Cotton Association of India has placed the cotton crop for the season 2011-12 at 363.75 lakh bales

AHMEDABAD: The Cotton Association of India (CAI) released its first estimate of the cotton crop for the season 2011-12.

"CAI has placed the cotton crop for the season 2011-12 at 363.75 lakh bales," said Cotton Association of India president Dhiren N Sheth. This year is likely to witness an area increase of 10 per cent over last year resulting in a record acreage of over 120 lakh hectares for cotton. The projected Balance Sheet drawn by the CAI for the year 2011-12 estimated the total cotton supply at 425.50 lakh bales while the domestic consumption is estimated at 268.00 lakh bales, thus leaving an available surplus of 157.50 lakh bales.

The monsoon has been by and large normal through out the cotton belt thereby pushing up the possibility of better yields.
Looking to the bumper crop ahead the Association has urged the Government of India to extend the OGL status for exports of cotton without any restrictions into the new season at the earliest in order to ensure continuity.