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Informist, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025

MUMBAI – The US Department of Agriculture has lowered its estimate of global cotton output in 2025–26 (Aug-Jul) to 119.79 million bales (1 bale = 480 pounds) from 120.08 million bales projected in November, it said in the December edition of its World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates monthly report. "Global cotton production is reduced by almost 300,000 bales, mainly reflecting lower area and production in the African Franc Zone partially offset by a larger crop in the US," the report said.

World cotton consumption in 2025-26 is also projected to be slightly lower at 118.61 million bales, compared with 118.88 million bales last month. "Consumption is also lowered by almost 300,000 bales based on lower mill use in Brazil, US, and a few central American countries," the report said.  

The USDA has reduced its estimate for global cotton exports for 2025-26 by 250,000 bales from the previous month to 43.74 million bales in December. The ending stocks estimate has been increased marginally to 75.97 million bales from 75.93 million bales in November.

For India, the department has kept its estimate of production unchanged at 24 million bales and consumption at 25 million bales. It has also kept its projection of India's export of cotton unchanged at 1.30 million bales. The beginning stocks and the ending stocks are also kept unchanged. The beginning stock is at 10.02 million bales. The ending stock's estimate is at 10.52 million bales.

The Cotton Association of India, the leading lobby of the cotton value chain in the country, has projected the country's cotton output at 30.9 million bales (1 bale = 170 kg), down from 31.2 million bales produced a year ago. The domestic consumption this year is estimated at 29.5 million bales, down from 31.4 million bales in the previous year. Exports during 2025-26 are estimated at 1.8 million bales, unchanged from the previous year. Imports of cotton into India during the current season are pegged at 5 million bales, higher than 4.1 million bales in 2024-25.  End

Reported by Reshma Ravi

Edited by Nishant Maher

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