Arrivals of cotton in northern India increased 31% on year during Oct-Apr to 4.42 million bales (1bale=170kg), cotton output in the northern zone, which includes Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, to rise to 4.48 million bales from 3.75 mln bales the previous year. Cotton output had fallen last year as over 50% of crop in Punjab was destroyed by severe white fly attack. Mill consumption demand during Oct-Apr was pegged at 4.42 million bales, compared with 3.33 million bales last year.