Cotton arrivals have started improving from the 2026 kharif crop across various Indian states, but buyers remain cautious as global prices are easing, influencing the domestic prices.
Trade sources estimate the daily arrivals of raw cotton at around 30,000 bales of 170 kg each across Karnataka, Andhra, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and in North India.
“Daily arrivals are at 30,000 bales and this will increase from the first week of October onwards” said Atul S Ganatra, CMD, Radhalakshmi Group.
In North India, the daily arrivals are around 8,000 bales, Karnataka about 4,000 bales, Andhra 4,000 bales, Madhya Pradesh 5,000 bales and Gujarat around 4,000 bales, Ganatra said. In Maharashtra, the arrivals have started in the Khandesh region.
Cotton Futures ease on ICE
“Demand is slow due to slowdown in yarn market. The yarn export demand is very slow as yarn prices are linked with ICE Futures, which has come down 10 cents from 93 cents per pound a few days earlier to 83 cents per pound,” Ganatra said, adding that the raw cotton prices are ruling above the minimum support price levels supported by higher seed prices.
“There are no buyers. They are not keen to enter the market now and prefer to wait and watch,” said Ramanuj Das Boob, a sourcing agent in Raichur. The demand is subdued because cotton prices are relatively high compared with yarn and fabric realisations.
Raw cotton prices in Raichur on Friday were in the range of ₹9,300-9,500 per quintal, while in Adoni the prices were ruling at ₹9,200-9,500 per quintal. In Maharashtra, the prices are hovering around ₹8,600 per quintal, due to high moisture levels.
Old crop prices ease
The State-run Cotton Corporation of India had reduced the auction prices by ₹1,600 per candy (356 kg) to around ₹67,000 levels this week in response to the easing trend on ICE. However, buyers have not responded to CCI’s latest price cut over the past few days and are expecting better opportunities as new crop supplies improve.
Das Boob said even resellers are finding it difficult to sell their stocks, as buyers have turned cautious. The price of 2025-26 crop, which had crossed Rs 70,000 levels per candy a few weeks ago, has eased to around ₹66,500-67,500 levels. “The new crop is available in the range of ₹66,000-67,000 levels,” Boob said.
Meanwhile, the cotton acreage as of September 18 stood at 109.61 lakh hectares, a tad lower than 110.60 lh a year ago, as per the latest Agriculture Ministry data. States reporting an increase in area over last year include Telangana by 5.45 per cent, Gujarat 3.24 per cent and Madhya Pradesh 2.28 per cent, while all others have seen a decline.