The Cotton Association of India’s (CAIs) December 2017 estimate of the crop for the 2017-18 season beginning October 1, 2017, is forecast at 375 lakh bales — the same level as in the previous estimate. The projected balance sheet by the CAI forecasts total cotton supply for the season at 425 lakh bales of 170 kg each.

The total cotton supply estimated at 425 lakh bales includes the opening stock of 30 lakh bales at the beginning of the season and an estimated 20 lakh bales of imports for the 2017-18 crop year. The domestic consumption is estimated to be 320 lakh bales while CAI estimates exports for the season to be 55 lakh bales. Up to end December 2017, CAI estimates cotton arrivals at 147.75 lakh bales as against arrival of 108 lakh bales up to December 31, 2016.

CAI President Atul S Ganatra has announced, “Around 39 per cent of the total crop estimated for the year has already arrived in the market and looking at the pace of arrivals this year, CAI is of the view that the projected crop of 375 lakh bales for 2017-18 crop year is very much achievable.” CAI’s estimate of 375 lakh bales of cotton crop is slightly lower than Cotton Advisory Board’s recent forecast of 377 lakh bales for the 2017-18 crop year.

CAI reports the Central Zone, comprising the main cotton growing state of Gujarat, is expected to contribute 213 lakh bales, while the South and North Zone are expected to contribute 100 lakh bales and 57 lakh bales, respectively.