China’s sharp import cuts reshape global cotton trade patterns.
Global cotton dynamics are shifting as Bangladesh emerges as the world’s largest importer for the 2024/25 season, following China’s dramatic 65% reduction in cotton imports to just 1.1 million tonnes. The latest Cotton This Month report, released on November 3 by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), underscores how trade realignments and tariff escalations are reshaping the global market.
World cotton lint production is projected at 25.4 million tonnes — nearly unchanged from last season — yet it still exceeds global consumption by around 392,000 tonnes. World trade, however, has fallen 7.4% to 9.1 million tonnes, largely because China retreated from the import market. This decline has more than offset modest increases in demand from other importing nations, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Türkiye.
Cotton cultivation remains steady, with the global area estimated at 30.4 million hectares and average yields hovering around 835 kg per hectare, slightly above the decade’s average. China continues to lead in consumption, accounting for 32% of global use, followed by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Türkiye — together consuming 76% of the world’s cotton.
As the 2025/26 season approaches, Bangladesh’s rising imports and China’s recalibrated demand signal a broader geographic shift in global textile manufacturing, with South Asia consolidating its role as the world’s primary cotton-processing hub.
