CCI’s cotton procurement is still going on in sStates such as Maharashtra and Telangana
| Photo Credit:
MOHD ARIF
Cotton Corporation of India on Monday announced yet another reduction in the sale price of for the 2025-26 crop. CCI has cut the prices by ₹700-1100 per candy of 356 kg to boost its sales. This is even as the public procurement of the cotton at minimum support price (MSP) touched 98.9 lakh bales of 170 kg each on Monday.
The reduction in sale price on Monday is the second such instance by CCI in the last two weeks, carried out mainly to attract buyers. Earlier, on February 10, CCI had announced a reduction in sale price of ₹1,400-1,700 per candy. The muted response from mills and trade for the CCI’s earlier price cut, may have prompted the state-run entity to correct its prices within a short time, according to the trade.
Trade sources said the market prices are trending lower than the CCI prices, attracting buyers interest. Though arrivals have tapered off in some states like Karnataka among others, the mandi arrivals are still on in Maharashtra, Gujarat and parts of Telangana.
CCI’s cotton procurement is still going on in States such as Maharashtra and Telangana. The procured quantity at MSP in the ongoing season touched 98.9 lakh bales, said Lalit Kumar Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, CCI.
On global cues
Earlier, Gupta had told businessline that the reduction in prices by CCI was in line with the international prices and that the sales would pick up after March only.
CCI, which started the sale of 2025-26 crop on January 19, is likely to have sold about 5 lakh bales on muted response from the trade and industry, which is finding cotton in the market and imports attractive.
Ramanuj Das Boob, a sourcing agent in Raichur, said as arrivals are also coming down CCI may be able to increase their sales if they increase the delivery period from the current 30 days to 60 or 90 days and further reduce the price by ₹500 per candy.
Currently, the market prices are ruling about ₹500-1,000 below the CCI prices. Prices of kapa are hovering around ₹7,600-7,700 in Maharashtra and Gujarat, he said.
Imported cotton especially from Brazil is hovering around ₹52,000-54,000 levels at port delivery, lower than the domestic prices, he said.
CAI estimate
The Cotton Association of India has estimated the 2025-26 crop size at 317 lakh bales of 170 kg each and consumption for the year is estimated at 305 lakh bales. Till January end, cotton consumption was estimated at 104 lakh bales.
CAI has projected a year-end surplus 122.59 lakh bales for the 2025-26 season, up 56 per cent year-on-year on record imports of 50 lakh bales during the year. Imports till Jan-end stood higher at 35 lakh bales and exports were 6 lakh bales.
Published on February 23, 2026