As per ‘Cotton and Wool Outlook’ report of June 2019 by US Department of Agriculture (USDA), global cotton production in 2019-20 is forecast to rise by 5 per cent over the previous year to 125.3 million bales. This would be the second largest crop on record after 127.2 million bales produced in 2011-12. Cotton yield shall remain similar to the average of the last 2 years.

A major part of this production will be led by the United States (+3.6 million bales) and India (+2.5 million bales). For 2019-20, India is forecast to return as the leading cotton-producing country, surpassing China.

For 2019-20, India’s cotton crop is projected at 28.5 million bales—10 per cent above the previous year—as both higher area and yield are expected. India is forecast to account for 23 per cent of the world’s cotton production in 2019-20. Production in China is projected to remain unchanged t 27.75 million bales, as slightly lower area is offset by a higher national yield of 1,751 kg/hectare (1,562 pounds per acre). Cotton production in Pakistan is forecast at 8.0 million bales in 2019-20, a 4 per cent increase from 2018-19, as a rebound in area and a nearly unchanged yield lift the crop above the 3-year average.

Meanwhile, cotton production in Brazil and Australia is expected to decrease in 2019-20 as lower area and yield are projected. For Brazil, production is forecast at 12.0 million bales, 6 per cent (800,000 bales) below the record 2018-19 crop currently being harvested.