Cotlook Index: 30-07-2026
88.75 (-1.00)
ICE cotton recovers on weaker dollar, stronger export sales
Fri. 31st July 2026, (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: ICE cotton futures rebounded above 80 cents per pound as a weaker US dollar, the strongest USDA export sales in 17 weeks and weather concerns lifted sentiment. The December 2026 contract settled 1.43 per cent higher at 80.67 cents. Support also came from tight certified stocks and strong Chinese reserve buying. The contract traded higher at 81.11 cents in early Friday trading (IST).
ICE cotton futures recovered from their recent decline and closed yesterday back above the important psychological level of 80 cents per pound. Market sentiment strengthened, supported by a weaker US dollar, stronger-than-expected USDA export sales and ongoing weather concerns in key US cotton-growing regions.
The most-active December 2026 contract settled at 80.67 cents, up 1.14 cents, or 1.43 per cent. The contract recovered all of Wednesday's losses and finished the week with gains of 69 points.
Prices remained firm throughout the session, with the largest intraday pullback limited to just 12 points, reflecting steady buying interest rather than a volatile short-covering rally.
Trading volume increased sharply to 38,535 contracts from 27,393 contracts on Wednesday, indicating traders returned after the lightest trading session of 2026.
The US dollar weakened after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, making US cotton more competitive for overseas buyers and providing a strong tailwind for prices. Market analysts said cotton had already been moving higher before the export report was released, suggesting the strong sales data confirmed an improving demand outlook rather than triggering the rally itself. The USDA Weekly Export Sales report for the week ended July 23, delivered the strongest weekly sales in 17 weeks, with total net sales of 395,973 bales, including 387,798 Upland and 8,175 Pima bales. The exceptionally strong export report reinforced the view that global mill demand remains healthy, with buyers booking aggressively despite higher prices. China's state reserve auctions continued to record 100 per cent sellouts, while ICE-certified stocks remained at a six-month low of 90,699 bales, reinforcing the tight nearby supply outlook. Weather conditions remained supportive, with traders closely monitoring dry conditions in Xinjiang and persistent heat across West Texas, both of which could affect production prospects. Outside markets also turned more supportive. Crude oil stabilised above $80 per barrel after the previous session's sharp rebound, helping agricultural commodities maintain inflation-hedge buying. Broader financial markets also steadied following the Federal Reserve announcement, easing the previous day's risk-off pressure. Technically, December futures reclaimed the 80-cent level and closed back above the 10-day moving average, producing a bullish reversal after Wednesday's breakdown. Immediate support is now seen at 80.00 cents, followed by 79.50 cents and 78.68 cents, while resistance stands at 80.88 cents (Monday's high), followed by the 82.00-cent psychological level and then the recent high of 82.96 cents. Overall, cotton quickly recovered from Wednesday's Fed-driven weakness as a softer US dollar, the strongest export sales in 17 weeks, continued Chinese buying, tight certified stocks and weather concerns restored bullish sentiment. Momentum has shifted back in favour of the bulls, with the market now watching whether strong export demand, weather conditions in West Texas and stable crude oil prices can sustain the rally. This morning (Indian Standard Time), ICE cotton for December 2026 traded at 81.11 cents per pound (up 0.44 cent), cash cotton at 75.66 cents (up 1.39 cents), the October 2026 contract at 79.86 cents (up 0.45 cent), the March 2027 contract at 82.68 cents (up 0.43 cent), the May 2027 contract at 83.74 cents (up 0.43 cent), and the July 2027 contract at 83.40 cents (up 0.44 cent). A few contracts remained at their previous closing levels, with no trading recorded so far today.
Maharashtra Receives ₹167.51 Crore Investment from 24 Firms Under Textile PLI Scheme
Fri. 31st July 2026, Jayesh Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Maharashtra Attracts ₹167.51 Crore Investment from 24 Companies Under Textile PLI Scheme According to the Ministry of Textiles, investments worth ₹167.51 crore (approximately ₹17.49 million) have been received in Maharashtra from 24 approved companies by March 31 under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for textiles—an initiative launched to boost the production of MMF (Man-Made Fiber) garments, MMF fabrics, and technical textiles. Nationwide, 170 companies have been approved under this scheme, with 24 of them based in Maharashtra. The Ministry stated that it continuously monitors the scheme's implementation through periodic reviews, weekly open-house sessions, monthly workshops, and outreach programs to address challenges and enhance stakeholder participation. The Ministry also noted that investor interest has increased following modifications made to the scheme in October 2025. These changes include the inclusion of 17 new HSN codes under the MMF garment and fabric categories, a 50% reduction in the minimum investment threshold, relaxation of the requirement to form a new company to avail benefits, and a reduction in the incremental turnover requirement for incentives from 25% to 10%.
