CAI estimates India’s cotton output at 341 lakh bales

India’s cotton output is estimated to be 341 lakh bales for 2015-16 season, which began on October 1, the Cotton Association of India (CAI) has said in a statement.

The CAI’s estimate of 341 lakh bales is marginally lower than that of the total output for 2014-15 crop year which stood at 382.75 lakh bales. The lower crop estimate is mainly due to crop damage in the northern region due to whitefly attack. The total crop estimated in the northern zone during the season 2015-16, is 40 lakh bales, down from 53.50 lakh bales last year.

The arrivals of cotton during the ongoing 2015-16 season continue to lag behind last year’s arrivals. According to CAI, the arrivals during 2015-16 season up to the end of March 2016, which are estimated at 280.15 lakh bales are lower by about 12 per cent than 318.45 lakh bales that had arrived till the same period last year. "This reduction in arrivals during the ongoing cotton season is also a clear indication of a lower crop this year," it pointed out.

The CAI has estimated total cotton supply for the 2015-16 season at 428.60 lakh bales with domestic consumption likely to account for 305 lakh bales. That would leave a surplus of 123.60 lakh bales.