Cotlook Index: 16-07-2026
90.65 (0.70)
ICE cotton drops on weaker export sales, profit booking
Fri. 17th July 2026 (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: ICE cotton futures fell to a multi-week low, with the December 2026 contract dropping 2.76 per cent to 79.30 cents per pound after weak US export sales triggered profit booking.
A stronger US dollar and broad commodity market weakness added pressure, while traders continued to monitor China's reserve auction, US weather, and tightening ICE-certified cotton stocks.
ICE cotton futures dropped to a multi-week low yesterday. Cotton futures fell following the weaker US export sales report released on Thursday. Profit booking after the recent rally also pressured the market. The sharp decline erased all this week's gains, with traders citing disappointing export demand.
The most active December 2026 contract settled at 79.30 cents, down 2.25 cents, or 2.76 per cent. The contract posted its largest single-day decline in nearly two weeks. The December 2026 contract closed below the 80-cent level for the first time since July 6. Other nearby contracts closed with losses ranging from 55 points to 287 points. The December, March and May contracts also closed below the lows of the previous six sessions, signalling a notable setback.
Traders cited disappointing export demand, a lack of fresh bullish cotton news, and broad-based weakness across commodity markets. The market also continued to monitor the upcoming China state cotton reserve auction, although it had little immediate influence on prices.
Market analysts said the market had been expecting a weaker export report, describing sales as "a little disappointing, but not a disaster." The market is beginning to focus more on the new crop rather than old-crop business.
The USDA Weekly Export Sales Report for the week ended July 9 showed net Upland cotton sales of 34,360 bales, the lowest weekly total of the marketing year. Next-crop Upland export sales totalled 4,075 bales.
The US June Retail Sales Report exceeded expectations, with sales rising 0.2 per cent month on month after a 0.9 per cent decline in May, while economists had expected no change. Excluding automobiles, retail sales increased 0.5 per cent, suggesting US consumer spending remained resilient despite economic uncertainty.
Despite the stronger economic data, US Treasury yields rose and expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts were reduced, contributing to a firmer US dollar and weighing on commodity prices.
Other agricultural markets also weakened. CBOT wheat futures closed sharply lower, while corn and soybean futures also declined as traders booked profits and concerns over US crop conditions eased.
The US Dollar Index strengthened for a fourth consecutive session, reaching its highest level in nearly one month and adding further pressure to US agricultural exports by reducing their international price competitiveness.
ICE-certified cotton stocks declined further to 99,836 bales as of July 15, compared with 100,612 bales previously, continuing the steady reduction in deliverable cotton supplies.
Overall, the market experienced a broad risk-off session, with weak export demand outweighing supportive supply fundamentals. Traders will now closely monitor China's reserve auction, US weather conditions, and whether export demand improves enough to stabilise prices above the key 79-80 cents support area.
This morning (Indian Standard Time), ICE cotton for December 2026 traded at 78.38 cents per pound (down 0.92 cent), cash cotton at 73.69 cents (down 2.87 cents), the October 2026 contract at 76.82 cents (down 0.87 cent), the March 2027 contract at 79.87 cents (down 0.83 cent), the May 2027 contract at 80.69 cents (down 0.88 cent), and the July 2027 contract at 80.47 cents (down 0.77 cent). A few contracts remained at their previous closing levels, with no trading recorded so far today.
Bharat Tex 2026 Day 3 highlights innovation and sustainability
Fri. 17th July 2026 (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: Bharat Tex 2026's third day focused on circularity, sustainable sourcing, financing, skills and technology to strengthen India's textile industry.
Discussions brought together policymakers, global brands, investors and industry leaders, while Madhya Pradesh promoted its textile investment potential.
Sessions also emphasised traceability, ESG compliance and export competitiveness.
The third day of Bharat Tex 2026 brought together policymakers, State Government representatives, industry leaders, investors, international organisations, brands, academic institutions and sustainability experts for focused discussions on circularity, responsible sourcing, textile financing, future-ready skills, global trade and technology-led growth. A series of panel discussions, roundtables, workshops, masterclasses and industry interactions highlighted practical pathways for building a competitive, inclusive and environmentally responsible textile sector. A key highlight of the day was the participation of Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, who visited the Madhya Pradesh State Pavilion and interacted with representatives showcasing the State’s textile heritage, manufacturing capabilities and investment potential. Dr. Mohan Yadav subsequently participated in the Madhya Pradesh State Session, organised by the Government of Madhya Pradesh. The session highlighted the State’s strengths across the textile value chain and its potential to attract investment, expand manufacturing, generate employment and support industry-led growth. A media interaction was also held following the session. Dr. Mohan Yadav highlighted the State’s textile potential and investment opportunities.
