#Raw Materials

2020-11-04

The cotton supply chain continues to suffer from COVID, trade tensions and a sluggish global economy

Production changes in major regions from 2015/16 to 2020/21 © 2020 ICAC

The entire world might be tired of the COVID pandemic and simply want to be done with it — but it is, sadly, far from done with the cotton industry. Production in 2020/21 (24.9 million tonnes) is projected to outpace consumption by 500,000 tonnes, and many major producers are expected to see their totals drop in the coming year, including the USA, Brazil, Pakistan and West Africa.

Global consumption is estimated at 24.4 million tonnes in 2020/21

Global production is anticipated to increase to 24.9 million tonnes in 2020/21

Production in the United States, Pakistan and West Africa is expected to decrease in 2020/21

Production in India and China is expected to increase in 2020/21

Inclement weather and trade conflicts could compound the challenges in some regions, especially the USA, which not only is experiencing an unusually active hurricane season but also is still engaged in a trade war with China.

But as with most dark clouds, there is a silver lining too. Brazil, for example, might be projected to have a 6% decrease in production, but its total production should reach 2.8 million tonnes — roughly double the size of the crop it was producing only five years ago.

India and China, the world’s top two producers, also are expected to increase their totals in the coming season.

The Secretariat’s current projection for the year-end 2020/21 average of the A Index is 69.3 cents per pound this month.

Cotton This Month is published at the beginning of the month with the Cotton Update published mid-month. The Cotton Update, which is included in the Cotton This Month subscription, is a mid-month report with updated information on supply/demand estimates and prices. The next Cotton Update will be released on 16 November 2020. The next Cotton This Month will be released on 1 December 2020.

ICAC’s 84th Plenary Meeting to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt

Registration will soon be open for the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s 84th Plenary Meeting, to be held March 24-26, 2027, in Alexandria, Egypt. The local Organizing Committee in Egypt has chosen “Building a Resilient and Competitive Future for Cotton and Textiles” as the theme for the event, which will be held at the Rixos Montaza Alexandria Resort.

Global cotton production projected to outpace consumption, but risks remain

Global cotton production is projected to reach 26.2 million tonnes in the 2026/27 season, marginally outpacing estimated consumption of 25.9 million tonnes. However, early-season production risks — including weather volatility and pest pressures — could narrow that buffer as the crop progresses, according to the September 2026 issue of Cotton This Month, published by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

Global garment trade nears USD 550 billion as competition intensifies

The global garment industry has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two decades, with knit and woven garments together accounting for nearly 60% of world textile exports in 2025, according to the August 2026 issue of The Textiles Observer, a free publication from the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

Brazil sets new cotton export record and consolidates global leadership

Brazil ended the 2025/26 commercial year with a new record, consolidating its position as the world’s largest cotton exporter. Between August 2025 and July 2026, the country shipped 3,373,941 tonnes of the fiber, 19% more than in the previous cycle, and reached record revenue of US$5.3 billion. The result represents a milestone in Brazil’s expansion in the international market and reinforces the country’s role as a strategic supplier to the global textile industry.

Coats Digital launches AI-powered GSD RealMotion for motion analysis

Coats Digital has launched GSD RealMotion, an AI-powered solution designed to provide apparel manufacturers with greater visibility into factory-floor operations. By analysing shop-floor video and applying Coats Digital’s GSD methodology, the solution turns video recordings into structured, motion-by-motion method studies.

Archroma and Lameirinho partner in pioneering deployment of InOneGO single-step dyeing

Archroma, a global leader in specialty chemicals, and Lameirinho, a leading home textiles manufacturer based in Portugal, are collaborating to bring InOneGO by Archroma, a new single-step dyeing process, into commercial production. Lameirinho’s first InOneGo bedlinens collection is now available worldwide.