The economic research service of the USDA , in its latest ‘Cotton and Wool Outlook’ report, revealed India will regain the top-producer status in 2019-20 season, surpassing China, which became the leading cotton producer in 2018-19. India’s cotton production during the season is forecast to increase by 3-million-bales to 28.5 million bales, while China is likely to produce 27.75 million bales.

For 2019-20, India’s cotton area is forecast to rise slightly to 12.35 million hectares (30.5 million acres), as price expectations remain favourable for cotton. The national yield is also projected to rebound from last season’s below-average level, supporting the 3-million-bale increase in cotton production to 28.5 million bales in 2019-20.

China, on the other hand, is forecasted to produce 27.75 million bales of cotton in 2019-20, equal to the previous season, as slightly lower area is offset by a higher yield expectation. Harvested area in China is projected at 3.45 million hectares (8.5 million acres), as Government policies keep area nearly unchanged. However, with area further concentrated in the high-yielding Xinjiang region, the 2019 national yield is forecast to rise to 1,751 kilograms per hectare (1,561 pounds per acre), the report added