The day’s discussions featured leading voices from industry, international organisations and sustainability institutions. The National Institute of Fashion Technology-led discussion “Indian Trends to Global Taste: Forecasting for Billion Consumers (VisionNxt)” featured Nand Kishore Chaudhary, Chairman, Jaipur Rugs Company Private Limited, and Riccardo Rami, Founder, Riccardo Rami Studio, Italy. The discussion highlighted India’s potential to shape global fashion trends by combining consumer insights, indigenous knowledge and contemporary design.
Sustainability and circularity remained central to the programme. The United Nations Development Programme session on the India Sustainable Textile Mark featured Ms. Nalini Shekar, Co-Founder, Hasiru Dala, and focused on establishing a credible social and environmental benchmark for Indian textiles and apparel. The session “Wheat Straw to Wardrobes” featured Dr. Ravinder Tuteja, Material Program Lead, H&M, and explored the development of next-generation textile fibres from agricultural residue. The roundtable “Circular Textile: From Dialogue to Deployment”, featuring Archish Kansal, Director, Respun, focused on translating circularity commitments into practical and scalable solutions. The discussion “Fair Commodity Pricing: An Industry Model for an Equitable and Resilient Organic Cotton Value Chain” featured Jagjeet Singh Kandal, Country Director, India, IDH India Hub Private Limited, and Ms. Danique Lodewijks, Sustainable Raw Materials Manager, Bestseller. The session underlined the need for transparent pricing, protection of farmer interests and long-term partnerships across the organic cotton value chain. The panel “Financing a Globally Competitive, Sustainable, Inclusive Supply Chain”, featuring Aakash Shah, Partner, Peak Sustainability Ventures, examined financing mechanisms for resilient and responsible textile supply chains.
The Better Cotton Initiative roundtable “Dialogue for Sustainable Sourcing Solutions to Drive Textile Trade” brought together Ms. Eva Benavidez Clayton, Senior Director of Demand and Engagement, Better Cotton Initiative; Paul Wright, Group Environmental, Social and Governance Executive Director, PDS Limited; Anant Ahuja, Director of Environmental, Social and Governance and Sustainability, Shahi Exports Private Limited; Dilip Kumar, Traceability Manager, Marks and Spencer; and Srinivasan Krishnamurthy, Material Development Lead, IKEA Group. The deliberations focused on responsible sourcing, traceability and stronger collaboration among brands, manufacturers and suppliers to support sustainable textile trade. The roundtable “Weaving Capital In: Investor Perspectives on India’s Textile Sustainability Journey” featured Ms. Ranjna Khanna, Senior Director, Programs, Impact Investors Council; Jai Kumar Gaurav, Senior Advisor for Climate Change and Circular Economy, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit; and Dr. Priya Nagaraj, Head, Green Economy and Innovation, Council on Energy, Environment and Water. The discussion examined investment in clean technologies, circular business models and inclusive enterprises across India’s textile sector.
The e-commerce masterclass “From Bharat to the World”, featuring Pulkit Nanda, Head of New Seller Recruitment, Global Sales, Amazon Global Selling, highlighted how export preparedness and digital marketplaces can help Indian textile enterprises reach global customers. A fireside conversation with Dr. M. Beena, IAS, Development Commissioner for Handlooms, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, and Ms. Priyambada Jayakumar, Author and Historian, reflected on India’s handloom heritage, the contribution of weavers and artisans, and the importance of connecting traditional knowledge with contemporary markets. The day concluded with the “Sustainability Conclave: Learnings and Takeaways — Closing Plenary Session,” featuring Ms. Aarti Mohan, Co-Founder and Partner, Sattva Media and Consulting Private Limited, which consolidated the day’s key insights and called for coordinated action across finance, sourcing, technology, skills and circularity.
