Browse Data and Analysis

Irrigation water limitations in the Guadalquivir basin resulted in lower area planted to cotton for MY 2022/23 and a significant drop in yields. Cotton production has also been negatively affected by pest incidence. Industry sources argue that Spanish farmers should be eligible for cotton specific support despite the reduction in yields.

Post forecasts 2022/23 cotton area planted at 1.65 million hectares (ha), an increase of just over one percent from the 1.63 million ha cotton area estimate for 2021/22. Post’s forecast is based on expectations that despite challenges, such as risings costs and tightening margins, Brazilian producers are optimistic about the crop’s prospects, and eager to continue growing the sector.

Cotton crop prospects continue to erode and Pakistan’s 2015/16 cotton production estimate is estimated 500,000 bales lower at 7.5 million 480 lb bales, the lowest production since 1999.

MY2015/16 cotton imports are expected to decline 1 to 2 percent due to the weak economic recovery and competition from imported yarn.

As China continues to hold over half the world’s cotton in reserved stocks, China’s MY15/16 cotton imports are forecast to plummet to 1.25 million tons from the 1.8 million tons in the previous year.

China is the second largest market for planting seeds after the United States. It is self-sufficient in planting seeds for grains, but imports some grass, vegetable, and fruit seeds.

According to the Bank of Guatemala (BANGUAT), the food processing industry in Guatemala for year 2015, will grow 3.5 percent and will contribute 0.67 percent to the total GDP.