Cotton prices in 2017-18 are set to rise due to projection of a fall in global stocks despite higher production. Currently, the December futures contract of cotton on the InterContinental Exchange is at 73.38 cents per pound. For 2017-18, global cotton output is estimated to rise to 24.01 million tonne, against the estimate of 22.89 million tonne for last year. Consumption is expected to rise to 24.60 million tonne from 24.26 million tonne last year. Global year-ending stocks are expected at 16.41 million tonne, against 17.37 million tonne in the previous year. Cotton output in India, the largest producer, is estimated to rise 3% to 6.0 million tonne in 2017-18.