CCI to start cotton sales for 2025-26 season next week
By yash chouhan 2026-01-17 11:45:17
India's CCI to start selling cotton for 2025-26 season next week
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is set to begin selling cotton procured during the 2025-26 crop season starting January 19. The government agency has announced the terms and conditions for the sale of fully pressed cotton bales on its website. According to trade sources, the CCI has so far procured approximately 8 million bales (170 kg each), and procurement is still ongoing in various states, including Telangana and Maharashtra.
Market rebounds, prices rise above MSP
Cotton prices have seen a significant increase in recent weeks, rising above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) level. This is mainly due to the strengthening of cottonseed prices and the government's decision to end the import duty exemption from December 31. According to Ramanuja Das Bub, a sourcing agent from Raichur, "In the last month, the price of cottonseed has increased by approximately ₹700 per quintal, rising from ₹3,600-3,700 to a high of ₹4,300, and is now at ₹4,100. Similarly, cotton prices have also increased by about ₹4,000 per candy, reaching ₹55,000-56,000. The price of raw cotton has also increased from ₹7,700 to approximately ₹8,200-8,300." He added that now that the CCI (Cotton Corporation of India) has announced its sales plan starting next week, buyers are waiting for their prices.
Production Estimates Increased, But Imports Break Records
While production has increased, imports are also at record levels. The trade body Cotton Association of India (CAI) recently increased its cotton production estimate for 2025-26 by 7.5 lakh bales to 317 lakh bales. This increase is due to better-than-expected production in Maharashtra and Telangana.
The association has projected record imports of 50 lakh bales this season, higher than the 41 lakh bales imported last year. By December 31st, 31 lakh bales had already been imported. Due to record imports, the CAI has projected a massive surplus of 122.59 lakh bales at the end of the season, a 56% increase compared to last year.