A panel discussion “Why Indian Fabric Players Struggle to Integrate into Garmenting and What It Will Take to Succeed” included Shreyaskar Chaudhary, Managing Director, Pratibha Syntex Limited, and Kartikayan Ravichandran, Associate Partner, Vector Consulting Group. The session examined the operational and strategic capabilities required for Indian fabric manufacturers to expand successfully into garment production. The masterclass on “Integrating Sustainable Chemical Management Frameworks into Policy”, led by Saket Damodar Kulkarni, Senior Regional Manager for South Asia, ZDHC Foundation, discussed responsible chemical management, stronger environmental, social and governance compliance and internationally aligned production practices to support India-European Union textile trade.
India's Chhattisgarh secures $113 mn textile investment commitments
Fri. 17th July 2026 (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: Chhattisgarh has secured investment commitments of nearly ₹973 crore ($113 million) from four textile and garment companies under its Industrial Development Policy 2024–30.
The projects are expected to create over 14,000 jobs, supported by plug-and-play infrastructure, employment-linked incentives and export-oriented logistics, strengthening the state's textile manufacturing ecosystem.
Chhattisgarh has attracted investment commitments worth nearly ₹973 crore ($113 million) from four leading textile and garment companies under the state's Industrial Development Policy 2024–30 within two years of the policy coming into force. Together, these investments are expected to generate more than 14,000 employment opportunities, reinforcing the state's emergence as a preferred destination for textile and garment manufacturing.
The investment commitments include Saravana Mills' ₹528 crore integrated textile and apparel manufacturing campus and Swift Textiles Pvt Ltd.'s ₹235 crore manufacturing facility at the Nava Raipur Textile Park. Puneet Creations and Drishti Designs LLP have together committed investments of around ₹210 crore, taking the total investment commitment by the four companies to nearly ₹973 crore.
The recent bhoomipoojan of Swift Textiles' ₹235 crore manufacturing facility, the first garment manufacturing unit at the Nava Raipur Textile Park, marked a significant milestone in the park's development and signalled the transition of investment commitments into on-ground execution, reflecting growing investor confidence in the state's industrial vision.
Commenting on the textile ecosystem, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, said, "A textile factory does much more than create industrial capacity. It creates livelihoods for thousands of families. This sector has immense potential to provide employment to our youth and women, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. Our government is committed to creating opportunities close to home so that our people can build prosperous futures in Chhattisgarh itself."
This momentum can largely be attributed to the state's decision to identify textiles and ready-made garments as priority sectors. Through its Industrial Development Policy, Chhattisgarh has combined investor incentives, ready infrastructure and employment-generation measures to attract investment. The state is positioning textiles as a key growth sector, recognizing its potential to create jobs for women and young people while drawing long-term manufacturing investments.
These four companies also bring valuable industry experience that Chhattisgarh can leverage. Collectively, they span different segments of the textile value chain, from yarn manufacturing to finished garments, and include manufacturers supplying to leading global retail brands such as H&M and Marks & Spencer. As these units become operational, products manufactured in Chhattisgarh will form part of international supply chains serving global markets, positioning the state more prominently on the global textile manufacturing map.
The establishment of ready-made garment units marks a new chapter in Chhattisgarh's industrial development. As one of the most labour-intensive manufacturing sectors globally, textiles and garments are particularly well suited to a state with a young workforce. These investments are expected to create large-scale employment opportunities, especially for women and youth from regions such as Bastar and Surguja, enabling more people to access formal employment closer to home and reducing the need for migration.
Applauding the support extended by the state government, P. Gandhi, Managing Director of Swift Textiles Pvt Ltd. said, "We are delighted to commence construction of our manufacturing unit at Nava Raipur Textile Park. We sincerely thank the Government of Chhattisgarh for its unwavering support and guidance, which have been instrumental in turning this project into reality. We are confident that, with the government's continued encouragement, this facility will set new benchmarks in textile manufacturing, create significant employment opportunities, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Chhattisgarh's textile industry."
Reflecting this employment-led approach, companies setting up textile units can avail overall incentives of up to 200 per cent of their Fixed Capital Investment, including a 35 per cent capital incentive linked to an employment multiplier. The Chhattisgarh Industrial Development Policy 2024–30 also provides Employment Generation Assistance of ₹6,000 per month for every female employee and ₹5,000 per month for every male employee for a period of five years. It also offers training support of up to ₹15,000 per employee.
