CCI to start sale of cotton from January 19

Cotton prices have firmed above MSP levels following a rise in cottonseed prices and the end of duty-free imports.
| Photo Credit:
S. Harpal Singh

The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) will start the sale of cotton procured during the ongoing 2025-26 crop season from January 19. The state-run entity has announced the terms for the sale of fully pressed cotton bales on its website, effective next week.

According to the trade, CCI has so far procured around 80 lakh bales of 170 kg each, and procurement is still underway in various states, including Telangana and Maharashtra.

Prices firm up

Cotton prices have gained in the recent weeks inching above the minimum support price (MSP) levels after the cottonseed prices firmed up and the Government ended the duty exemption on imports from December 31. In late August, the Government announced duty exemption on imports to enable the textiles and spinning mills access the cheaper raw material from overseas.

Production estimates up

“Cottonseed prices have firmed up by around ₹700 per quintal over the past one month from about ₹3,600-3,700 per quintal to a high of around ₹4,300 levels and have eased to ₹R4,100 levels. Similarly, the prices of cotton have moved up by around ₹4,000 per candy to around 55,000-56,000 levels. The raw cotton prices have firmed up from around Rs 7,700 levels to around ₹8,200-8,300 levels,” said Ramanuj Das Boob, a sourcing agent in Raichur. “With the CCI announcing its sale plans from next week, buyers are waiting for their price,” he said.

Imports surge

Recently, trade body Cotton Association of India (CAI) revised upwards the crop estimate for 2025-26 by around 2.5 per cent, or 7.5 lakh bales of 170 kg each, to 317 lakh bales, on higher-than-estimated production in Maharashtra and Telangana. CAI has projected a year-end surplus of 122.59 lakh bales for the 2025-26 season, up 56% year-on-year on record imports of 50 lakh bales during the year. Imports till December 31 stood higher at 31 lakh bales. For the current cotton year 2025-26, ending September, CAI expects imports to reach a record 50 lakh bales, up from last year’s 41 lakh bales.

Published on January 16, 2026