Summary of the Outlook for Cotton

摘要

During the past two seasons, consumption had outpaced production. However, while both consumption and production are expanding since the 2015/16 season, global production for this season is increasing at a faster rate. Current projections for the 2017/18 season include production at 25.8 million tons and consumption at 25.4 million tons. Production increases are coming off gains in planted area rather than yields this season. Global average yield for 2017/18 is currently being estimated at 778 kilograms per hectare, a 0.1% increase from the previous season, while area increases are 12% greater from the previous season. Major producers, India and Pakistan, with estimated area increases of 16% and 24% respectively, encountered production losses from pink bollworm this season. While most major cotton producing countries have estimated increased planted area for 2017/18 over the previous season, Australia has decreased planted area yet still increased cotton production with a yield growth of 16% with an estimated yield of 1936 kg per hectare.