Cotton Economics Research Institute
Policy Modeling Group
Darren Hudson, Director
Suwen Pan, Research Scientist
Maria Mutuc, Post-Doctorate Research Associate
Samantha Borgstedt, Publication Specialist
Don Ethridge, Professor Emeritus
GLOBAL COTTON OUTLOOK
2011/12 – 2021/22
Cotton Economics Research Institute
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409
Telephone: 806.742.2821
Email: darren.hudson@ttu.edu
http://www.ceri.ttu.edu/policy
Funding provided by the USDA/CSREES
CERI TTU 2
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
CERI TTU 3
ECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS
– Global growth is projected at 3.8% in 2011 and 3.2% in 2012, slightly
accelerating to 3.4% from 2013-2016 and slowing to 2.7% from 2017-21. This
growth of 3% over 2013-21 is below the long-term growth rate of 3.7% from
1995-2008.
– Economic recovery in the U.S. will remain fragile in 2012 at 1.1% as persistent
high unemployment and low wage growth hold back demand growth.
COTTON MILL USE
– Cotton consumption over 2011-21 is projected to grow at 1.9% - about the same
as the long-term average. Mill use is projected to grow by about 30.8 million
bales over the next ten years.
– Mill use is projected to remain concentrated in Asia. By 2021/22, the
nations/regions that lead the world in cotton mill use are projected to be (share
of world mill use in parentheses): China (37%), India (20%), Pakistan (11%),
Turkey (5%), Brazil (4%), and Bangladesh (4%).
COTTON PRODUCTION
– As productivity gains have slowed for the time being, yield growth is projected to
decelerate from 2011/12 to 2021/22, growing by 1% per year. This annual gain
is lower than the long-term average yield gain of 1.43%.
– World cotton production is projected to track the growth of mill use at 2%,
increasing from 122 million bales in 2011/12 to around 140 million bales in
2021/22. This growth is also lower than long-term average of 2.1% in the
absence of new yield-enhancing technologies and flat acreage.
– By 2020/21, leading producers of cotton are projected to be (share of world
production in parentheses): India (25%), China (24%), United States (13%),
Pakistan (9%), and Brazil (7%).
WORLD COTTON TRADE
– A steady growth in world cotton trade is projected at 3.4% on average - slightly
below the 4.1% growth in the last 10 years. It is projected to increase from 36
million bales in 2011/12 to 49 million bales in 2021/22.
4
– China is projected to account for 38% of this increase along with (world import
share in parentheses) Bangladesh (10%), Turkey (7%), and Pakistan (7%) by
2021/22.
– The United States is projected to remain the world’s leading cotton exporter in
2021/22 with a 30% market share. Increased competition in the export market
(with projected export market share in parentheses) will come from India (17%),
Brazil (13%), Australia (11%), Uzbekistan (7%), and WCA (6%).
CERI TTU
5
GLOBAL AND U.S.
OUTLOOK
CERI TTU
CERI TTU 6
Global growth is projected at 3.2% in
2012, slightly improving to 3.4% from
2013-2016 and slowing to 2.7% from
2017-21. This is below the average rate
in 1995-2008 (3.7%).
Growth in emerging and developing
economies is also expected to slow to
5.5% in 2012 as the world economy
weakens and as internal consumption
slows down.
Growth in advanced economies is
projected to slow to 1.3% in 2012 with
some recovery at 1.9% over 2013-21.
Economic recovery in the U.S. will
remain fragile in 2012 with growth at
1.1% as persistent high unemployment
and low wage growth hold back
demand growth.
China’s and India’s GDP growth is
expected to remain robust but to
decelerate in 2012 to 7.7% and 6.7%,
respectively, from trade and financial
spillovers from advanced countries.
Brazil’s economy is projected to grow at
3.7% in 2012, about the same growth
as in 2011.
REAL GDP GROWTH: MAJOR COTTON
PRODUCING COUNTRIES
REAL GDP GROWTH: ADVANCED
& EMERGING/DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
MACROECONOMIC PROJECTIONS
CERI TTU 7
Cotton consumption over 2011-21 is
projected to grow at 1.9% - about the
same as the long-term average. Mill use
is projected to grow by about 30.8 million
bales over the next ten years.
World cotton production is projected to
track the growth of mill use at 2.0%,
increasing from 122 million bales in
2011/12 to around 141 million bales in
2021/22. This growth is slightly lower
than the long-term average of 2.1% (in
the absence of new yield-enhancing
technologies).
Minimal fluctuation in cotton acreage is
projected in the next ten years with
harvested area increasing from 88
million acres in 2011/12 to 91 million
acres by 2021/22.
As productivity gains have leveled off for
the time being, yield growth is projected
to decelerate from 2011/12 to 2021/22,
growing by about 1% per year. This
annual gain is lower than the long-term
average yield gain of 1.43%.
