As per latest ‘Cotton and Wool Outlook’ report released by the Economic Research Service of the USDA, India is the largest cotton producer in the world accounting for 25 per cent of the 2017-18 global crop estimate, while China and the US are expected to contribute 21 per cent and 16.5 per cent, respectively.

Global cotton production remains concentrated among a handful of countries, and the top five cotton-producing nations are forecast to account for more than 76 per cent of total production, similar to last season but slightly below the 2013-14-2015-16 average.

India is projected to produce 29.0 million bales of cotton in 2017-18, 7 per cent above 2016-17. Although the yield is forecast lower (near the 5-year average), an area rebound of 14 per cent is expected to push the 2017-18 crop to its highest in 3 years.

China’s, cotton production is projected to rise 5.5 per cent (1.25 million bales) in 2017-18 to 24.0 million bales. Area devoted to cotton is forecast to return to the 2015-16 level of approximately 3.1 million hectares. Meanwhile, the China national yield is projected at a record 1,713 kilograms per hectare, as area is heavily concentrated in the high-yielding Xinjiang region.

The report says each major producing country is expecting larger crops, 2017-18 global cotton production is forecast at its highest level in 3 years at 115.4 million bales, 8 per cent (8.8 million bales) above 2016-17 and 19 per cent above 2015-16’s 12-year low.

The world cotton yield is estimated at 775 kilograms per hectare (691 pounds per acre) in 2017-18, 2 per cent below a year earlier.