Browse Data and Analysis

Post raises its marketing year (MY) 2024/25 cotton production estimate to 6.2 million metric tons (MMT) on record high yields of more than 2.1 MT per hectare.

Forecast MY 24/25 cotton production is 5.9 million metric tons (MMT), unchanged from the previous report and the estimate for MY 23/24. A marginally higher yield estimate of 2,014 kg/Ha offset a slightly lower planted area unchanged from the previous report at 2.93 million hectares (MHa) on lower cotton profits in regions outside Xinjiang in MY 23/24.

Marketing year (MY) 24/25 cotton imports are forecast at 2.4 million metric tons (MMT) on higher domestic and international demand for textile and apparel products. After a sharp decline in early 2023, exports of textile and apparel products have rebounded, along with demand for imported cotton.

Following a delayed start, China’s marketing year (MY) 23/24 cotton harvest concluded in November. Forecast cotton production is unchanged at 5.9 million metric tons (MMT) on lower planted area and yield. Cotton imports surged 114 percent in the...

Marketing year (MY) 23/24 cotton production is lowered to 5.9 million metric tons (MMT) on reduced planted area and raised for MY 22/23 to 6.68 MMT on higher planted area and reported volumes of classified Xinjiang cotton.

The 2023 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2023 calendar year.

The 2022 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2022 calendar year.

On April 14, 2023, the National Development Reform Commission (NDRC) published Announcement No. 369 on Implementation Measures for Improving the Target Price Policy for Cotton.

Marketing year (MY) 23/24 cotton imports are forecast at 1.8 million metric tons (MMT) on higher domestic demand for textile and apparel products and higher spinning demand.

U.S. agricultural exports to China in fiscal year (FY) 2022 were $36.4 billion and surpassed the previous year’s record with China as the largest export market for the second consecutive year. Significantly higher agricultural prices and resilient demand helped drive exports above the previous year’s record despite lower volumes for most products.

Estimated cotton imports for marketing year (MY) 22/23 are reduced to 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) on high carry-in stocks, higher domestic production, weak consumption, and uncertainty concerning the issuance of additional import quota. Consumption is reduced to 7.7 MMT in both MY 21/22 and MY 22/23 on restrictive zero-COVID polices and slower economic growth that has resulted in lower demand for textile and apparel products.

On November 14, 2022, China notified a revised draft for the “National Standard of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Cotton—Saw Ginned Upland Cotton” to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. The PRC requested WTO members submit comments in 60 days. This standard will replace GB 1103.1 - 2012 Cotton - Part 1: Saw Ginned Upland Cotton.