CAI raises India's cotton output, cuts demand & exports
India's cotton production estimate has been revised upward to 291.35 lakh bales (of 170 kg each) from the previously projected 291.30 lakh bales. The Cotton Association of India (CAI) stated that the revision was due to increased output in the south-eastern state of Odisha. Meanwhile, cotton consumption, imports, and ending stocks have shown a sluggish trend in the trade.
In its April 2025 report, CAI has reduced the cotton consumption estimate by 8 lakh bales to 307 lakh bales, down from the earlier projection of 315 lakh bales for the current season.
India's cotton production for the 2024â€'25 season has been slightly revised up to 291.35 lakh bales, according to the Cotton Association of India. However, domestic consumption and exports have declined due to increased competition from man-made fibres, labour shortages, and lower demand. Cotton exports are expected to fall sharply, while imports have more than doubled.
Cotton is facing stiff competition from man-made fibres such as viscose, polyester, and others. Southern textile mills are increasingly inclined to use man-made fibres over cotton, with realisation from man-made fibres reaching up to 98 per cent, compared to 72–75 per cent for cotton. Labour shortages have also contributed to the slower consumption of cotton.
Additionally, the CAI has reduced its cotton export estimate by 1 lakh bale, from 16 lakh bales to 15 lakh bales, in the latest report. Of this, 10 lakh bales were shipped in the seven months since October 2024. Last year, exports were estimated at 28.36 lakh bales, indicating that India's cotton exports will decline by 13.36 lakh bales this season.
Cotton imports have been maintained at 33 lakh bales, of which 27.5 lakh bales had already been imported by April this year. This figure is more than double the 15.20 lakh bales imported in the previous season.
Cotton ending stocks as of September 30, 2025, are expected to rise to 32.54 lakh bales, compared to 30.19 lakh bales at the end of the 2023–24 season.
Between October 1, 2024 and April 30, 2025, cotton production totalled 268.20 lakh bales, with an average daily pressing of 1.28 lakh bales. In April 2025 alone, 16.56 lakh bales were pressed, reflecting a decline in arrivals. Approximately 185 lakh bales were consumed over the past seven months, averaging 26.5 lakh bales per month.
As of the end of April 2025, spinning mills were estimated to hold stocks of around 35 lakh bales, equating to about 45 days of average consumption. Mills in north India have stocks for 60–75 days, while mills in southern and central regions have about 30 days of stock, bringing the national average to 42 days.
Around 95.89 lakh bales of cotton were stocked with the government's nodal agency, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), as well as traders and ginners.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Bollywood vs South cinema: Ram Gopal Varma says Amitabh Bachchan was why Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi became stars
Ram Gopal Varma has brought a candid perspective to the conversation around the early growth of South Indian cinema , claiming that much of its success during the 1970s and 1980s stemmed from remakes of Amitabh Bachchan's iconic Hindi films. In a detailed interview with IndiaTV Showbiz , the filmmaker stated that all four major Southern industries—Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam—were deeply influenced by the Bollywood superstar's work. He specifically named actors like Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao, and Rajkumar as beneficiaries of this trend, noting that many of their career-defining roles were recreations of Bachchan's celebrated performances. According to him, these remakes contributed directly to their transformation into cultural icons and, eventually, near-mythical figures among fans. Bachchan's Absence and the Southern Boom Varma highlighted that during Amitabh Bachchan's five-year hiatus in the 1990s, the landscape of Indian cinema saw a shift. While Bollywood entered a period where music labels started financing films primarily to promote their soundtracks—citing Maine Pyar Kiya as a pivotal example—the South Indian industries stayed true to the mass-entertainment format, continuing to produce 'masala' films modeled on Bachchan's earlier style. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDsกับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้| เปิดบัญชีวันนี้ IC Markets สมัคร Undo 'The South never stopped making the so-called masala films,' Varma remarked, suggesting that this consistent approach was central to cementing the stardom of leading South actors. The remakes weren't simply copies, he implied, but vehicles that allowed regional stars to become household names and, eventually, 'demigods.' Bollywood's Urban Edge vs. Southern Roots The director also pointed out a key difference in how filmmakers from both regions evolved. He said that Bollywood directors, particularly in the '90s, had a more global cinematic awareness, partly due to their fluency in English and urban backgrounds. In contrast, many Southern filmmakers, according to him, were less exposed to international cinema and operated with a focus on grassroots storytelling. 'They're very close to the ground root,' he said, implying that their content remained more accessible and audience-driven. The Pushpa Incident and Preconceived Notions Ram Gopal Varma also recounted a striking anecdote from the time leading up to the release of Pushpa: The Rise, directed by Sukumar and starring Allu Arjun. He said that a producer, whom he did not identify, watched the film a few days before its release and strongly doubted its reception. According to Varma, the producer predicted that audiences would reject the film outright—not because of the actor's performance, but due to the unconventional nature of the character, who chewed paan instead of fitting the usual six-pack-hero mold. 'He was not referring to the actor,' Varma clarified. 'They are so used to good-looking six-pack heroes… that they can't comprehend a hero chewing paan.' He noted that such criticism often stems from industry professionals projecting their own assumptions onto audiences, rather than engaging with the actual substance of the film. A Shared Culture of Adaptation Varma's remarks underscore a rarely acknowledged truth: while Bollywood is often criticized today for its over-reliance on remakes, the Southern industries once followed a similar trajectory. In those earlier decades, original scripts were a rarity across languages. As he put it, when a fresh concept—regardless of the language—achieved success, others quickly adopted and adapted it for their own audiences. The culture of adaptation, Varma suggests, was not a sign of creative bankruptcy but a strategic choice that shaped some of India's biggest film legends. And while the industries have evolved, the legacy of that era continues to influence storytelling today.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Ram Gopal Varma says South industries survived by remaking Amitabh Bachchan films: ‘Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao did remakes, became demigods'
