Cotton: World Markets and Trade (August 2004)

September 2004 Edition:

Yarn Production in China Concentrates in Eastern Provinces

As Chinese consumption hits a record, yarn production changes underscore the need for cotton imports. China is forecast to consume a record 34.5 million bales of cotton in MY 2004/05, nearly one third of the world total. Production of all types of yarn in China has grown by more than 80 percent since 1998. Although, cotton still accounts for approximately 60 percent of yarn produced, cotton’s share of yarn production in China has been declining since the early 1990’s.

The rapid growth in China’s yarn production has not been evenly spread across the entire Chinese spinning sector. While spinning occurs in nearly all of China’s provinces, it has grown increasingly more concentrated in a few eastern provinces with good access to domestic and imported cotton. The concentration has increased in recent years as the share of total yarn production in the top three proprovinces (Jiangsu, Shandong, and Henan) has risen from about 40 percent in 1998 to nearly 55 percent in 2004. The quantity produced in these provinces has increased by 150 percent. The share of total production in the next four largest spinning provinces (Hebei, Hubei, Zhejiang, and Fujian) has been trending downward slightly. The share of total yarn production in the remaining 23 provinces in China has fallen from about 35 percent to just over 20 percent.

Concentration in the costal regions, which have easier access to imported cotton, should provide greater opportunity for imported cotton to compete with Chinese cotton. This concentration has been driven in part by proximity to the export-driven textile and apparel industry that also relies on access to port facilities on the eastern coast.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

U.S. Cotton Outlook
World Cotton Outlook
Cotton Prices
U.S. Cotton Highlights

Most statistical tables contained in this circular may be viewed in Adobe Acrobat format ® (.pdf).

Tables

Table 1: World Cotton Supply, Use and Trade, 1999/2000-2004/2005 (1,000 metric tons) {.pdf}

Table 2: World Cotton Supply, Use and Trade, 1999/2000-2004/2005 (1,000 480-lb. bales) {.pdf}

Table 3: FY 2002 GSM-102 and Supplier Credit Programs {.pdf}

Table 4: Area, Yield, and Production by Country 2003/2004-2004/2005 {.pdf}

Table 5: Cotton Supply & Distribution by Country 2004/2005 (1,000 480-lb. bales) {.pdf}

Table 5-A: Cotton Supply & Distribution by Country 2004/2005 (1,000 metric tons) {.pdf}

Table 6: Cotton Supply & Distribution by Country 2003/2004 (1,000 480-lb. bales) {.pdf}

Table 6-A: Cotton Supply & Distribution by Country, 2003/2004 (1,000 metric tons) {.pdf}

Table 7: Export Sales Summary {.pdf}

Table 8: Northern European Cotton and Adjusted World Price {.pdf}

Table 9: World Cotton Production, Yield, Supply, and Utilization {.pdf}

Table 10: United States Cotton Production, Yield, Supply, and Utilization {.pdf}

Table 11: Foreign Cotton Production, Yield, Supply, and Utilization {.pdf}

Table 13:Summary of Changes (1,000 480-lb. bales) {.pdf}

Most statistical tables are available in Adobe Acrobat and Lotus version 3 format. You may need to GET the Acrobat reader.

Last modified: Tuesday, August 30, 2005