024 and May 2025. In the entire last financial year, 15 lakh bales were imported. Earlier in 2018-19, 35 lakh bales of cotton were imported. However, exports are at their lowest in the last 18 years. So far, only 13 lakh bales of cotton have been exported from the country. Earlier, the lowest export of 23 lakh bales of cotton was in 2008-09. Exporters say that there is little chance of even such exports this year.
This year, the highest import was from Brazil. Because the prices of Brazilian cotton were low. So far this year, six and a half lakh bales of cotton have been imported from Brazil. After that, five and a half lakh bales of cotton have been imported from America, five lakh bales from Australia, 1 lakh 79 thousand bales from Mali, and 83 thousand bales from Egypt. Notably, the prices of cotton in all these countries were lower than in India. Due to this, cotton imports have increased in the country.
Domestic cotton imports (in bales)
2024-25* 27 lakhs
2023-24 15 lakhs
2022-23 14 lakhs
2021-22 21 lakhs
2020-21 11 lakhs
2019-20 15.50 lakhs
(2024-25* figure is for October to May)