Additionally, the policy provides a 12-year electricity duty exemption and freight assistance. Customised incentive packages are available for projects investing more than ₹1,000 crore and generating over 1,000 jobs. Additional incentives are also available for the first five anchor investors in the textile sector; several of whom have already committed to establish operations in the state.
The policy is backed by infrastructure designed to help companies commence operations without delay. The 81-acre Textile Park at Nava Raipur, together with the adjoining Readymade Garment Park, is designed to help companies begin operations without delay. The integrated textile ecosystem offers a plug-and-play setup with land, power, water, waste treatment and common facilities already in place.
The park's location further strengthens its attractiveness. Situated along the Mumbai–Howrah railway corridor, it offers efficient access to major domestic markets and logistics networks. It also enjoys proximity to Visakhapatnam Port, providing an important gateway for exports. Combined with strong air connectivity to India's major commercial centres, these advantages provide manufacturers with a robust platform for both domestic distribution and export-oriented growth.
The early response from industry underscores the growing confidence in Chhattisgarh's textile vision. More importantly, projects are already moving from investment commitments to on-ground execution, signalling sustained momentum for the sector.
With a policy framework that rewards employment generation, modern infrastructure designed for rapid industrialisation, and increasing participation from both textile and garment manufacturers, Chhattisgarh is creating a competitive and future-ready manufacturing ecosystem. As these investments take shape, the state is well positioned to emerge as an important destination for textile production, employment generation and export-led growth in India.
India's PDEXCIL and AWARE sign MoU to advance textile traceability
Fri. 17th July 2026 (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: PDEXCIL and AWARE have partnered to help India's powerloom sector prepare for the EU's Digital Product Passport requirements through blockchain-based traceability.
The collaboration enables producer-owned, verifiable supply chain data, blockchain-issued Crypto TCs, and technical support, strengthening export readiness and competitiveness in European and global markets.
The Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) and AWARE, the Amsterdam-based neutral, cross-border data infrastructure for textile producers, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi.The agreement was signed by Mr. K. Sakthivel, Chairman of PDEXCIL, and Mr. Feico van der Veen, Founder and Managing Director of AWARE.
The European Union is introducing Digital Product Passport requirements under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Textiles are among the priority product groups, making early traceability readiness increasingly important for producers supplying European brands and markets.
India’s powerloom sector sits near the beginning of the textile value chain. Producers that can provide reliable, portable evidence of material origin, composition and production history will be better positioned to meet the evolving sourcing and compliance requirements of international customers.
AWARE supports this transition through blockchain-anchored tokenisation technology. Its infrastructure creates a Data Token for each production batch, carrying authenticated information about the material’s origin, composition and credentials. The token travels with the physical goods across successive stages of production and across borders, creating a verifiable chain of custody.
This enables producers to generate blockchain-issued Crypto TCs and build the data foundation required for Digital Product Passports. The data is generated at source and remains under the ownership and control of the producer.
“Everyone else built for the brands. We built for the producers. India’s powerloom sector is where a large part of the world’s textiles begins. The data must start here and travel with the goods, not be reconstructed later. In a world where an unverifiable claim can become a legal liability, verified, producer-owned data is not simply a feature. It is access to the market.” — Mr. Feico van der Veen, Founder and Managing Director, AWARE.
Under the MOU, PDEXCIL will introduce AWARE to its members and support awareness, education and potential adoption across the powerloom sector. This will include industry engagement through workshops, training sessions, webinars and other member communication channels.
AWARE will provide preferential terms to verified PDEXCIL members, together with onboarding, training and technical support. The collaboration is designed around data sovereignty: producers retain ownership and control of the supply-chain data they generate.
“The EU Digital Product Passport will bring significant changes to the way textile products and production data are presented in international markets. Through this collaboration, we aim to help Indian powerloom producers strengthen their traceability capabilities, prepare for emerging requirements and improve their competitiveness while retaining ownership of their data.” — Mr. K. Sakthivel, Chairman, PDEXCIL.
The parties intend to begin initial implementation projects with selected PDEXCIL member units shortly.