WORLD COTTON PRODUCTION
& COTTON MILL USE
WORLD COTTON HARVESTED
AREA & YIELD
CERI TTU 8
A steady, albeit slower, growth rate in
world cotton trade is projected at 3.4% on
average - slightly below the 4.1% growth
in the last 10 years, increasing from 36
million bales in 2011/12 to 49 million
bales in 2021/22.
China is anticipated to account for the
bulk of this increase, with imports
projected to increase by 2.3 million bales
from 2011/12 to 2021/22.
The stocks-to-use ratio is projected to
remain within the 48%-53% range over
the next ten years following a large
upward correction in 2011/12.
A near balancing of production and
consumption and the absence of large
adjustments in ending stocks lead to a
relatively flat world cotton price (A-index)
projected to lie within a narrow range of
91¢-97¢ from 2012/13 to 2021/22.
WORLD COTTON TRADE
WORLD COTTON PRICE &
STOCKS-TO-USE RATIO
CERI TTU 9
Following reduced production in
2011/12, cotton output in the U.S. is
projected to grow by 1.6%, on average,
for the rest of the projection period -
below the long-term average of 2.05%.
Cotton exports are projected to remain
below 15 million bales per year in the
next 10 years, moving from 11 million
bales in 2011/12 to 14.9 million bales
in 2021/22.
Cotton mill use is projected to average
close to the long-run average of 3.7
million bales a year from 2011/12 to
2021/22.
As relative commodity prices adjust,
and with average weather conditions
over the projection period, cotton
acreage is projected to be around 10
million acres.
National average cotton yield was 1.56
bales per acre in 2011/12. It is
expected to grow minimally by about
1% per year thereafter until 2021/22.
U.S. : PRODUCTION, EXPORTS
& MILL USE
U.S. : HARVESTED AREA
& YIELD
CERI TTU 10
World cotton trade is projected to be 36
million bales in 2011/12 and increase
steadily to 49 million bales in 2021/22,
supported by increased trade in West
African countries, Vietnam, India, and
Bangladesh, among others.
Exports from the United States are
estimated to account for about 31% of
world cotton trade in 2011/12. This share
is projected to be maintained for the next
ten years.
Over the next ten years, the share of
world cotton production of major cotton
producers is projected to stay close to
2011/12 levels. However, India is
projected to eclipse China as the largest
cotton producer. The U.S. is projected to
remain as the third leading producer after
China.
WORLD COTTON TRADE
& U.S. EXPORTS
SHARE OF WORLD COTTON
PRODUCTION: 2021/22
CERI TTU 11
MAJOR GROWTH
MARKETS
CERI TTU 12
China’s imports of cotton are projected to
increase by 14% in 2011/12 as the
government replenishes its official
reserves to defend the Government
guaranteed floor price for the 2011/12
crop of 19,800 yuan per metric ton
($1.44 per lb). Thereafter, imports are
projected to grow by a modest 1.4% per
year through 2021/22 (around 19 million
bales).
As wages have risen by as much as
20% each year from 2002, the cost of
textile production in China has increased
and textile expansion has slowed with
some mills relocating to Bangladesh,
Vietnam, and other Asian countries.
Chinese mill use growth is projected to
decelerate, picking up only 8 million
bales from 2011/12 to 2021/22,
maintaining its share of world mill use at
37%.
With relative cotton prices in China not
anticipated to increase significantly,
cotton production is projected to be 32
million bales per year, on average, from
2011/12 through 2021/22.
CHINA: COTTON IMPORTS
CHINA: COTTON PRODUCTION
& MILL USE
CERI TTU 13
A sustained growth in the cotton textile
industry is projected to increase cotton
mill use by 45% over the next 10 years.
This growth is lower than the 54%
increase over the past decade (2001-
10) due to weaker global demand in the
next few years.
However, imports of cotton will be
limited due to India’s production
increases in the next 10 years.
Cotton mill use in Bangladesh is
projected to double (to 5.1 million bales)
through 2021/22, growing by 3.4% per
year, sustaining its position as one of
the main textile expanding countries in
the world.
With low production, most of the cotton
mill use will be sourced from imports.
The U.S. is a leading supplier of cotton
to Bangladesh but faces competition
from India, Australia, and African
countries.
BANGLADESH: COTTON
MILL USE & IMPORTS
INDIA: COTTON MILL USE
& IMPORTS
CERI TTU 14
Following the same pattern as
Bangladesh, Vietnam’s cotton imports
are projected to increase by 83% (to
2.7 million bales) through 2021/22,
growing by 5% per year, to support
their textile expansion. This growth is
driven by China’s textiles becoming
relatively more expensive.
A modernizing and expanding textile
industry in Pakistan is projected to
boost cotton mill use by around 4.7
million bales in the next 10 years.
The 2011/12 cotton area is projected
to increase by 10%, to 7.9 million
acres. Although Bt cotton has not been
officially adopted in Pakistan, unofficial
numbers indicate that Bt cotton is
grown on over half of total cotton
acreage.
