#Raw Materials

2022-05-05

As the 2021/22 season comes to a close, area, production and consumption are all up vs 2020/21

As the 2021/22 season comes to an end in about 13 weeks, the industry posted gains in most major categories vs the previous season, with area, production and consumption all increasing vs 2020/21. One of the few exceptions is world trade, which suffered from the many disruptions experienced throughout the supply chain due to transportation and logistics challenges.

Executive Summary

Highlights from the May 2022 Cotton This Month include:

• With 2021/22 winding down, it appears area, production and consumption will all be up year-over-year

• While many countries made gains, West Africa showed an incredible turnaround, led my Mali

• Global trade was down, largely due to the troubles experienced with global transportation and logistics

In other words, demand has remained high all year — the problem was actually getting the fibre from one sector of the supply chain to the next, and ultimately onto store shelves and into consumers' hands. While strong US export numbers are an encouraging sign that the problems are receding, the backlogs will take time to clear through the intricate shipping and transport system and could take many months to fully normalise.

After declining by 22%, cotton area in West African countries increased by 44% in 2021/22. This impressive recovery was driven by the recovery of area in Mali (see the February 2022 edition of CTM for the explanation).

The Secretariat’s current price forecast of the season-average A index for 2021/22 ranges from 109 cents to 129 cents, with a midpoint at 115 cents per pound.

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 17 May 2022. The next Cotton This Month will be released on 1 June 2022.

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China projected to increase cotton production, yields, and imports in 2026/27

World cotton production in the 2026/27 season is projected at 25.9 million tonnes, exceeding global consumption of 25.2 million tonnes, according to the May 2026 issue of Cotton This Month. That means both production and consumption are expected to remain close to current season levels, while global cotton trade is projected to decline by 2.7% to approximately 9.6-9.7 million tonnes.

ECCO introduces first shoe featuring innovative protein-based fibre

ECCO, in partnership with Spinnova, announces the launch of the limited edition ECCO BIOM® 720, a first-of-its-kind shoe utilising an often overlooked leather by-product, transformed into a protein-based fibre. The fibres are produced using patented technology that advances material innovation while reducing waste and supporting full resource use across the leather and textile industry.

trinamiX mobile NIR spectroscopy: New applications for the footwear and textile industry

trinamiX GmbH expands its solution portfolio for the circular economy, now enabling the identification of materials used in the footwear and textile industries. With its mobile near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy solutions, trinamiX supports manufacturers, sorters, recyclers, and brand owners in reliably identifying materials and improving transparency across increasingly complex value chains.

FET’s revolutionary gel spinning system wins Techtextil Innovation Award

FET has received the prestigious Techtextil Innovation Award 2026 in the New Production Technology category. The Techtextil Innovation Award honours outstanding ideas in textile technology, sustainability, AI and the creation of technical textiles, selected by an international jury of experts. Ranging from new materials to new production technologies, this award recognises progressive ideas that are driving forces for numerous industries, such as automotive, medical and construction.

Savio Macchine Tessili will exhibit at ITM Istanbul 2026 presenting its flagship technologies

Savio Macchine Tessili will participate in ITM Istanbul 2026 in a corporate booth of Vandewiele Group, showcasing a selection of its most advanced winding and spinning solutions designed to support textile mills in achieving higher efficiency, flexibility and yarn quality. The company will bring to the show three flagship solutions: Proxima Smartconer®, Lybra Smartspinner® and the Phoenix Assembly Winder.

Rieter at ITM 2026: Spinning Redefined with Automation and Intelligence

Spinning mills need solutions that deliver stability, efficiency and future-proof performance. Rieter has put together a powerful portfolio for ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. These innovations give customers the tools to enhance cost efficiency, improve responsiveness and actively develop their competitive edge. Step-by-step, Rieter is moving closer to its Vision 2027 – the fully automated spinning mill. With each new technology, Rieter enables spinning mills worldwide to operate with greater precision and reliability, ensuring they remain at the forefront of an increasingly demanding global market.

Experience Trützschler’s leading fiber processing technologies at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, the Trützschler Group will present its latest machinery, service expertise and digital solutions at ITM 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Visitors are invited to explore innovations across Spinning, Card Clothing, and Nonwovens at Hall 7, Booth 714A at the Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center. They can experience modern fiber processing with Trützschler!