India seeks stronger trade & investment ties with Finland
Fri. 17th July 2026 (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: India strengthened trade and investment ties with Finland as Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal led a high-level delegation to Helsinki.
The visit featured ministerial talks, two industry MoUs and business engagements in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technologies and the circular economy, with both countries aiming to double bilateral trade by 2030.
India has moved to strengthen trade, investment and industry cooperation with Finland as the former's Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal recently led a high-level delegation of senior business leaders and government officials on an official visit to the Nordic country.
The first day included ministerial discussions, two institutional Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), and business engagements across sectors relevant to manufacturers, exporters, importers and sourcing teams tracking European partnerships.
Goyal held bilateral talks with Dr. Sakari Puisto, Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland, with discussions focused on financial markets, innovation, enterprise financing, and expansion of bilateral trade and investment, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press release.
At the India-Finland Business Forum at the House of the Estates in Helsinki, two MoUs were signed between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Business Finland, and between CII and the Confederation of Finnish Industries.
The agreements are intended to create institutional mechanisms for industry collaboration and greater business engagement between the two countries.
Indian and Finnish companies also held sector-specific interactions covering digital and frontier technologies, space, clean energy, bioeconomy, circular economy, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing. The discussions explored collaboration, investment and technology partnerships.
In his address, Goyal highlighted the shared ambition of India and Finland to double bilateral trade by 2030 and emphasised opportunities created by the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement to expand trade, investment, manufacturing and innovation partnerships, added the release.
The visit builds on the elevation of India-Finland relations to a Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability during the State Visit of President Alexander Stubb to India in March 2026, and follows the conclusion of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement on January 27, 2026.
The day’s engagements ended with a networking reception hosted by the Embassy of India in Helsinki for business leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from both countries.
US cotton export sales slump to marketing-year low despite demand
Fri. 17th July 2026 (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: US Upland cotton export sales fell to the lowest level of the current marketing year in the week ended July 9, dropping 48 per cent from the previous week, while export shipments also declined.
In contrast, Pima cotton sales strengthened further, led by India, although Pima export shipments weakened, indicating softer near-term US cotton demand.
US cotton export sales weakened sharply in the week ended July 9, 2026, with Upland cotton bookings dropping to the lowest level of the current marketing year after the modest recovery seen in the previous week. Export shipments also declined, while Pima cotton sales improved further despite weaker export volumes, according to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) weekly export sales report.
Net sales of Upland cotton for the 2025-26 marketing year totalled 34,400 RB (running bales, each weighing 226.8 kg), down 48 per cent from the previous week and 64 per cent below the prior four-week average. Bangladesh emerged as the largest buyer with purchases of 10,600 RB, followed by Vietnam with 5,800 RB, Pakistan with 5,300 RB, Peru with 4,800 RB and Thailand with 2,700 RB. These gains were partly offset by net reductions for Japan, Bahrain and Türkiye.
New-crop Upland cotton export sales for the 2026-27 marketing year slowed sharply to 4,100 RB. Pakistan led purchases with 4,200 RB, followed by Peru with 3,800 RB, Vietnam with 1,700 RB and Indonesia with 1,200 RB. These were largely offset by net reductions for Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and Japan.
Upland export shipments declined to 214,900 RB, down 7 per cent from the previous week and 14 per cent below the prior four-week average. Vietnam remained the leading destination with shipments of 77,100 RB, followed by Türkiye with 36,100 RB, Pakistan with 21,500 RB, India with 17,000 RB and Mexico with 14,000 RB.
Pima cotton continued to attract stronger buying interest. Net sales for the 2025-26 marketing year reached 3,600 RB, up 38 per cent from the previous week and 11 per cent above the prior four-week average. India led purchases with 2,500 RB, followed by China with 700 RB and Vietnam with 400 RB. New-crop Pima cotton sales for the 2026-27 marketing year totalled 2,400 RB, comprising 1,400 RB for India and 1,000 RB for Peru.
Pima export shipments fell to 7,800 RB, down 27 per cent from the previous week and 45 per cent below the prior four-week average. India remained the largest destination with shipments of 3,500 RB, followed by Vietnam with 3,200 RB, Thailand with 500 RB, Djibouti with 500 RB and Japan with 100 RB.