Andhra Pradesh Cotton Sowing Rises 13%; Kurnool Tops as Planting Outpaces Normal
Fri. 31st July 2026, Jayesh Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Cotton Sowing in Andhra Pradesh Up by 13%; Progress Faster Than Normal; Kurnool Leads the Way Cotton sowing in Andhra Pradesh during the Kharif 2026 season has recorded a significant increase compared to the previous year. According to the latest data from the State Agriculture Department, cotton has been sown across 3,36,354 hectares in the state as of July 29, 2026, whereas the figure stood at 2,97,848 hectares during the same period last year. Thus, an additional 38,506 hectares (approximately 13%) have been brought under cotton cultivation this year. So far, 65% of the normal seasonal area has been sown, compared to 56% last year. Meanwhile, sowing progress relative to the normal schedule stands at 125%, a marked improvement over the 101% recorded last year. This clearly indicates that sowing has proceeded at a faster-than-normal pace in most regions this year. In terms of district-wise data, Kurnool led the state with 2,19,767 hectares of cotton sowing. It was followed by Palnadu (34,489 hectares), NTR (21,671 hectares), Ananthapuramu (20,915 hectares), and YSR Kadapa (6,105 hectares). Conversely, sowing lagged behind the normal pace in districts such as Prakasam, Bapatla, Kakinada, Guntur, and Sri Sathya Sai. Agricultural experts believe that this increase in sowing area could lay the foundation for better cotton production in the upcoming season. However, final output will depend on weather conditions during August and September, rainfall distribution, and the overall health of the crop.
Potential Market Impact: The increase in sowing is a positive sign for farmers. If weather conditions remain favorable, cotton availability in the coming season is likely to improve. This raises the prospect of better supplies of the new crop for ginners, traders, and spinning mills. For now, market attention will remain focused on weather patterns and crop development.
Monsoon Boosts Kharif Sowing in Telangana & Maharashtra; Cotton Sowing Nears Completion
Fri. 31st July 2026, Jayesh Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Monsoon Accelerates Kharif Sowing in Telangana and Maharashtra; Cotton Sowing Nears Completion
New Delhi: Recent monsoon rains have given fresh momentum to Kharif season sowing in Telangana and Maharashtra. Continuous rainfall following a prolonged dry spell has boosted soil moisture and filled reservoirs and farm ponds, prompting farmers to accelerate sowing and paddy transplantation activities. Significant progress in Kharif crop cultivation has been observed in both states, with cotton sowing nearing its final stage.
In Telangana, following more than 48 hours of continuous drizzle, Kharif crop sowing and paddy transplantation have been completed across 82.65 lakh acres so far. This figure exceeds the 82.15 lakh acres recorded during the same period last year. According to agricultural officials, recent rains have ensured adequate soil moisture, and improved irrigation water availability has accelerated paddy transplantation. The state's rainfall deficit, which stood at 30 percent a week ago, has now narrowed to 19 percent.
Regarding crop-wise progress, paddy transplantation has been completed on 25.46 lakh acres, representing approximately 31 percent of the 65.97 lakh-acre target. Cotton sowing has reached 46.33 lakh acres against a target of 47.41 lakh acres, meaning nearly 98 percent of the target has been achieved. Additionally, sowing has been completed for maize (4.69 lakh acres), arhar (red gram) (4.42 lakh acres), and soybean (3.66 lakh acres).
Kharif sowing has also picked up pace in Maharashtra due to good monsoon rains over the past two weeks. According to the state's Agriculture Department, as of July 30, sowing has been completed on approximately 1.23 crore hectares out of the state's average Kharif acreage of 1.44 crore hectares (excluding sugarcane), marking the achievement of 86 percent of the total target. Sowing across an additional area of approximately 2.3 million hectares was recorded between July 16 and July 30.
