Cotton output for 2017-18 season estimated at 375 lakh bales

The first estimate of the cotton crop for the 2017-18 season, beginning from October 1, is expected to be 375 lakh bales.

This is higher by 37.75 lakh bales (of 170 kgs each) compared to the previous year's crop of 337.25 lakh bales, The Cotton Association of India (CAI) said in a statement here.

The increase in crop estimated for the 2017-18 crop year is due to higher acreage under cotton compared to the previous crop year, it added.

The acreage under cotton during 2017-18 is estimated to be higher by about 19 per cent than the previous season.

However, the CAI estimates the yields to be lower by about 9 per cent this year owing to the damage caused by pink boll worms.

The projected Balance Sheet drawn by the CAI estimates the total cotton supply for the 2017-18 season at 422 lakh bales.

This includes the opening stock of 30 lakh bales at the beginning of the year and the imports which are estimated to be 17 lakh bales.

The domestic consumption is estimated at 320 lakh bales while the exports are expected to be about 63 lakh bales.

(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)