The latest USDA data indicate that US cotton export demand lost momentum after the previous week's recovery. Upland sales slumped to a marketing-year low and new-crop commitments weakened significantly, although Bangladesh remained an active buyer. Pima sales continued to strengthen, driven by India, but export shipments for both Upland and Pima declined, reflecting softer near-term demand.
Germany's Barmag showcases fibre innovation at China Customer Day
Fri. 17th July 2026 (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Barmag's Customer Day in Fuzhou brought together nearly 100 customers from China's leading polyamide hubs to showcase integrated man-made fibre solutions.
The event highlighted innovation, sustainability and end-to-end technical expertise, while reinforcing closer customer collaboration and Rieter's expanded full textile value chain capabilities following the Barmag acquisition.
Barmag hosted its Customer Day themed “A New Era. Powered by Innovation.” in Fuzhou on June 28, welcoming nearly one hundred invited customers from Fujian and Guangdong provinces. Georg Stausberg, CEO of Barmag Group, attended along-side the sales and R&D expert China team to jointly present integrated solutions covering the entire man-made fiber value chain.
Centered on the theme “A New Era. Powered by Innovation.”, the event targeted Fujian and Guangdong, China’s two major polyamide manufacturing hubs. It served as a communication platform for key regional clients to deepen strategic local cooperation and jointly explore pathways for the high-end and sustainable transformation of chemical fiber production.
The event welcomed a distinguished senior delegation: Georg Stausberg, CEO of Barmag; Jochen Adler, CTO of Barmag; and Dr. Wolfgang Ernst, CSO of Barmag, accompanied by core teams based in Beijing, Suzhou, Shanghai and Yangzhou. Attendees represented all key functional divisions, including management, sales, project execution and after-sales service. Representatives from SSM and Temco, sister brands within the Rieter Group, also participated as “new colleagues”. Their presence underscores Rieter’s strategic ambition and comprehensive capabilities to develop integrated full textile chain solutions following its acquisition of Barmag.
Specialists from Sales, Project and Service divisions delivered in-depth briefings to attendees on complete technical solutions from melt to yarn, fully demonstrating Barmag’s comprehensive capability to deliver high-efficiency integrated technical services.
During the afternoon session, the Barmag team accompanied all guests on a guided tour of Fujian Eversun Jinjiang’s production facility. As Barmag’s largest polyamide customer worldwide and a core strategic partner, Eversun Jinjiang has maintained long-standing, intensive collaboration built on complementary strengths.
“Customer oriented” has long stood as Barmag’s principle, with sustainable development embedded into every stage of technology R&D. In future, Barmag will continue to leverage its global R&D network, comprehensive local service infrastructure and integrated technical know-how to increase value for customers.
ICAR-SBI to Commercialize New Gene Targeting Pink Bollworm in Cotton by 2030
Fri. 17th July 2026, Jayesh Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
ICAR-SBI Prepares to Commercialize New Gene Targeting Pink Bollworm
The Coimbatore-based ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR-SBI) has taken a significant step towards commercializing a newly discovered crystal toxin gene that is effective against the pink bollworm. The institute is working on a plan to develop transgenic cotton hybrids and make commercial seeds available to farmers by 2030 under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The pink bollworm has emerged as one of the biggest challenges for Bollgard II cotton cultivation in India. To address this and to boost cotton production while halting the decline in cultivation acreage, scientists at ICAR-SBI have successfully isolated a new crystal toxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis after more than 15 years of research.
Institute Director P. Govindaraj stated that one of the newly discovered genes has proven effective even against pink bollworm populations that have developed resistance to the Bollgard II technology. He noted that this discovery could play a crucial role in developing more sustainable and pest-resistant cotton varieties in the future.
B. Singaravelu, a principal scientist at the institute, said that a partnership with the private sector would be established to advance this high-value technology and rapidly bring the research findings to farmers.
Andhra Pradesh Secures ₹4,100 Crore Textile Investment Commitments at Bharat Tex 2026
Thu. 16th July 2026, Jayesh Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Andhra Pradesh Secures Investment Commitments Worth ₹4,100 Crore for Textile Sector at 'Bharat Tex 2026'
New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh has secured investment commitments totaling ₹4,100 crore for textile projects at the 'Bharat Tex 2026' event. Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed on the second day of the event, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
These agreements were executed under the supervision of G. Rekha Rani, the Commissioner of Handlooms and Textiles for Andhra Pradesh. This initiative is part of the state government's efforts to attract investment and strengthen the textile and garment industry.
