Cotton Association of India (CAI) has released its first estimate of the cotton crop for the 2017-18 season beginning from 1 October 2017. 

The CAI has estimated cotton crop for the 2017-18 season at 37.5 million bales of 170 kgs. each which is higher by 3.77 million bales compared to the previous year’s crop of 33.72 million bales. 

The increase in crop estimated for the 2017-18 crop year is on account of the higher acreage under cotton than compared to the previous crop year.

The acreage under cotton during 2017-18 is estimated to be more by about 19% than that of the previous season. However, the CAI estimates the yields to be lower by about 9% this year owing to the damage caused by pink boll worms.

The projected Balance Sheet drawn by the CAI estimates the total cotton supply for the cotton season 2017-18 at 42.2 million bales including the opening stock of three million bales at the beginning of the year and the imports which are estimated to be 1.7 million bales.

The domestic consumption is estimated at 32 million bales while the exports are expected to be about 6.3 million bales.

The CAI has retained its estimate for previous crop year at 33.7. million bales of 170 kgs. each.