How much cotton does India produce and export?
India is the 2nd largest producer of cotton: 5.5 million tonnes in 2023, 22% of the world's 24.7 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the 4th largest exporter by value: $916.4 million in 2024, 5.3% of world exports of raw cotton lint (HS 5201) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is Bangladesh, which takes 72% of its cotton exports by value.
All about cotton · All about India · Cotton price history
India's cotton production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5.5 million tonnes | 22% | -0.9% a year | 2023 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2023. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
Share of world output over time
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.1% | 8.9% | 24% | 25% | 22% |
India's cotton exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | $916.4 million | 5.3% | 470,843 t | $1,946 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 5201 (Cotton, not carded or combed).
Where India's cotton goes
| Destination | Value | Share of India's exports |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | $655M | 72% |
| China | $132M | 14% |
| Vietnam | $72M | 7.9% |
| Indonesia | $20M | 2.1% |
| United Arab Emirates | $19M | 2.1% |
India as a buyer of cotton
India imported $1.1 billion of raw cotton lint (HS 5201) in 2024, 6.2% of world imports, ranked #6. Of its $1.1 billion of cotton imports in 2024, 25% came from Australia and 19% from the United States, among 44 suppliers.
The cotton price India sells into
The benchmark price, Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East, was $2.1/kg in September 2026, up 22% over twelve months. Its five-year volatility is 19% a year, calmer in 67% of its earlier five-year windows. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Cotton price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "India cotton: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/IND/cotton/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.