> In 2023 India produced 5.5 million t of cotton lint, the 2nd largest in the world (22.4% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.6%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/india/

[Home](https://husfarm.com/)›[Production](https://husfarm.com/production/)›[Cotton lint](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/)›IndiaFAOSTAT · 1961–2023

# Cotton lint production in India

In 2023 India produced 5.5 million t of cotton lint, the 2nd largest in the world (22.4% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 8.6%. The record was 6.1 million t in 2020.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/cotton/)[Market prices in India](https://husfarm.com/country/india/)

Production, 20235.5 million t
World rank2 of 84
10-year change−8.6%
Record6.1 million t2020

## Cotton lint in India, 1961–2023 (tonnes)

## India compared with the world, 2023

Share of world total22.4%24.5% in 2013
10-year change−8.6%world +0.2%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [China](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/china/) | 5,617,900 | 22.7% |
| 2 | **India** | 5,528,744 | 22.4% |
| 3 | [Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/brazil/) | 2,923,677 | 11.8% |
| 4 | [United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/united-states/) | 2,627,060 | 10.6% |

[Full ranking of 84 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/)

### Map of world production of cotton lint

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; India is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2023 | 5,528,744 | −3.4% |
| 2022 | 5,722,232 | −4.5% |
| 2021 | 5,992,160 | −2.3% |
| 2020 | 6,131,050 | +29% |
| 2019 | 4,767,140 | −15% |
| 2018 | 5,576,850 | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 5,538,090 | −0.1% |
| 2016 | 5,542,000 | +8.6% |
| 2015 | 5,100,850 | −14% |
| 2014 | 5,916,850 | −2.2% |
| 2013 | 6,052,000 | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 5,817,400 | −2.8% |
| 2011 | 5,984,000 | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 5,683,000 | +39% |
| 2009 | 4,083,400 | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 3,787,000 | −14% |
| 2007 | 4,400,000 | +14% |
| 2006 | 3,847,000 | +22% |
| 2005 | 3,145,000 | +13% |
| 2004 | 2,792,800 | +20% |
| 2003 | 2,334,000 | +59% |
| 2002 | 1,466,080 | −14% |
| 2001 | 1,699,490 | +3.6% |
| 2000 | 1,640,900 | −16% |
| 1999 | 1,960,000 | −6.2% |
| 1998 | 2,088,800 | +13% |
| 1997 | 1,844,670 | −24% |
| 1996 | 2,419,270 | +11% |
| 1995 | 2,186,370 | +8.2% |
| 1994 | 2,020,960 | +11% |
| 1993 | 1,825,970 | −5.8% |
| 1992 | 1,938,510 | +17% |
| 1991 | 1,651,400 | −1.3% |
| 1990 | 1,673,000 | −14% |
| 1989 | 1,941,500 | +31% |
| 1988 | 1,486,400 | +37% |
| 1987 | 1,084,900 | −7.6% |
| 1986 | 1,173,900 | −21% |
| 1985 | 1,483,600 | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 1,446,100 | +33% |
| 1983 | 1,085,700 | −15% |
| 1982 | 1,280,100 | −4.4% |
| 1981 | 1,339,600 | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 1,292,000 | −1.3% |
| 1979 | 1,309,000 | −3.3% |
| 1978 | 1,353,000 | +9.8% |
| 1977 | 1,232,000 | +15% |
| 1976 | 1,073,000 | −7.5% |
| 1975 | 1,160,000 | −10% |
| 1974 | 1,290,000 | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 1,199,000 | +3.0% |
| 1972 | 1,164,000 | −7.5% |
| 1971 | 1,258,000 | +32% |
| 1970 | 954,000 | −9.3% |
| 1969 | 1,052,000 | −0.9% |
| 1968 | 1,062,000 | −7.6% |
| 1967 | 1,149,000 | +15% |
| 1966 | 997,000 | 0.0% |
| 1965 | 997,000 | −6.6% |
| 1964 | 1,067,000 | −6.2% |
| 1963 | 1,138,000 | +6.1% |
| 1962 | 1,073,000 | +21% |
| 1961 | 884,000 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports465,001 t USD 904 m
Exporter rank4 of 105
Imports451,426 t USD 989 m
Importer rank5 of 148
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of cotton lint in India?

India produced 5.5 million t in 2023, 22.4% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does India rank in the world for production of cotton lint?

India ranked 2nd of 84 countries in 2023. The largest producer was China with 22.7% of the world total.

### How has the production of cotton lint in India changed?

It fell by 8.6% between 2013 and 2023, compared with +0.2% for the world. The record was 6.1 million t in 2020.

### Does India export or import cotton lint, ginned?

In 2024 India reported exports of 465,001 t (USD 904 m) and imports of 451,426 t (USD 989 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[China](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/china/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/brazil/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/united-states/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/pakistan/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/australia/)[Uzbekistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/uzbekistan/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/turkey/)[Kazakhstan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/kazakhstan/)[Greece](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/greece/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/argentina/)[Mali](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/mali/)[Benin](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/benin/)
[All countries producing cotton lint](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-lint/)

## Other products of India

[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/india/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/india/)[Cow milk](https://husfarm.com/production/cow-milk/india/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/india/)[Buffalo milk](https://husfarm.com/production/buffalo-milk/india/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/india/)[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/india/)[Bananas](https://husfarm.com/production/bananas/india/)[Raw sugar](https://husfarm.com/production/raw-sugar/india/)[Mangoes and guavas](https://husfarm.com/production/mangoes/india/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/india/)[Onions, dry](https://husfarm.com/production/onions/india/)
[Agricultural production in India](https://husfarm.com/production/country/india/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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