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India’s fiber market is dominated by cotton, however, increased international demand for sustainable fibers is driving apparel and textile manufacturers to utilize hemp.

For MY 2025/26, Post forecasts cotton area to grow 2.9 percent compared to the current season, to 2.13 million hectares. Post also forecasts cotton production at a record 17.8 million bales (3.87 million metric tons (MMT)).

FAS Mumbai forecasts marketing year (MY) 2025/26 India cotton production at 25 million 480 lb. bales on 11.4 million hectares of planted area, a three percent decrease from the previous year due to an expected shift of planted area to higher-return crops such as pulses and oilseeds.

FAS Mumbai forecasts marketing year (MY) 2024/25 cotton production at 25 million 480 lb. bales on 11.8 million hectares, unchanged from the previous forecast. The official government production forecast of 23.4 million 480 lb. bales is lower due to a lower planted area estimate of 11.4 million hectares, and expected lower yields.

On November 5, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare published a marketing year 2024/25 production forecast at the lowest level in five years, at 23.4 million 480 lb. bales on an area of 11.4 million hectares.

In 2024, Brazil surpassed the United States in cotton production and exports for the first time on record. Brazil's MY2024/25 planted area is also estimated to reach a new record. Favorable prices compared to corn as well as lower production costs have boosted cotton's profitability, making it the preferred choice for second crop planting.

FAS Mumbai forecasts MY 2024/25 Indian raw cotton exports at 1.2 million 480 lb. bales, 55 percent lower than previous estimate, due to India lint prices trading four percent higher than global prices, prompting buyers to prefer finer quality machine-picked cotton from foreign origins.

Post revised up Brazil’s MY 2024/25 cotton production forecast to 16.6 million 480lb bales (3.6 million metric tons (MMT)), an 11 percent increase compared to the previous MY. The main drivers behind this record output are a forecasted area increase (revised up to 1.94 million hectares), and better-than-anticipated yields across key producing states.

FAS Mumbai forecasts marketing year (MY) 2024/25 India cotton production at 25 million 480 lb. bales on 11.8 million hectares planted area, a two percent decrease in area from the previous forecast, as farmers have shifted cotton acreage to higher return crops such as paddy, and pulses.

FAS Mumbai forecasts marketing year (MY) 2024/25 India cotton production at 25.4 million 480 lb. bales on 12 million hectares area planted, a three percent decrease in area from the previous forecast. Planting is underway and farmers have shifted...

The 2023 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2023 calendar year.

FAS Mumbai estimates marketing year (MY) 2024/25 India cotton production at 25.4 million 480 lb. bales on 12.4 million hectares area planted, a two percent decrease from the previous year due to the expectation that farmers will shift cotton acreage to higher return crops such as pulses, maize, and paddy.