Global cotton consumption is growing at two per cent. However, world production is growing at a slower pace due to falling prices. Global cotton exports fell 6.4 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015. China is the largest exporter of cotton in the world. Some of the significant cotton producing countries are China, India, Pakistan, and the US followed by Brazil, and Uzbekistan. Asia-Pacific dominates global production but most of the cotton produced is domestically consumed. China holds a 29 per cent market share of world cotton production. In India, the domestic textile sector consumes most of the cotton produced in the country. In the US, most of the cotton produced is exported due to the less developed textile industry in the country.

Cotton is commercially used in various forms as cotton fiber, cottonseed, and cottonseed oil. Cotton is a crop that is majorly used in the textile industry. It is a perennial crop that is harvested in moderate rainfall and during a frost-free period with plenty of sunshine. Cotton is a leading cash crop in the US and is a labor-intensive farm crop. It is somewhat salt- and drought-tolerant, which makes it an attractive crop for arid and semi-arid regions.