Indian cotton crop to be higher in 2011-12

07 Jan '11

2 min read

India is expected to produce 35.9 million bales (170 kg each) in the 2011-12 season. While the weather has been frigid and windy, cheer and optimism prevailed among the 1500 gathered for the Annual Beltwide Cotton Conference in Atlanta. To a packed audience, Mr. Jarral Neeper, President of Calcot, Ltd., Bakersfield, California projected the world cotton supply and demand in 2011-12.

Mr. Neeper projected the world's cotton production for 2011/12 season to be 124 million bales (480 pounds each). India is estimated to produce 35.9 million bales. 69% of the world's cotton production is going to come from China, India, USA and Pakistan. 2011/12 consumption in India will be 22.5 million bales (480 pounds each). According to him, there is little room for cotton acreage increase in China and India.

India is expected to plant 11.2 million hectares in 2011-12, which is a slight increase from the 11million hectares in 2010-11. The U.S. production is expected to increase at least by 10%. The United States is estimated to plant 12.83 million acres and the production is expected to be 19.38 million bales (480 pounds each).

China's acreage can go only slightly high by 4-5 % in 2011-12 from its 2010-11 level. On Thursday, January 6th, India's Cotton Advisory Board revised its earlier estimate for the current 2010-11 season to 32.9 million bales, which is slightly higher than the August estimate of 32.5 million bales (170 kg each).

Seshadri Ramkumar

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