India Expects Production, Exports to Outpace Initial Forecasts

The Cotton Association of India has estimated that this year’s cotton crop, planted in October, will yield 31.28 million bales, an increase of 6.8 percent over last year. Earlier forecasts had pegged India’s 2009-2010 production at 30.5 million bales. Each bale weighs 170 kilograms. Domestic consumption is expected to account for about 25 million bales.

Encouraged by high domestic prices and export demand, farmers in India have planted close to 10 million hectares of cotton this season. That record acreage is offsetting damage caused by recent rains and flooding in the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka regions, according to the Association.

The Association also reports that 2009 exports through September were at 7 million bales, up from the 6.5 million bales estimated last month.