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CCI Raises Cotton Prices by ₹1,200- ₹1,400 per Candy; Weekly Auction Sales Cross 7,97,000 Lakh BalesThe Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) raised its cotton prices by ₹1,400 per candy during the week from March 16 to March 19, 2026, while continuing its routine online auctions across multiple procurement centers. The auctions witnessed strong participation from mills and cotton traders, resulting in robust weekly sales of about 7,97,000 bales from the 2025–26 season.Day-wise Auction PerformanceMarch 16, 2026:The week opened on a strong note for CCI, recording its highest single-day sales of the week with 3,23,000 bales from the 2025–26 crop. Out of the total volume, mills purchased 1,43,900 bales, while traders accounted for 1,79,100 bales.March 17, 2026:Sales witnessed a slight moderation, with 2,87,000 bales sold, all from the current season’s crop. Of the total, mills purchased 1,32,600 bales, while traders bought 1,54,400 bales.March 18, 2026:Total sales were recorded at 1,87,000 bales, with 78,200 bales procured by mills and 1,08,800 bales purchased by traders.March 13, 2026:The week concluded with a sale of 1,59,400 bales, entirely from the 2025–26 crop.Mills purchased 71,900 balesTraders bought 87,500 balesCumulative Sales UpdateFollowing the latest auctions, CCI’s total sales reached:29,64,400 bales for the 2025–26 season98,85,100 bales for the 2024–25 season

Research vital for textile industry in Bhilwara: Chief secretaryBhilwara: Chief secretary V Srinivas stressed the importance of textile research and called for organising a global conference of textile experts in Bhilwara. He said this during his visit to the Bhilwara Circuit House Friday, where he was received by district collector Jasmeet Singh Sandhu and SP Dharmendra Singh and launched the district's first "Viksit Bharat Gram Abhiyan". He later inspected Nitin Spinners on Chittorgarh Road and interacted with with textile entrepreneurs and farmers.Addressing the press, Srinivas said cotton cultivation in Bhilwara had increased over the years and the textile industry in Bhilwara was progressing steadily as yarn exports from the district has increased. He noted that the number of spindles in the district had increased from around 60,000 to nearly 15 lakh. "Now we have a vision to scale it up to 50 lakh spindlers under the under the Viksit Bharat and Viksit Rajasthan vision for the year 2047," he added.Srinivas then talked about how the cultivation of Kasturi cotton was doing well in the district. He said this it would be boosted by the ‘Industrial Park Policy 2026' that was launched two days ago by the state govt. He also referred to the ‘Textile and Apparel Policy 2025' that was implemented last year in Dec and said govt is continiously making efforts to strengthen textile growth in areas such as Rupaheli in the district and how integrated growth could be achieved in the textile industry.Srinivas said extra-long staple cotton was being cultivated  on around 30,000 hectares in Bhilwara and 11,000 hectares in Banswara. He said meetings would be held with the officials of the agriculture department, Cotton Corporation of India, and ginning factories on how to further increase this cultivation. He said a lot of growth potential has been observed in this sector and the state govt would move forward under the two policies launched by the state govt to keep up with this growth.read more :- Cotton demand expected to increase due to crude oil inflation 

