Browse Data and Analysis

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.

Feed production is forecast lower on declining demand from poultry and livestock producers. Corn production in MY2024/25 is forecast larger than MY2023/24 due to improved yields and a slightly larger planting area, despite government policies encouraging increased soy area and reduced corn area.

Marketing year (MY) 24/25 cotton imports are forecast at 2.4 million metric tons (MMT) on higher domestic and international demand for textile and apparel products. After a sharp decline in early 2023, exports of textile and apparel products have rebounded, along with demand for imported cotton.

For MY 2024/25, Post forecasts cotton area to grow 13 percent compared to the current season, to 1.87 million hectares. Post also forecasts cotton production at a record 15.4 million bales (3.3 million metric tons (MMT)) on the back of significant area increase.

Post forecasts marketing year (MY) 2024/25 production at 0.91 million 480-lb bales, basically flat compared to MY 2023/24 due to high input costs, drought conditions, power outages, and lack of access to new genetically engineered seed varieties.

Cotton production in Australia is set for a fourth successive year of high production in marketing year (MY) 2024/25, forecast at 5.5 million bales, which would be the third largest crop. The prospect of average rainfalls over the winter/spring period if realized would establish improved irrigation water availability for growers.

The regional harvested area for Marketing Year (MY) 2024/25 is forecast to rise 17 percent at 1.38 million hectares (MHA) compared to the previous year based on expectations of good farm gate prices and improved security and stability in many cotton-growing areas.

With expectations for no change in area, and assuming average yields, cotton production is forecast to decline in 2024/25. Given prospects for an increase in cotton textile exports, domestic use is forecast to increase in 2024/25.

On February 19, 2024, India's Ministry of Finance (MoF)/Department of Revenue issued Notification No. 10/2024-Customs in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Subsection (i) (official gazette), lowering import duties levied on frozen turkey (meat) and edible offal, cranberries, and blueberries.

Monthly report on crop acreage, yield and production in major countries worldwide. Sources include reporting from FAS’s worldwide offices, official statistics of foreign governments....

This monthly report includes data on U.S. and global trade, production, consumption and stocks, as well as analysis of developments affecting world trade in cotton.

On February 19, the Government of India (GOI) published a notification that rescinded -effective February 20- the import duty of 10 percent for cotton with a staple length above 32 millimeters (mm).