Cotton output seen at 336 lakh bales in 2016-17 crop yr: CAI

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) today retained the August estimate of cotton crop for 2016-17 season at 336 lakh bales, which is at the same level as that of the last month.

The projected balance sheet drawn by the CAI estimated total cotton supply for the crop season 2016-17 at 398 lakh bales while the domestic consumption is estimated at 309 lakh bales, thus leaving an available surplus of 89 lakh bales, CAI said in a statement.

Leading cotton crop producer Gujarat is expected maintain production of 88 lakh bales in 2016-17. Maharashtra's cotton crop is expected to improve from 78 lakh bales in 2015-16 to 87 lakh bales in the current crop year.

Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is estimated to produce lesser crop this year at 48 lakh bales and 15.5 lakh bales, respectively, it added.