India's cotton production has declined by more than 61 lakh bales (170 kg each), or over 17%, during the last five cotton years, reflecting a steady fall in both acreage and productivity. At the same time, imports of raw cotton and cotton yarn have increased sharply to meet domestic demand, according to information provided by the Ministry of Textiles.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita said cotton production fell from 352.48 lakh bales in 2020-21 to 290.91 lakh bales in 2025-26 (Provisional). The cotton year runs from October to September.
The decline has been accompanied by a contraction in the area under cotton cultivation. Cotton acreage dropped from 132.85 lakh hectares in 2020-21 to 114.82 lakh hectares in 2025-26, a decline of over 18 lakh hectares. Productivity also weakened during the period, falling from 451 kg per hectare to 431 kg per hectare.
According to the ministry, the decline in production is mainly due to a reduction in cotton acreage, as many farmers shifted to other crops offering better returns.
The lower domestic output has led to a sharp rise in imports. Cotton yarn imports increased by 19.96%, rising from 7,564.61 tonnes in 2024-25 to 9,074.13 tonnes in 2025-26.
Imports of raw cotton recorded an even steeper increase. They rose from 5,62,224.70 tonnes in 2024-25 to 10,13,455.16 tonnes in 2025-26, an increase of more than 80%, indicating growing dependence on overseas supplies to meet domestic industry requirements.
The ministry noted that international cotton prices increased by around 19% during the recent period, while domestic prices of the S-6 cotton variety rose by about 18%. To ensure adequate availability of raw material for the textile industry, imports of cotton and cotton yarn have been facilitated whenever necessary.
To improve domestic availability, the government has waived the 11% import duty on cotton imports from June 1 to October 31, 2026. It has also continued the import duty exemption on Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton since February 20, 2024, to ensure the availability of quality cotton for the textile sector.
The latest data underline the challenges facing India's cotton sector, where declining production and stagnant productivity are increasing reliance on imports despite the country's position as one of the world's leading cotton producers.