Country's cotton exports are projected to jump by 21 per cent to 8 million bales in the 2011-12 marketing year starting from August to July. According to a report published by the US Department of Agriculture, USDA, it is due to less restrictive government policies in India. In the 2010-11 marketing year, 6.6 million bales of cotton have been shipped overseas. One bale is equal to 170 kg. Exports are seen higher as the country's cotton output is estimated at a record 35 million bales in the 2011-12 marketing year, as against 33 million bales last year. The USDA report also noted that India, the world's second-largest cotton producer, may adopt a less restrictive export policy to prevent any steep fall in domestic prices due to an expected increase in output in other countries, especially China.