World Cotton Day

  Total U.S. cotton textile and apparel trade declined during the first half of 2024, compared with the corresponding 2023 period. U.S. cotton product imports totaled the equivalent of 7.2 million 480-pound bales of raw cotton during January–June 2024 compared with 7.4 million bales during the first 6 months of 2023, a 3-percent decline. Cotton product exports decreased 5 percent to approximately 1.2 million bale-equivalents. As a result, the cotton textile and apparel trade deficit fell about 2.5 percent during the first half of 2024, reaching 6.1 million bale equivalents. U.S. cotton product imports are sourced from many countries, although most products are imported from a handful of suppliers. During the first half of 2024, the top five countries contributed 68 percent of total U.S. cotton product imports , slightly above the corresponding period in 2023. Although the total share is similar, changes are notable for a couple of countries, indicating the vitality of each countr...

Global cotton production in 2024/25 is projected at 117.6 million bales, about 3.5 percent (4.1 million bales) above the previous year and 2 percent above the 5-year average (figure 6). For 2024/25, cotton production prospects for most of the major-producing countries are projected to increase. Year-over-year gains in the United States and Brazil were largely responsible for the global increase, offset slightly by declines in India and Pakistan. World 2024/25 cotton harvested area is forecast at 31.5 million hectares (77.8 million acres), less than 1 percent above the previous year. The 2024/25 global cotton yield is forecast at 813 kilograms (kg) per hectare (725 pounds per acre), 3 percent above the 3-year average and a record high. World cotton production is concentrated among a few countries, with the top four countries accounting for 71 percent of total expected production in 2024/25, the same as the previous season. China and India are expected to remain the leading cotton produ...

  Global cotton mill use in 2024/25 is projected at 116.2 million bales, nearly 3.5 percent above 2023/24’s revised estimate of 112.4 million bales and its highest in 4 years. Stable global economic growth expectations and lower cotton fiber prices compared with a year ago are projected to support increased world cotton mill use in 2024/25. Cotton mill use in China—the leading cotton spinner —is projected at 38.0 million bales in 2024/25, 500,000 bales (1 percent) above the previous year. China is forecast to account for 33 percent of global cotton mill use in 2024/25. Mill use in India is projected to increase 2 percent (500,000 bales) to 25.5 million bales as rising product exports support the mill use gain .  India is expected to account for 22 percent of the world mill use total in 2024/25. Pakistan’s 2024/25 cotton mill use is forecast at 9.6 million bales, 2 percent above the year before as larger supplies are available to local textile mills. Higher cotton mill use in...