The Cotton Association of India last month had estimated the cotton crop output at 378.75 lakh bales which has been lowered marginally to 376 lakh bales (of 170 kg each) for the current season ending in September.

Crop output in the central region including Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is expected to increase 19 per cent to 218 lakh bales against 183 lakh bales last year. In the North Zone comprising Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, it will be down 15 per cent to 53 lakh bales (62 lakh bales).

In Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, production is expected to fall 7 per cent to 99 lakh bales from 106 lakh bales, the association said.

Total demand, excluding exports, is estimated at 300 lakh bales against 383 lakh bales (including export of 98 lakh bales) achieved last year.

As of December, arrivals were marginally higher at 119.75 lakh bales against 102.50 lakh bales in the same period a year ago.

Only one-third of the crop harvested last season has arrived in the market.