India’s cotton imports projected to reach record 60 lakh bales in 2025-26
The Cotton Association of India has raised its import outlook from 47 lakh to 60 lakh bales for the season ending September 2026, as textile mills tap the government’s temporary 11% import-duty exemption.
India’s cotton imports are projected to reach a record 60 lakh bales in 2025-26, up from CAI’s earlier 47 lakh-bale estimate, as textile mills use the government’s temporary 11% import-duty exemption.
Why this matters
CAI’s higher import outlook follows its signal that the duty waiver had limited impact while foreign prices stayed near domestic levels, and comes as cotton planting exceeds 100 lakh hectares, pointing to a shifting textile raw-material balance.
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