Rising crude prices could bring cotton back in demand With prices of man made fibres (MMF) such as polyester moving up in tandem with crude following the ongoing war in West Asia, cotton stake holders see demand coming back to the natural fibre. Polyester fibre prices have moved up by 10-25 per cent within days of crude moving up.Taking these developments in account, the Cotton Association of India expects consumption of cotton to go up by 10 lakh bales for the current season 2025-26 ending September, compared to projections made in January.The prices of man made fibres have gone up substantially because of this war, which has resulted in higher crude prices. So, many mills which are in man made fibres or have converted to man made fibres may come back to cotton, said Vinay N Kotak, President, CAI.Further, the rising international prices of cotton and the weakening of rupee against the dollar has also made the cotton imports costlier, he said.Cotton futures on ICE have gained from around 60.65 cents per pound in early March to a high of 69.34 this week before easing to current levels of 67.77.Following the firming trend, Cotton Corporation of India has revised upwards the prices by ₹1,400 per candy in the past few days. CCI has increased the prices in three instances of ₹500, ₹700 and ₹200 totalling ₹1,400 per candy of 356 kgs in the past few days.CCI chairman and managing director, Lalit Kumar Gupta said the increase in sale price is in line with the global trend and that there was good demand coming for cotton. CCI has procured over 1.04 crore bales of 170 kg each at minimum support price during the 2025-26 marketing season.Recently the demand for Indian cotton yarn has gone up from countries such as China, Bangaldesh and Vietnam with disruption in the global supply chain due to the ongoing war.Ramanuj Das Boob, a sourcing agent in Raichur said the prices of man made fibres like polyester have gone up by ₹10-30 per kg following the rise in crude prices. Unlike cotton MMF prices are fully dependent on petrochemicals and are likely to remain volatile. Balance between cotton and MMF will depend on crude stability.Futher Ramanuj Das Boob said CCI has been able to sell around 1.5-1.6 lakh bales per day despite increase in prices. Millers with immediate requirement are buying and that too on a need basis as most do not want to take positions consideirng the prevailing uncertainty over the war scenario, he said. Also, there some resistance for buying at higher prices for yarn and cloth, he added.Cotton has been facing increasing competition from man made fibres in the recent years. According to the International Cotton Advisory Council (ICAC) World Textile Demand report, cotton’s market share in global fibre consumption has dropped to below 25 per cent in recent years from nearly 40 per cent in the early 2000s.read more :- The rupee closed 82 paise lower against the dollar at 93.70

The Indian rupee on Friday lower 82 paise to close at 93.70 per dollar, while it opened at 92.88 in the morning.At close, the Sensex was up 325.72 points or 0.44 percent at 74,532.96, and the Nifty was up 112.35 points or 0.49 percent at 23,114.50. About 2330 shares advanced, 1764 shares declined, and 152 shares unchanged.read more :- Textile export center established in Jaipur to facilitate SMEs

Textile export centre set up in Jaipur to facilitate SMEsJaipur: The Union Ministry of Textiles has inaugurated a Textile Export Facilitation Centre (TEFC) in Jaipur to help bridge the gap between production and international markets, with end-to-end support for exporters, especially small and medium enterprises. The centre, set up by the ministry's Textiles Committee, was launched by Amrit Raj, development commissioner for handicrafts.Speaking at the event, Raj said the facility would benefit small and new exporters, noting that India's textile exports remain under 1% in nearly 40 countries. "This centre will provide vital information on market demands, trade agreements, incentive schemes, and associated risks," she said. Industry leaders, including Rakshit Poddar, president of the Garment Exporters Association of Rajasthan, and general secretary Amit Maheshwari, said the Jaipur TEFC would be a major boost for young entrepreneurs entering garment exports. Jaipur is the sixth pilot centre after Karur, Surat, Ichalkaranji, Varanasi and Ludhiana. Officials said the centre will work closely with exporters and offer faster certification, training and market intelligence. Certificates of origin, often issued within four to five hours, will help exporters access preferential duties in overseas markets.The facility will also support exporters looking to enter newer markets such as Latin America, where demand for Indian textiles remains largely untapped. Officials said Brazil and Argentina offer significant opportunities beyond India's traditional dependence on the US and Europe.The centre will help exporters make better use of free trade agreements with countries such as Australia and the UAE, where duty benefits of up to 5% often go unused.Another key focus will be helping businesses deal with non-tariff barriers in developed markets, including sustainability and traceability requirements. Committee officials said advisory services will support compliance with rules of origin, harmonised system classification and ethical sourcing certifications.Training modules will cover everything from basic onboarding, such as obtaining an import export code, to advanced strategies on pricing and compliance. Jaipur was selected as a pilot centre because of its strong base in traditional textiles, handicrafts, garments and carpets, though export volumes remain below potential.read more :- Textile exporters welcomed the relief scheme

