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Direct from India

Raw Cotton

From the world's largest cotton-growing nation. Multiple staple lengths and varieties for spinning mills and textile manufacturers.

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Overview

India is the world's largest cotton producer by cultivated area (12.5 million hectares) and produces approximately 5.4 million metric tons of cotton lint annually. The country's diverse agro-climatic zones yield cotton varieties ranging from short-staple Desi cotton to premium extra-long-staple Suvin, serving every segment of the global textile industry.

Shankar-6 from Gujarat is India's most traded export variety, offering medium-long staple length (25.5-27mm) at competitive pricing versus the Cotlook A Index. For buyers requiring finer count yarns, we source long-staple MCU-5 and extra-long-staple Suvin varieties from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

Origin Direct's India operations provide spinning mills and textile manufacturers with direct access to ginning facilities across Gujarat and Maharashtra, offering HVI-tested cotton bales with full fiber parameter documentation. We help buyers navigate India's complex cotton market, including CCI auctions, MSP dynamics, and periodic government export policy changes.

Key Specifications

Parameter Specification
Key VarietyShankar-6 (benchmark export grade)
Staple Length25.5 – 27 mm (medium-long), up to 32+ mm (ELS)
Micronaire3.5 – 4.9
Strength (g/tex)27 – 32 (standard), 34+ (long staple)
Trash< 3%
Bale Weight170 kg (standard Indian bale)
MOQ1 FCL (~20 MT / ~117 bales)
HS Code5201.00

Frequently Asked Questions

What is India's position in global cotton production?
India is the world's largest cotton producer by area (12.5 million hectares) and second-largest by output (approximately 5.4 million metric tons of lint annually, after China). India is also the second-largest cotton exporter. Key growing states are Gujarat (30% of production), Maharashtra (25%), Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. India produces both short-staple (Desi) and medium/long-staple (Bt hybrid) cotton varieties.
What cotton staple lengths are available from India?
Indian cotton is classified by staple length: Short staple (below 22mm, limited industrial use), Medium staple (22-25.5mm, for coarse count yarns), Medium-long staple (25.5-27mm, Shankar-6 variety, India's most traded grade), Long staple (27-32mm, Suvin, MCU-5, for fine count yarns), and Extra-long staple (32mm+, Suvin, ELS, for premium fabrics). Shankar-6 from Gujarat is the benchmark Indian export variety.
How is Indian cotton priced and traded?
Indian cotton is priced against the Cotlook A Index (global benchmark). Shankar-6 typically trades at a discount of 5-15 cents/lb to the A Index. Domestic prices are set at Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) auctions and mandis. India's MSP (Minimum Support Price) sets a floor. Prices are volatile, influenced by monsoon quality, government export restrictions (India has occasionally imposed export bans), and global demand. ICE cotton futures in New York are the hedging benchmark.

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