Cotton sowing trends and textile price stability

Cotton sowing in India is currently down by about 6% compared to last year.

This is because of early-season El Niño uncertainty, which might make farmers switch from water-intensive crops to cotton.

Key states like Maharashtra and Gujarat have seen a decline in sowing, while Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have increased their cotton acreage.

The government has waived import duties on cotton until October 2026 to ease supply concerns.

Experts are optimistic that cotton production will improve, but there are worries that global El Niño effects could disrupt supplies and increase prices.

Farmers say that if rainfall is deficient but well-distributed, they might prefer growing cotton over other crops like soybean.

The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) is working to supply cotton directly to manufacturers to keep prices stable.