According to crop-wise data, soybean sowing in Maharashtra has covered 4.72 million hectares and cotton sowing 3.73 million hectares, representing about 88 percent of the estimated target. Meanwhile, paddy transplantation has been completed across 0.78 million hectares. The state recorded 466.8 mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 27, which is 94.15 percent of the normal rainfall.
Agricultural experts state that recent rainfall has improved the condition of Kharif crops in both states. If the monsoon remains normal in the coming weeks, the growth of cotton, paddy, soybean, and other Kharif crops will improve, further strengthening production prospects for the year.
India’s Textile & Apparel Exports Cross ₹3.25 Lakh Crore in FY26, Government Expands Export Support
Fri. 31st July 2026, Jayesh Chouhan (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
India's Textile and Apparel Exports (Including Handicrafts) Cross ₹3.25 Lakh Crore in 2025-26 New Delhi. India's exports of textiles and apparel (including handicrafts) stood at ₹3,25,339 crore in the 2025-26 fiscal year, marking a 1.8 percent increase compared to the ₹3,19,573.2 crore recorded in 2024-25. During this period, growth was registered in exports to over 100 countries. The government states that this growth signals the Indian textile sector's rising global competitiveness and export potential. The government has implemented several schemes to enhance the global competitiveness of the textile and apparel sector. These include the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park scheme, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the National Technical Textiles Mission, the SAMARTH scheme, and measures such as market access support and interest subsidies under the Export Promotion Mission. In recent months, the government has also launched several new initiatives. These include extending the 'Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products' (RoDTEP) scheme until September 30, 2026; providing temporary customs duty relief on key raw materials for the cotton and man-made fiber (MMF) value chains; rationalizing GST rates to address the inverted duty structure in the MMF sector; and launching the 'Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation' (RELIEF) initiative to assist exporters affected by geopolitical conditions in West Asia. The tenure of the RoSCTL scheme, operational since March 2019, has also been extended until September 30, 2026, ensuring that exporters of garments and made-ups continue to benefit from the reimbursement of state and central taxes and levies. Additionally, the government has adopted an export promotion strategy focused on 40 priority countries. Currently, India has 16 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) in force, while recent trade agreements with the European Union and New Zealand are also expected to open up opportunities for the Indian textile industry in new markets.The Ministry of Textiles has established six Textile Export Facilitation Centres (TEFCs) and launched the 'India Immersive Experience Program' through NIFT. In the year 2025-26, textile and handicraft products were exported from over 500 districts across the country. The government states that these initiatives have fostered diversification in export markets, strengthened supply chains, improved market access via e-commerce, and boosted competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs.
Genetic Resources Board Charts Roadmap to Strengthen Agrobiodiversity and Sustainable Use
Fri. 31st July 2026 (Source: www.eng.ruralvoice.in)
India's genetic resources board has called for greater use of conserved germplasm, including wild relatives, in crop, livestock and fish breeding to widen genetic diversity and develop climate-resilient varieties and breeds. The Board also recommended stronger pre-breeding, systematic germplasm collection, international collaboration and integrated management of India's agrobiodiversity.
India needs to significantly expand the use of conserved genetic resources, including wild relatives and species, in crop, livestock and fish improvement programmes to broaden the genetic base and accelerate the development of climate-resilient, high-performing varieties and breeds, experts said at the first meeting of the reconstituted National Advisory Board on Management of Genetic Resources (NABMGR).
The meeting was held on July 29, 2026, at the ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), New Delhi, with the Board outlining a roadmap for strengthening the conservation and sustainable utilization of India's rich agrobiodiversity.
Chairman of the NABMGR, Dr R.S. Paroda, underlined that India's plant, animal, fish, microbial and insect genetic resources are a strategic national asset supporting food and nutrition security, environmental sustainability and rural livelihoods. He called for each ICAR National Bureau to strategically prioritise conservation and management activities according to emerging national requirements.Paroda stressed that conserved germplasm should not remain confined to gene banks but be actively integrated into breeding programmes. Greater use of wild relatives and other genetic resources, he said, could help broaden the genetic base and speed up the development of varieties and breeds capable of withstanding climate-related stresses while delivering higher performance.
