India's cotton output likely to rise 9% in 2017-18

India's cotton production is expected to rise by 9.3 per cent to 37.7 million bales in 2017-18, a top official said today.

The cotton year starts in October and ends in September.

Textile Commissioner Dr Kavita Gupta, who is also the Chairperson of the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB), said it has estimated that the country is likely to export 6.7 million bales in the current marketing year that started on October 1, 15.1 per cent up from 5.82 million bales a year ago.


"CAB has estimated that cotton production in 2017/18 is likely to rise 9.3 per cent to 37.7 million bales," Gupta told PTI.

India is the world's biggest exporter of cotton after the United States. However, the recent pink bollworm infestation had threatened to cut the cotton crop yields.