India Cotton Sector Seeks Stable Prices, Assured Supply

ByIndustrial FrontOctober 11, 20262 Mins read1 Views

The India cotton sector has asked for stable, long-term pricing and assured availability of cotton, the main raw material behind most of the country’s textile exports. Industry leaders made the call at the 5th Global Cotton Conference in New Delhi on 7 October 2026, which was World Cotton Day, according to a Fibre2Fashion report published on 8 October.

The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) organised the conference with the Ministry of Textiles and the Cotton Corporation of India. Its theme was “Cotton for Good: Building Prosperity Through Trade, Transformation and Partnership.” Kasturi Cotton, CITI-CDRA (the CITI Cotton Development and Research Association) and Sharda University supported the event.

What Did the India Cotton Sector Ask For at the Conference?

Industry representatives called for “stable, long-term cotton pricing and availability policies.” CITI said India’s cotton productivity trails several peer countries, which hurts the export competitiveness of Indian textile makers. Ashwin Chandran, chairman of CITI and CITI-CDRA, said the quality of Indian cotton matters more than quantity and urged closer collaboration among stakeholders. Lalit Kumar Gupta, chairman-cum-managing director of the Cotton Corporation of India, called for more focus on quality, sustainability and traceability.

Which Agreements Were Signed or Announced?

CITI-CDRA signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s GIZ on Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton. CITI also exchanged MoUs with CottonConnect and with the Fair Labor Association. MoUs involving the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) were exchanged as well. The organisers announced Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiatives and released a CITI-CDRA video on its activities. Shreyaskar Chaudhary, CITI vice chairman, and Dharmendra Goyal, TEXPROCIL vice chairman, also addressed the gathering. Vrunda Manohar Desai, the Textile Commissioner, chaired a session on organic cotton titled “From Farm to Luxury: Unlocking the Value of Organic Cotton.”

The conference covered sustainability, traceability and transparency, women cotton farmers during the International Year of the Woman Farmer, organic cotton, productivity technology, and market, credit and operational risk.

Why Does Cotton Supply Matter for India’s Textile Exports?

Textiles and apparel make up the country’s second-biggest employment sector, and cotton feeds most of its export lines. Export data cited in the report shows a mixed picture for April to August 2026: textile exports rose 6.94% in US dollar terms, apparel exports fell 9.10%, and combined exports slipped 0.24% year on year. India aims to build a $350 billion textile and apparel industry by 2030, including $100 billion in exports.

Market Reaction and Industry Response

The coverage did not report any stock-market reaction or a formal government response to the pricing demand. The response so far comes from the industry bodies themselves, which positioned the conference as a push for closer cooperation between growers, spinners, exporters and officials. Industrial Front found no separate comment from TEXPROCIL on the pricing request beyond the MoU exchanges.

What Happens Next?

In May 2026, the Union Cabinet approved ₹5,659.22 crore for the Mission for Cotton Productivity, which runs from 2026-27 to 2030-31. Industry will watch how that funding translates into higher yields and steadier supply. The coverage gave no dates for follow-up policy announcements on cotton pricing, so readers should watch Ministry of Textiles and CITI statements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is World Cotton Day?

World Cotton Day falls on 7 October each year. The United Nations General Assembly designated it in 2021 to highlight cotton’s role in trade and livelihoods.