Textile exporters welcome RELIEF schemeThe Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) has said that the Resilience & Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) scheme under the Export Promotion Mission will offer a dose of relief to the MSME-dominated textiles and apparel sector, for which the 2025-26 financial year was hugely challenging.Ashwin Chandran, CITI chairman, said in a press release that the scheme aims to alleviate the challenges faced by exporters due to the ongoing turbulence in West Asia. The package announced under RELIEF should be implemented quickly. A significant portion of India’s textile and apparel exports is for west Asia with the UAE being one of the largest markets for Indian textile and apparel exporters. In 2024, the UAE was the fourth largest market for India’s textile and apparel exports, after the US, the EU, and Bangladesh.Any increase in the cost of logistics and insurance adds to the challenges of the exporters with significant increase in operating costs. The textiles and apparel exports were severely impacted in the second half of 2025 due to the steep 50% US tariff on Indian goods, which was in place from late August 2025 to early February 2026. As per a CITI Analysis, India’s textiles exports declined 0.31% in February 2026 compared with the same period last year. Apparel exports fell 8.60% during the same period.

Rupee Slips 25 Paise to 92.88/USDThe Indian Rupee opened 25 paise lower at 92.88 against the US dollar on Friday, following Wednesday’s close of 92.63.READ MORE :-  ₹1718 crore on MSP: Big help to farmers and industry

MSP help of ₹1718 crore: Big support to cotton farmers and textile industry: Atul GanatraMSP support of ₹1,718.56 crore has emerged as a major boost for India’s cotton farmers and the textile industry, according to former Cotton Association of India President Atul Ganatra. Speaking in an exclusive interview to CNBC Awaaz, he explained that the government’s allocation is aimed at compensating losses incurred by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) during MSP procurement in the 2023–24 season. However, he emphasized that this should be viewed not as a loss but as direct support to farmers.India has nearly 60 lakh cotton farmers, most of whom benefit directly from the MSP mechanism. According to Ganatra, the MSP system not only protects farmers’ incomes but also ensures that the textile industry receives cotton at stable and competitive prices through CCI operations.He noted that adequate stock availability with CCI plays a stabilizing role in the market. In the current season, CCI procured around 1.06 crore bales at MSP, helping maintain price stability across the supply chain. Out of total arrivals, nearly 1.05 crore bales were procured, ensuring that farmers received prices close to the MSP of ₹8,100 per quintal. In states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, prices even touched ₹8,500–₹8,600 per quintal in some cases.Ganatra added that MSP-based procurement helps prevent sharp price fluctuations, benefiting farmers while also supporting the textile industry when CCI releases cotton at lower rates. This, in turn, improves export competitiveness and production efficiency.He also highlighted that farmer sentiment remains positive, which could potentially lead to a 15–20% increase in cotton sowing in the next season. Demand conditions are currently strong, with spinning mills earning healthy margins of ₹20–₹25 per kg on yarn. Export demand, particularly from China, is also robust, with advance orders already booked for April–May.On the supply side, the cotton stock situation remains comfortable. CCI holds around 1 crore bales, while ginners and spinning mills collectively maintain nearly three months of stock. With cotton prices relatively soft and yarn prices firm, spinning mills are currently operating under favorable conditions and continue active procurement.Suggestion highlighted in the report:Ganatra noted that the financial burden borne by CCI is ultimately funded by taxpayers. He suggested that cotton procured under MSP should be prioritised for domestic textile industries instead of being sold in international markets. According to him, such a policy would strengthen the value chain and provide long-term benefits to both farmers and the industry.

