Global Cotton Consumption May Rise To A Record 27.5 million Tonnes In 2018/19: ICAC

Although China's tariffs on US cotton helped drag international prices down from June's season-high of 101.7 cents per pound, strong demand in Asia and Southeast Asia has helped them rebound by the beginning of August.

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Global Cotton Consumption May Rise To A Record 27.5 million Tonnes In 2018/19: ICAC

Global cotton consumption is estimated to increase by 4 per cent to reach an all-time high of 27.5 million tonnes in 2018/19, the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) said in its latest report.

Global production for the 2018/19 season is currently projected at 25.9 million tonnes, which would represent a 4 per cent decrease.

Global production has increased 16 per cent to 26.87 million tonnes in 2017/18, with increases expected from all major producers: India, China, USA, Brazil, Pakistan, West Africa, Turkey, Australia and Uzbekistan. Those increases, however, are the result of expanded plantings and favourable weather conditions, as global yields posted a marginal increase of 1 per cent.

With global consumption at an all-time high, pressure on stocks is expected to reduce global reserves by 1.6 million tonnes to finish the 2018/19 season at 17.7 million tonnes. Stocks in China are projected to decrease for the fifth consecutive year to 7.5 million tonnes, while stocks outside are expected to remain stable at 10.1 million tonnes.

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Although China's tariffs on US cotton helped drag international prices down from June's season-high of 101.7 cents per pound, strong demand in Asia and Southeast Asia has helped them rebound by the beginning of August, ICAC said in its latest report.

Usually, high prices drive an increase in cotton cultivation, but less-than-ideal environmental conditions and a lack of available water are projected to cause a reduction in planted area for many of the world's top producers in 2018/19, ICAC said.

Sour trade relations between China and the USA show little signs of improving, and could even deteriorate further in the near term, potentially causing major shifts in global trade patterns. China's 25 per cent premium could prompt the USA, the world's largest exporter, to seek new markets for its fibre, while other major exporters such as Brazil are expected to fill the void by increasing their shipments to China, the world's largest importer, the report said.

(The writer Shekhar Ghosh, is consulting editor Indoasiancommodities.com. This article first appeared in Indo Asian Commodities.)

         

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