Futures contracts of cotton on MCX traded higher due to a likely fall in India’s production. Domestic cotton output in the current season started Oct 1 is likely to decline 7-8% to 35 mln bales (1 bale = 170 kg), primarily due to severe pink bollworm attacks in Maharashtra. Though the government has not yet issued any production forecast, the Cotton Association of India, on Nov 15, had estimated the crop for 2017-18 at 37.5 mln bales.