He also called for stronger international collaboration, particularly with countries in Central and Southeast Asia, to facilitate access to valuable genetic resources. Strategic germplasm exchanges for crops such as cotton, rambutan, avocado and mangosteen, as well as livestock species such as sheep, were highlighted.
Paroda further advocated a legal framework to protect the rights of breeders and farmers in animal and fish genetic resources, similar to the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act.
ICAR Director General and NABMGR Co-Chair Dr M.L. Jat emphasised the need to link genetic resource management with soil science, digital agriculture and crop improvement. Identifying genetic resources suited to specific soil types and agro-ecological regions, he said, could accelerate location-specific and climate-resilient farming systems.
The Board recommended strengthening pre-breeding programmes, systematic collection of germplasm from unexplored regions and closer coordination among ICAR's six National Bureaux managing genetic resources. It also backed an inter-institutional programme to mainstream traditional and underutilised crops, livestock breeds, fish, microorganisms and insects.
The Board reviewed progress on the National Safety Genebank and suggested its timely completion, with the aim of dedicating it to the nation during ICAR's centenary celebrations in 2028-29.
The recommendations are expected to strengthen India's agrobiodiversity governance and contribute to the Viksit Bharat vision by improving agricultural resilience, food security and sustainable development.
Explained: Why Cotton is India's "White Gold"
Thu. 23rd July 2026 (Source: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) recently released a detailed backgrounder titled "White Gold: India's Cotton Story", tracing cotton's journey from cultivation to export and highlighting government schemes aimed at improving productivity, quality and market access. This makes cotton, one of India's oldest commercial crops, a relevant topic for both prelims and mains preparation, covering agriculture, trade and government schemes.
Understanding the basics
Cotton is called "white gold" because of its outsized economic importance in India. It supports the livelihoods of around 6 million cotton farmers and provides employment to another 40-50 million people in processing and trade. It is also a major foreign exchange earner through exports of fibre, yarn, fabric and garments.
India holds a unique position in the global cotton economy:
How it works
Odisha and Tamil Nadu also grow cotton outside these zones.
Governing bodies and schemes
India's position
US cotton forward export sales surge, current-season sales fall: USDA
Fri. 31st July 2026, (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com/news)
Insights: US cotton export sales strengthened in the week ended July 23 as robust 2026-27 forward bookings offset weaker current-season demand.
New-crop Upland cotton sales surged to 352,400 running bales (RB), led by Vietnam and India, while current-season sales fell to a marketing-year low of 29,700 RB. Strong forward demand supported ICE cotton futures.
US cotton export sales delivered a stronger overall performance during the week ended July 23, as exceptionally robust forward bookings for the 2026-27 marketing year outweighed weaker current-season demand. According to the USDA Weekly Export Sales Report, the surge in new-crop commitments reinforced confidence in US cotton demand and supported market sentiment.
Net sales of Upland cotton for the 2025-26 marketing year totalled 29,700 RB (running bales, each weighing 226.8 kg), down 42 per cent from the previous week and 41 per cent below the prior four-week average, marking a marketing-year low. Vietnam remained the largest buyer with purchases of 14,200 RB, followed by Pakistan with 5,300 RB, India with 3,400 RB, China with 3,200 RB and Mexico with 2,500 RB.
In contrast, new-crop Upland cotton sales for the 2026-27 marketing year surged to 352,400 RB, led by Vietnam with 245,500 RB, followed by India with 42,200 RB, Pakistan with 18,400 RB, Honduras with 17,700 RB and El Salvador with 13,800 RB.
Upland cotton export shipments totalled 233,800 RB, down 15 per cent from the previous week and 1 per cent below the prior four-week average. Vietnam was the leading destination with shipments of 78,600 RB, followed by Pakistan, Indonesia, Türkiye and Mexico.
Pima cotton sales remained modest. Net sales for the 2025-26 marketing year totalled 2,700 RB, while new-crop bookings reached 5,500 RB, led by Peru and India. Pima export shipments stood at 4,500 RB, with India accounting for nearly the entire volume.
The latest USDA data indicated that while near-term buying remained subdued, international mills stepped up purchases for the 2026-27 crop, particularly in Asia. The stronger-than-expected overall export sales, driven by exceptionally robust forward bookings, reinforced expectations of sustained demand for US cotton and provided a supportive backdrop for ICE cotton futures.