One of the agreements proposes the establishment of a sustainable textile recycling facility in Visakhapatnam with an investment of up to ₹4,000 crore. The second agreement involves setting up a garment manufacturing unit with an investment of ₹100 crore. This unit is expected to generate direct and indirect employment for approximately 3,000 people.Meanwhile, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated the 'Lepakshi Handicrafts' stall. The stall showcases Andhra Pradesh's rich handloom heritage, handicrafts, textile capabilities, and investment potential. Organized by the Union Ministry of Textiles, the 'Bharat Tex 2026' event will continue until July 17.Rajya Sabha member V. Vijayendra Prasad visited the Andhra Pradesh pavilion and remarked that the state's handloom sector holds significant potential in international markets. He emphasized the need to adopt new technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), to enable skilled weavers to connect directly with global buyers.He also highlighted the growing demand for authentic, handcrafted, and culturally significant products among the Indian diaspora and foreign customers, particularly in the United States. He stated that Andhra Pradesh is well-positioned to emerge as a major global sourcing hub for handloom and textile products.
Pasupuleti Hari Prasad, Chairman of the Lepakshi Handicrafts Development Corporation, commended the Department of Handlooms and Textiles for showcasing Andhra Pradesh's traditional handloom heritage alongside its modern textile and garment industry. He noted that under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the state government is committed to accelerating the sector's growth through investment-friendly policies and infrastructure development. The Andhra Pradesh pavilion in Hall No. 9 displays a range of handloom, textile, fabric, and garment products. It also features GI-tagged and 'One District One Product' (ODOP) items from organizations and textile parks such as Guntur Textile Park, Tarkeshwar Textile Park, Harish Fashions, APCO, and Magic Weaves.
Representatives from the Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) also expressed interest in collaborating on awareness and capacity-building programs regarding exports for textile MSMEs.
officials stated that the state's participation in 'Bharat Tex 2026' is expected to attract new investments, strengthen export ties, and enhance access to global markets. Andhra Pradesh is home to over 15,000 textile MSMEs, more than 140 large textile units, and approximately 35,000 power looms, with textile exports valued at around US$ 444 million.
Global Cotton Rally May Face Brazil Supply Test as Production Expansion Looms
Fri. 17th July 2026, Jayesh Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Global Cotton Rally May Face Brazil Test as Higher Prices Spur Production Expansion
Global cotton prices are recovering after two years of weak returns as synchronized production declines across major exporting countries tighten supplies and improving import demand supports market sentiment. While the outlook remains constructive for the second half of 2026, analysts say the next supply cycle—particularly in Brazil—could determine whether the rally is sustained.
Raphael Bulascoschi, Market Intelligence Analyst at StoneX Brazil, said the current market is benefiting from reduced output across key exporters, but warned that attention is already shifting toward the 2027 crop cycle. "The base case is constructive for the second half of 2026," he said, adding that questions remain over the long-term sustainability of higher prices.
Brazil, the world's largest cotton exporter, is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping future supply. According to Bulascoschi, improved profitability is making cotton a more attractive option than second-crop corn, encouraging farmers to expand planted acreage if current price incentives persist. Higher Brazilian production could gradually offset today's tightening global supplies and reshape market dynamics.
Why India’s imports of 3 agri-commodities may touch a new high this year
Fri. 17th July 2026, Harish Damodaran (Source: www. indianexpress.com)
In 2025-26 (April-March), India imported a record 16.4 million tonnes (mt) of vegetable oils and 1.1 mt of raw cotton, valued at $19.5 billion and $1.9 billion respectively.
In addition, it imported nearly 6 mt of pulses – the highest after 2024-25 and 2016-17 – worth $3.6 billion.The current fiscal could see even these records broken.The main reason is El Niño. The impact of this climate phenomenon – an abnormal warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean waters off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, which is associated with dry weather across India, Southeast Asia and Australia – is already being felt. Rainfall for the country as a whole in June was 38% below the normal long-period average for the month. While July so far has registered a lower 7.3% shortfall, the cumulative deficiency for the four-month southwest monsoon season (June-September) as of July 16 is still at 24%.
