MCX cotton down on higher output expectations.

Futures contracts of cotton on the MCX fell because of expectations of a higher production in the country, backed by a rise in acreage. Farmers in the country had sown cotton across 1.41 million hectares as of Jun 8, up 42.4% on year, according to the agriculture ministry’s sowing data for 2017-18 (Jul-Jun). Higher ending stocks of cotton with farmers also weighed on the sentiment. The USDA has scaled up its estimate for ending stocks of cotton in India for 2017-18 (Aug-Jul) to 13.34 million bales (1USbale=480pound) from 13.24 million bales projected in May. On the MCX, the June contract was at 20,390 rupees per bale (1bale=170kg), down 0.7% from the previous close.