CCI sells over 15 lakh bales through bulk discount scheme

CCI had launched a bulk discount scheme to liquidate its stocks ahead of the new procurement season starting October 1
| Photo Credit:
HARPAL SINGH S

The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has sold over 15 lakh bales (170 kg each) under the bulk discount scheme over the past fortnight. The bulk discount scheme that started on September 1 ended on Monday. CCI held a stock of 27 lakh bales before the start of this scheme.

“We have sold over 15 lakh bales through this bulk discount scheme. We have a stock of less than 12 lakh bales now” said Lalit Kumar Gupta, Chairman, CCI.

The State run CCI, which procured one crore bales at minimum support price (MSP) during the 2024-25 cotton season, had reduced its floor price by ₹2,000 per candy (356 kg of ginned cotton) after the government removed the import duty of 11 per cent on August 19.

CCI had launched a bulk discount scheme to liquidate its stocks ahead of the new procurement season starting October 1. It had offered a discount of ₹400 to ₹600 per candy for various category of bulk buyers.

Record purchasing centres

For the kharif marketing season 2025-26 beginning October, CCI has set up a record 550 procurement centres across major cotton-producing States. “Procurement will start from October 1 in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, and from October 15 in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Orissa,” Gupta said.

Procurement in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will start from October 21, he added.

The government has announced an MSP of ₹7,710 per quintal for the medium staple and ₹8,110 per quintal for long staple cotton. Farmers have planted cotton in about 109.64 lakh hectares across the country as of September 15, down from 112.48 lakh ha in the same period last year.

Trade body Cotton Association of India recently said estimated that the carry-forward stocks for the new season 2025-26 starting October will be at a five year high of 60.59 lakh bales against 39.19 lakh bales. The higher carry forward stocks are on account of rise in imports due to the removal of import duty. The imports for 2024-25 are estimated at 41 lakh bales over previous year’s 15 lakh bales. Trade expects the cotton imports to touch around 20 lakh bales during the October-December quarter.

Published on September 15, 2025