Browse Data and Analysis

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...

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.

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.

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.

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).

FAS Mumbai forecasts marketing year (MY) 2023/24 cotton production at 26 million 480 lb. bales on 12.7 million hectares area planted, unchanged from the previous forecast. A strong pace of new crop arrivals during the first four months of the MY indicates a much larger crop size than previous trade estimates.

India is the world’s most populous country and boasts one of the fastest growing economies in the world. As Indian households continue to reach higher levels of consumer spending, imported agricultural products are becoming more accessible to a larger number of people.