India's 2017/18 cotton output seen up more than 11pc

MUMBAI: India's cotton production in 2017/18 is likely to rise 11.2 percent from a year ago to 37.5 million bales because of an expanded crop area, a leading trade body said on Wednesday.

Cotton exports from the world's biggest producer of the fibre are likely to remain unchanged at last year's level of 6.3 million bales in the current marketing year, which started on Oct. 1, the Cotton Association of India said in a statement.

The country's cotton consumption is pegged at about 32 million bales, slightly higher than 30.78 million bales a year ago, the trade body said.

Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and Vietnam are the largest buyers of Indian cotton.