At the recommendation made at its Crop Committee meeting held on 28th October 2026, CAI has finalised the crop estimate for 2025-26 season. Around 24 members across all States of the Country attended the meeting and gave estimation of their States.
CAI’s final estimate of cotton pressing for 2025-26 stands revised downward to 325.69 lakh bales from earlier estimate of 339 lakh bales:
State. 170 kg Bales
Punjab. 1.50
Haryana. 6.50
Up Raj. 11.00
Low Raj 8.00
North total. 27.00 lakh bs
Gujarat. 68.50
Maharashtra 113.35
MP. 17.50
Central total 199.35 bs
Telangana 42.10
Andhra. 19.80
Karnataka 26.94
Tamil Nadu 5.00
South total 93.84
Orissa. 3.50
Others. 2.00
Total crop 325. 69 of 170 kg bs
(342 lakh running bales of 162 kg)
CAI has also finalised Indian cotton balance sheet as per the recommendations made its Crop Committee meeting held on 28th October 2026 as follows: -
Bales Details
55.59 opening stck 1-10-25
325.69 crop 2025-26
71.60 imports 2025-26
452.88 total supply available
Less
365.00 cotton Consumption
15.00 cotton Exports
380.00 lakh bales total uses
=72.88 lakh 170 kg bales will be Cotton Closing stock on year ending 30-09-26
THE HIGHLIGHTS OF CAI CROP COMMITTEE MEETING FOR SEASON 2025-26
1) Cotton Opening Stock as on 1-10-25 as per CAI is estimated as it is at 55.59 lakh bales
2) Committee members considered all points and thereafter, estimation of Cotton Production is Finalized at 325.69 lakh 170 kg bales (against earlier Estimation of 339.00 lakh bales)
Cotton Imports 1-10-25 to 30-09-26 is finalized at 71.60 lakh bales
(Against earlier Estimation of 62.00 lakh bales)
4) Cotton consumption is finalized at 365.00 lakh bales — (against earlier Estimation of 348.00 lakh bales.
Increase in domestic consumption is mainly attributable to a shift from man-made fibre to cotton due to their high price, addition of new spindles supported by Government incentives, robust export demand and good margin in cotton yarn.
5) Cotton exports has been maintained at 15.00 lakh bales
6) Cotton closing stock on 30-09-26 is reduced by 20.90 lakh bs and finalized at 72.88 lakh bales
(Against earlier estimated at 93.59 lakh bs from)
7) On 30th September Indian mills stock is expected at 72.88 lakh bales
45.00 lakh bs stock with mills
12.00 lakh bs with CCI
15.88 lakh bs with trade, ginners & MNCs
72.88 closing stk 30-09-26
Mumbai
Date: 31st October 2026
