United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its latest report has estimated that India's cotton crop output may reach to 305 lakh US bales (each of 217.7 kg), which works out to 390 lakh India bales (each of 170 kg), for the marketing year 2019-20. India’s cotton crop was reported decade-low at 312 lakh bales during 2018-19.
As per the report, the recent above-average monsoon rainfall is likely to provide an extended picking season, which is expected to increase the yield to a 3-year high. The cotton trade bodies in India are yet to come out with their own crop estimate while, the first advance estimate by the Government of India has projected cotton crop in the country at 322.7 lakh bales.
This kharif season, India grew cotton on larger area at 127.67 lakh hectares, about 6 lakh hectares more than last year. According to the report, cotton consumption in India is expected to rise 3%, to 247.5 lakh US bales (each of 217.7 kg) in 2019-20, which is about 316.9 lakh Indian bales (each of 170 kg)- which is equal to the record set in 2015-16.