Although the film industries in the South seem to be successful curently, while Bollywood struggles to produce hit films, there was a time, particularly the '70s and '80s, when they too were making rip-offs of films from other languages. God forbid a filmmaker came up with a fresh idea in any language, even English, and the film turned out to be successful; their counterparts immediately jumped on it and churned out remakes, making a fortune at the expense of others. As a result, movies with original ideas were a rarity back then. Interestingly, while Bollywood is now often criticised for its fixation on remakes, the Southern film industries too once followed a similar path. Recently, legendary filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) commented on this trend, noting how several South Indian superstars, including Rajinikanth and Chiranjeevi, rose to fame by largely remaking films originally headlined by Amitabh Bachchan. RGV said during a chat with IndiaTV Showbiz, 'In the beginning, the entire South, all four languages, were remaking Amitabh Bachchan films. Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, NT Rama Rao and Rajkumar were making remakes of Bachchan's films of the '70s and '80s. Then, in the '90s, Mr Bachchan took a long five-year break. At the same time, coincidentally, the music companies entered the scene. They made films just to sell their music. That's when movies like Maine Pyar Kiya came out. But the South never stopped making the so-called masala films, which they picked up from Bachchan. That's how those stars became big demigods. It continues to date.' Meanwhile, he said, the then-young Bollywood directors began gaining more exposure to foreign cinema, largely due to their knowledge of English and their upbringing in urban areas. 'If you observe, most commercial directors in the South are very less exposed to cinema. They can't talk about cinema like we do. They're very close to the ground root,' RGV added. RGV further went on to recall the reaction of a producer, whom he did not wish to name, to director Sukumar's Pushpa: The Rise, starring Allu Arjun in the titular role. 'Upon seeing the movie about three or four days before the release of the movie, he said the audience would puke on Pushpa. He was not referring to the actor. He was simply turned off by the character. They are so used to good-looking six-pack heroes on staple diets that they can't comprehend a hero chewing paan at all. They are not watching the film; they are watching the film as what they perceive the audience would watch,' he pointed out.
Fibre2Fashion
a day ago
- Fibre2Fashion
North India's cotton sowing area unlikely to recover after major drop
North India's cotton sowing acreage is unlikely to improve in the new season despite a steep fall in the sowing area last year. Trade sources said that cotton acreage may recover by around 25–30 per cent in Punjab, but the area under cotton may further decrease in Haryana and Rajasthan due to a scarcity of water for irrigation. Market experts noted that the assured returns from wheat and paddy, owing to government procurement, have discouraged cotton farming in the north Indian states. Around 60–70 per cent of cotton sowing was completed by the end of May in north India, according to market sources. The sowing work is expected to finish in the next one or two weeks. There are indications that farmers in Haryana and Rajasthan are facing an acute water crisis for irrigation. Cotton sowing in north India mostly depends on canal water, but both states are not receiving adequate supplies to meet the growing demand. Cotton sowing in north India is expected to remain subdued in the 2025â€'26 season, despite a sharp acreage decline last year. While Punjab may see a slight recovery, Haryana and Rajasthan face further reductions due to water scarcity and shifting preference towards wheat and paddy, which offer assured procurement. Total acreage may fall below 10 lakh hectares. Sources said that cotton sowing area in Punjab may increase by nearly 30 per cent to reach 1.25 lakh hectares in the 2025–26 season. However, sowing may decline by 20–25 per cent in Haryana and 25–30 per cent in Rajasthan. All three states recorded a sharp fall in cotton acreage last year, dropping to 10.955 lakh hectares, according to official figures. There are indications that north India's total cotton sowing area may decline further and fall below 10 lakh hectares in the new season. Sources noted that farmers in these states are opting for the safer option of paddy cultivation during the Kharif season, as the government remains committed to procuring paddy and wheat (during the Rabi season) at the minimum support price. The current procurement policy has disillusioned farmers from growing cotton. Historical cotton sowing data also supports this trend. North India's cotton sowing area was 15.620 lakh hectares in 2023–24, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. It declined to 10.955 lakh hectares in 2024–25. Punjab's cotton area reduced to 1 lakh hectare from 2.140 lakh hectares in 2023–24. The area dropped to 4.760 lakh hectares in Haryana and to 5.195 lakh hectares in Rajasthan, from 6.650 lakh hectares and 6.830 lakh hectares respectively. The Cotton Association of India (CAI) recently stated that north India's cotton output fell to 27.50 lakh bales (170 kg each) in the current season, down from 45.62 lakh bales last season. Production estimates for the current season are: Punjab – 1.50 lakh bales, Haryana – 7.80 lakh bales, upper Rajasthan – 9.60 lakh bales, and lower Rajasthan – 8.60 lakh bales. In comparison, last season's output were: Punjab – 3.65 lakh bales, Haryana – 13.30 lakh bales, upper Rajasthan – 15.47 lakh bales, and lower Rajasthan – 13.20 lakh bales. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