Kharif sowing lag
The lack of rains has affected planting of most kharif (monsoon-cultivated) crops. While overall sown area till July 10 was 16% below the coverage for the same period of 2025, the decline was even more in pulses (23.3%) and oilseeds (21%).
Within pulses, the year-on-year acreage drop has been 30.3% for arhar (pigeon pea) and 29.7% for urad (black gram). In oilseeds, it has ranged from 16% for soyabean to 34% for groundnut and 46% for sesamum. The progressive area sown under cotton, too, has been 15.3% down compared to last year’s corresponding figure.
“Rainfall has been weak and, moreover, scattered. There are areas within 20-25 km of the same taluka (sub-district) that have received showers and those which haven’t,” said Nitin Kalantri, a leading dal miller from Latur in Maharashtra.
The monsoon’s revival in July should help somewhat close the above gaps and may be reflected in the Agriculture Ministry’s kharif sowing data update for the coming week. “Sowing of pulses, including arhar (a 5-6 months crop), can take place till July-end. What we need is good rains over next two weeks,” added Kalantri.
The same goes for cotton, where the sowing window in the main growing belts of central and southern India usually closes by mid-July. This can be extended till the month-end, if the monsoon is delayed or erratic.
“Cotton doesn’t need too much rain. The price sentiment for cotton is also good this time, with many farmers keen to shift from rice and maize,” M. Prabhakar Rao, chairman and managing director of the Medchal (Telangana)-based Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd, pointed out.
According to him, less rainfall would be a problem more from the standpoint of pink bollworm (PBW) infestation: “PBW is a monophagous pest that feeds exclusively on cotton. Frequent rains help in disrupting the mating cycle of the adult moths, besides drowning the pupae in the soil. Prolonged dry weather is conducive for uninterrupted mating, egg-laying and the growth of larvae that bore into the developing bolls. The increased pest population can, then, bring down yields”.
El Niño worries
While the monsoon rainfall deficit is quite significant now, the worry is more from a strengthening El Niño in the months ahead. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast an 81% probability of the present El Niño intensifying into a “very strong” event during October-December, with a 97% chance of it persisting through the spring months till March-April.
Given that El Niño is known not only to suppress rainfall, but also to raise temperatures, it could translate into a relatively short and warm upcoming winter. That can potentially hurt the ensuing rabi (winter-spring) season crops such as wheat, rapeseed-mustard, chana (chickpea), masoor (red lentil) and potato as well.
The brunt of all this would be borne by oilseeds, pulses, millets and cotton, which are predominantly rainfed crops, unlike rice, wheat or sugarcane. The current developing El Niño – which, NOAA believes, may turn out to be “among the largest…events in the historical record going back to 1950” – may result in India’s vegetable oil, pulses and cotton imports also scaling a new peak.
The comfort factors
On the positive side, though, stocks of rice and wheat in government godowns, at 68.3 mt and 53.4 mt respectively on June 1, were way above the corresponding minimum required levels of 13.5 mt and 27.6 mt for July 1.
Government agencies are also reportedly holding over 4 mt of pulse stocks, which includes 2 mt of chana and 0.6-0.7 mt of arhar.
“They can offload these in a worst-case scenario. There is also the option to import, especially with fresh shipments of arhar from Mozambique, Malawi and other East African countries expected in August-September. Likewise, masoor from Canada and Australia would be ready for shipping after September and November respectively. The voyage time for these would be 20-30 days,” noted Kalantri.
Also, unlike in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world is awash with ample stocks from the record global harvests of wheat, rice, corn (maize), sugar and even soyabean, rapeseed and palm oil in 2025-26.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s benchmark food price index was up just 1.7% year-on-year in June. The only commodity of worry is vegetable oils, where the index in June was 23.3% higher than a year ago. The landed price of imported crude palm, soyabean and sunflower oil in India, at $1,230, $1,290 and $1,450 per tonne now, is higher than their corresponding year-ago average levels of $1,100, $1,190 and $1,215 respectively.
A key reason for vegetable oil prices firming up is their alternate use as biofuel. When crude petroleum prices harden – as they are with the resumption of the conflict in West Asia – there is added incentive to divert palm, rapeseed and soyabean oil for the production of fatty acid methyl ester, which can substitute regular diesel.
