India's cotton exports could fall by 36% in 2021/22 from a year ago, as domestic demand has been rising amid limited supplies after carry-forward stocks nearly halved from a year ago, industry officials said on Thursday. Lower exports from the world's biggest cotton producer could support global prices CTc2, which jumped to their highest levels in a decade on strong demand from top consumer China. The country exported around 7.8 million bales in 2020/21, the highest in eight years, as the state-run Cotton Corporation of India continuously sold from its warehouses keeping Indian prices competitive, he said. Higher exports and local demand have depleted carry forward stocks to 6.5 million bales in the new season that started on Oct. 1, from 12.5 million bales a year ago. Good demand from local mills and a rally in global prices have lifted domestic prices MCOTc1 to a record high this week, tapering the advantage India had over other suppliers. Leading cotton producing states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh received heavy rainfall in September.