After a surge this season, China’s cotton imports are expected to rise marginally in 2021-22. As per forecasts by the US Department of Agriculture’s Beijing bureau, China’s cotton imports are expected to grow by 460,000 bales to 11.02 million bales in 2021-22. This would represent a far smaller increase in imports by China than estimated for this season, when recovery from the pandemic was forecast sending purchases soaring by 3.43 million bales.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s textile exports skyrocketed 28 per cent in 2020 while apparel exports declined by 9.2 per cent compared to 2019, with textile exports boosted by increased demand for medical PPE during the pandemic. The bureau expects PPE to continue to drive textile exports, while exports of general textile and apparel products will face uncertainty.

The bureau expects the ban on US’ imports of clothing made from Xingjiang to affect China’s cotton consumption to some extent. Yet, despite the curbs, cotton sowings for 2021-22 in Xinjiang are forecast at 2.48 million hectare. China’s overall cotton output this year is forecast to grow by 100,000 bales to 35.86 million bales.