Cotton output set to rise 10.7% in 2007-08

The country will produce a total of 31 million cotton bales (one bale = 170 kg) in 2007-08, up 10.71 per cent from the previous year's 28 million bales, according to the Cotton Advisory Board's (CAB) estimates.

The figures were arrived at for the current cotton year at the CAB meeting on Friday.

Textile Commissioner and CAB Chairman J N Singh said, "We are sticking to our expectations of 31 million bales in 2007-08. The figures will be revised in two-three months."

Cotton acreage has increased to 9.53 million hectares this year from 9.14 million hectares last year.

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab remained the top four cotton producing states.

Gujarat, according to CAB estimates, will add 11 million bales followed by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh with 6 million bales and 4.3 million bales respectively.

The country will export around 6.5 million bales as against 5.8 million bales last year. Imports are projected to go up to 0.65 million bales from 0.55 million bales last year.

The market outlook for cotton is expected to rule firm as stocks are on the decline globally. "The government has no intentions of banning cotton exports as the country's consumption will be far less than the actual production," Singh added.