Thanks to good monsoon, India's cotton output to be similar to previous year despite fall in acreage, says CAI

PUNE: The CAI has placed its estimate for the season 2016-17 at 336.00 lakh bales of 170 kgs each. The projected balance sheet drawn by the CAI estimated total cotton supply for the cotton season 2016-17 at 400.00 lakh bales while the domestic consumption is estimated at 308.00 lakh bales thus leaving an available surplus of 92.00 lakh bales.

A statement containing the State-wise estimate of the cotton crop and the balance sheet for the cotton season 2016-17 with the corresponding date for the ongoing crop year 2015-16 is enclosed.

Acreage under cotton during the ensuing 2016-17 crop year is expected to be lower by about 10% than that of the current year. However, productivity is likely to be higher during the 2016-17 season due to the better weather conditions across all cotton growing regions of the country. Therefore, the crop for the 2016-17 cotton season is expected to be similar to the cotton crop for the cotton season 2015-16.

CAI has also released its July estimate for the ongoing cotton season 2015-16 and placed it at 337.75 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each.