Washington, DC — Cotton production, consumption, and trade projections for the 2025/26 season are largely unchanged from last month, with production slightly outpacing consumption (25.9 to 25.6 million tonnes) and trade holding at 9.7 million tonnes.
Below are the projected leaders in the major categories for the 2025/26 season:
- India will continue to have the most area under cotton — 38% of the world total,
- China will again be the world's top producer, accounting for 24% of global production,
- China is also projected to remain the world's top consumer at 8.2 million tonnes (32% of the global total),
- Bangladesh will remain atop the importers category with 19% of the projected world total, and
- Brazil will remain the top exporter, with 32% of the total shipments.
This month's CTM continues to address the data rectification process the ICAC has been undergoing. The initial work of adjusting data for all of our reported regions and countries has begun with updates on India, South Africa, Argentina, and Australia.
The Secretariat’s current price forecast for the 2025/26 season, based on current supply and demand estimates, ranges from 57 to 94 cents per pound, with a midpoint of 73 cents per pound. ICAC’s price projections are made by Ms Lorena Ruiz, ICAC Economist.
