The Centre has announced MSP of ₹8,267 per quintal for medium staple and ₹8,667 for long staple cotton

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Amidst a volatile global trend, the prices of raw cotton from the current kharif crop are ruling firm in several States where early arrivals have begun.Arrivals have started in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat among others“Raw cotton prices are ruling above the MSP (minimum support price) levels in the range of ₹9,200-9,500 per quintal, depending on the moisture content, in markets such as Raichur, Bellary, Adoni and Yemmiganur among others,” said Ramanuj Das Boob, a sourcing agent in Raichur.May rule above MSPThe Centre has announced MSP of ₹8,267 per quintal for medium staple and ₹8,667 for long staple cotton for the 2026-27 marketing season.“Looking to the current trend in international prices, the prices of raw cotton are likely to stay above the MSP levels,” Boob added.ICE Cotton Futures are hovering in around 87 cents per pound, down from around 93 cents per pound on Tuesday. The dip in ICE has forced MNCs in India to lower their quotes by ₹2,000 per candy (356 kg), while CCI has maintained its price.“Even at reduced price offered by MNCs, there are no takers,” Das Boob said.Arrivals delayed“Buyers are not coming because of low demand in yarn. The yarn market is dull as there are no buyers at higher prices. Buyers, especially mills, who have stocks, are preferring to wait and watch,” he said.Arrivals in small quantities have also started in parts of Gujarat and prices are hovering in the range of ₹1,900-2,000 per maund (20 kgs), said Anand Popat of CotYarn TradeLink in Rajkot.As sowing is delayed, the arrivals are delayed by over a month and expected to pick up from early November, Popat said.Weekly cotton arrivals from the new crop are around 50,000 bales of 170 kg each. In another two weeks, the arrivals may touch about 1 lakh bales per week, Popat said.Further, Popat said the cotton crop requires some rains now. Another one or two rounds of rains will boost the yields, he said.As per the Agriculture Ministry’s data on September 4, cotton has been planted in 109.17 lakh hectares, marginally lower than corresponding last year’s 109.87 lh.Published on September 4, 2026