Tamil Nadu surpasses Gujarat, Maharashtra to become India's top textile exporterChennai: Tamil Nadu has emerged as India's top state in textile exports, recording shipments worth USD 7,997.17 million for the fiscal year 2024-25, which is an increase of 29.12 per cent over the last four years, the government said.The state has witnessed a 29 per cent increase in export value in the last four years, an official release said.In 2020-21, Tamil Nadu's textile exports stood at USD 6,193 million.Chief Minister M K Stalin said Tamil Nadu has successfully outpaced competitors like Gujarat and Maharashtra to secure the first position."Tamil Nadu's export volume of textiles, which was USD 6,193.39 million in 2020-21 due to the planned actions of the Dravidian Model government, rose to USD 7,997.17 million in the next four years. Overall, in India's exports, Tamil Nadu accounts for 21.84 per cent," he wrote in a social media post.As per the National-Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade data, the value of textile goods shipped from India was USD 36,610 million, of which Tamil Nadu accounted for USD 7,997.17 million.The National Import-Export Record for Yearly Analysis of Trade is a dedicated platform launched by the Centre to provide real-time comprehensive data on foreign trade."Tamil Nadu is in first place in India in textile export," the release said.The state has emerged at the top with higher exports among all other states, the release said, adding that schemes implemented by every government department led to a multifaceted growth of the State.Gujarat bagged the second rank with exports of USD 5,646.01 million followed by Maharashtra at USD 3,831.29 million, it added.read more :- Possibility of heavy rain and hail in 14 districts

Maharashtra hailstorm forecast: Hailstorm forecast in 14 districts More rainfall likely in the state today and tomorrowIMD Weather Forecast: There is a possibility of hailstorm in some parts of the state. Hail is expected at some places and rain at most places for two days.Heavy rain warning: There is a possibility of hailstorm in some parts of the state. Hail is expected at some places and rain at most places for two days. More rainfall is likely over East Vidarbha, South Marathwada and South Central Maharashtra. Orange alert has also been issued in some districts.The environment is favorable for rain in many parts of the state today. Meanwhile, hailstorm with lightning and thunder has been predicted at some places in Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Beed, Dharashiv, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Yavatmal, Wardha, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts.The Meteorological Department estimates that at this time winds will blow at a speed of 50 to 60 kilometers per hour. Also today, rain with lightning is expected at some places in Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigarh, Pune, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Washim, Amravati, Nagpur, Bhandara and Gondia districts.Rain and hailstorm are expected in the state tomorrow also. Tomorrow, there is a possibility of hailstorm with lightning and thunder at some places in Ahilyanagar, Beed, Jalna, Parbhani, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik and Jalgaon districts. It has also been predicted that stormy winds will blow at this time. There is a possibility of light rain in Vidarbha, Marathwada and other districts of Central Maharashtra.Rain will reduce in the state from Friday. Light rain has been predicted at some places in South Marathwada and East Vidarbha on Friday. The Meteorological Department has also predicted that the rainy season will clear in the state from Saturday and the temperature will start rising again.read more:- Raw material cost increased by 20–25% in India's textile industry

India's Textile Industry Sees 20-25% Surge In Raw Material CostsIndia’s textile industry is facing mounting pressure as raw material costs surge significantly, with over half of manufacturers reporting a 20–25% increase in input expenses. Industry associations and company sources point to rising costs across the value chain, creating a challenging environment for producers already operating on tight margins.A major driver behind this spike is the sharp rise in crude oil prices, which have crossed the $100 per barrel mark amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Since a large portion of textile inputs are petroleum-based, this increase has directly impacted production costs. Synthetic fibres such as polyester and nylon—key components in India’s textile output—are especially affected.These fibres account for nearly 60% of the country’s textile production, making the industry highly sensitive to fluctuations in oil prices. As a result, polyester prices have jumped by around 20%, while nylon costs have risen by approximately 5%. In addition, dyes and chemicals have become costlier by nearly 20%, pushing overall dyeing expenses up by about 30%.The cumulative effect of these increases has driven garment manufacturing costs higher by 10–15%. This has significantly strained cost structures, particularly for small and medium-sized textile businesses that have limited ability to absorb such shocks.Further compounding the situation, logistics expenses have surged dramatically. Shipping and freight costs have risen by as much as 80–90%, largely due to global supply chain disruptions. This has added an extra burden, especially for exporters who rely heavily on international markets.For now, many companies are choosing to absorb these rising costs to avoid passing them on to consumers and risking a drop in demand. However, industry players caution that this strategy may not be viable in the long run. If elevated costs persist beyond a couple of months, price hikes may become unavoidable as firms struggle to maintain profitability while navigating continued input and logistics pressures.read more :- Odisha gives green signal to $33M investment in textile sector