PAKISTAN: COTTON MILL USE
& PRODUCTION
VIETNAM: COTTON MILL USE
& IMPORTS
CERI TTU 15
DECLINING/STAGNANT
MARKETS
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As textile producers gain more access to
the markets within the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) in the latter half
of the projection period, mill use is
projected to recover as well. Mill use is
projected to increase to 6.4 million bales
in 2021/22.
Production is projected to increase by
only 328,000 bales as productivity gains
level off in the second half of the
projection period. In recent years, cotton
yields have increased by as much as
70% - 75%.
Mill use in Mexico is projected to slowly
pick up through 2021/22 with the textile
industry absorbing only 522,000 bales
over the projection period 2011/12 to
2021/22 (as they continue to face tougher
competition from Asia in the next several
years).
TURKEY: MILL USE,
PRODUCTION & IMPORTS
MEXICO: COTTON MILL USE
& IMPORTS
CERI TTU 17
South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan
continue to experience steep declines in
cotton imports - from a combined 2.3
million bales in 2011/12 down to less
than a million bales by 2021/22 amidst a
shrinking textile sector in these countries.
The overall decline of the spinner and
textile industry in the EU is projected to
continue.
SOUTH KOREA, TAIWAN
& JAPAN: COTTON IMPORTS
EU: COTTON PRODUCTION
& MILL USE
CERI TTU 18
MAJOR COMPETITORS
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India became the second largest cotton
producer in the world in 2006/07 and is
expected to surpass China as the
leading cotton producer by 2021/22.
India is also projected to be the world’s
second largest exporter over the
projection period with exports growing
by 5% per year through 2021/22.
Harvested cotton area in India is
projected to increase, rising by 2.8%
(2.1 million acres) from 2011/12 to
2021/22 – below the 29% growth in
acreage (6 million acres) from 2001/02
to 2010/11.
Yield gains over 2011/12 to 2021/22 are
projected at 1.7% per year - far below
the long-term average of 3.6% on
account of mature Bt technology (over
86% of national cotton acreage is
already devoted to Bt).
INDIA: COTTON HARVESTED
AREA & YIELD
INDIA: COTTON TRADE
CERI TTU 20
After a recovery in Brazilian cotton
exports in 2011/12 based on demand
from China, subsequent growth is
projected to be limited to 5.5% per year,
considerably weaker than the 20%
average in the last 10 years, as global
consumption slows.
Production gains will come from both
increased acreage and yields. Cotton is
projected to remain as a favorable
second crop grown in rotation with
soybeans or corn. Acreage is projected
to average 3.3 million acres from 2011/12
to 2021/22 - above the long-term average
from 1991/92 to 2009/10 (2.7 million
acres).
Yields are projected to increase from 2.6
to 3 bales per acre through 2021/22.
Mill use is projected to grow steadily but
slowly (3.7% per year) as Brazil’s textile
industry mimics the growth in global
consumption.
BRAZIL: COTTON EXPORTS
BRAZIL: COTTON PRODUCTION
& MILL USE
CERI TTU 21
Cotton exports of Uzbekistan will remain
steady at around 3 million bales per
year over the next ten years; they are
projected to account for 6.6% of world
cotton trade in 2021/22.
As a group, the WCA region (Benin,
Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali) accounts
for 6% of world cotton exports.
With a relatively small textile industry,
cotton exports are an important
component of economic development in
the region.
Projections are for a 0.14 million bale
increase in both production and in
exports per year over the next 10 years.
UZBEKISTAN: COTTON EXPORTS
WEST CENTRAL AFRICA:
COTTON EXPORTS
CERI TTU 22
Exports are anticipated to increase from
2011/12 to 2021/22 due to sustained
production coupled with high carryover
stocks in the first half of the projection
period.
Resumption of significant cotton
production and exports is contingent on
greater water availability.
Due to significant acreage recovery in
2011/12 and steadily increasing yields,
Australia is projected to reach higher
production and exports, both about 5.6
million bales in 2021/22.
Other Africa Region (Cote d’lvoire,
Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and others) is ranked
next to WCA countries in world cotton
exports by 2021/22 (2.0 million bales).
AUSTRALIA: COTTON EXPORTS
OTHER AFRICA: COTTON MILL
USE, PRODUCTION & EXPORTS
CERI TTU 23
MAIN POINTS
The global outlook for cotton is less optimistic than baselines in previous years as a result
of a weaker global economy in the years ahead together with recent developments in the
sector:
As productivity/yield gains have leveled off temporarily for the next several years
(given technology expectations) and with acreage responding to lower cotton/grains
prices (with some acreage shifts in some countries), growth in production is slowing .
With a slower growth in production, a less favorable cotton/man-made fiber price ratio
projected in the years ahead (with increased production of synthetic fibers) is likely to
limit consumption.
With roughly a balance of consumption and production, both growing slowly
throughout the projection period, and no drastic change in ending stocks, cotton
prices are projected to be at lower levels than seen in the last 2-3 years.