The Cotton Association of India (CAI), which released its March estimate, has reduced its cotton crop estimate for the 2021-22 season beginning October 1 last year by 8 lakh bales to 335.13 lakh bales of 170 kg each (356.08 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) from its previous estimate of 343.13 lakh bales of 170 kg each (364.58 lakh running bales of 160 kg each).
The total cotton supply from October 2021 to March 2022 is estimated at 343.68 lakh bales of 170 kg each (365.16 lakh running bales of 160 kg each), which consists of the arrivals of 262.68 lakh bales of 170 kg each (279.10 lakh running bales of 160 kg each), imports of 6 lakh bales of 170 kg each (6.38 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) and the opening stock estimate of 75 lakh bales of 170 kg each (79.69 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) at the beginning of the season.
CAI has estimated cotton consumption for that duration at 175 lakh bales of 170 kg each (185.94 lakh running bales of 160 kg each), while the export shipments up to March 31 this year are estimated at 35 lakh bales of 170 kg each (37.19 lakh running bales of 160 kg each), CAI said in a note.
Stock at the end of March 2022 is estimated at 133.68 lakh bales of 170 kg each (142.04 lakh running bales of 160 kg each), including 75 lakh bales of 170 kg each (79.69 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) with textile mills and the remaining 58.68 lakh bales of 170 kg each (62.35 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) with the CCI, Maharashtra Federation and others.
The CAI crop committee has estimated the total cotton supply till end of the cotton season 2021-22, i.e. upto September 30, at 425.13 lakh bales of 170 kg each (451.70 lakh running bales of 160 kg each), which is less by 8 lakh bales compared to 433.13 lakh bales of 170 kg each (460.20 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) estimated by the CAI earlier.
Consumption is estimated at 340 lakh bales of 170 kg each (361.25 lakh running bales of 160 kg each), i.e. at the same level estimated previously. Exports for the season are estimated at 45 lakh bales of 170 kg each (47.81 lakh running bales of 160 kg each).
The exports estimate for the previous cotton season was 78 lakh bales of 170 kg each (82.88 lakh running bales of 160 kg each). The carry-over stock that was earlier estimated at 48.13 lakh bales is now estimated at 40.13 lakh bales of 170 kg each (42.64 lakh running bales of 160 kg each).
The previous year’s stock was estimated at 75 lakh bales of 170 kg each (79.69 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) for the previous cotton season.