Global buyers are interested in sourcing cotton from India as they find it cost effective and less expensive compared to other countries. Apart from neighboring countries, India has been receiving demand for cotton from several other countries, including Vietnam and Indonesia.

Bangladesh, the world’s largest cotton importer, does not have much of its own production and its spinning mills largely depend on imports.

In the first six months of this cotton production and marketing season, India sold 55 lakh bales of cotton, of which 17 lakh bales were shipped to Bangladesh, followed by 11 lakh bales to Pakistan, ten lakh to Vietnam, seven lakh to China, seven lakh to Indonesia and Taiwan, and three lakh to other countries including Sri Lanka, Turkey and Thailand.

India is the largest producer of cotton in the world, followed by China, the US, Pakistan and Brazil. The five largest exporters of cotton are the US, Australia, Brazil, India and Uzbekistan. Five major consumers of cotton are China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey.

India will export 65 lakh bales to 70 lakh bales of cotton in the ongoing cotton season. The country exported 63 lakh bales of cotton last year.

By the end of the season, India’s cotton exports to China may touch ten lakh bales.