India cotton output forecast at 24.5 million bales in 2026/27

India’s 2026/27 cotton production is forecast at 24.5 million 480-lb bales, with yields expected to fall 2% amid below-normal rainfall, while domestic mill use is raised to 26.2 million bales.
| Photo Credit:
AMIT DAVE

Following are selected highlights from a
report issued ​by the U.S. Department of ‌Agriculture’s Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS) post in ​New Delhi:

“India’s 2026/27 (Oct-Sept) ⁠cotton production is forecast at
24.5 million 480-lb bales from 11.5 million ‌hectares. Yields are
forecast 2% lower at 464 ‌kg per hectare due ‌to ⁠forecasts for
below-normal rainfall through ⁠August–September, with western and
central India at greatest risk of extended dry ​spells. Although
the cumulative ‌monsoon deficit narrowed to 12% below normal by
August 12, planting remains 2% behind ‌last year, while reservoir
storage is ​at 60% of capacity.”

“Domestic mill use forecast ⁠is raised to 26.2 million 480-lb
bales, driven by textile and ‌apparel export orders. Higher
minimum support prices and tighter crop prospects are expected
to support firm lint prices, prompting mills to bridge fiber
shortages ‌through higher imports using duty-free export
mechanisms ​if the general tariff exemption expires after October
31. ⁠As a result, raw cotton ⁠exportable surplus will remain
constrained as available fiber is ‌directed toward higher-value
downstream manufacturing.”

Published on August 28, 2026