#Raw Materials

2022-06-02

Cotton production and consumption invert as the season comes to a close

A-Index plotted against area / Note: The A-Index was lagged by one season. The season average was taken from August 1 to July 31 of the respective crop year.

Decreases in the crop size of some top cotton-producing countries — including India, Argentina and South Africa — have resulted in consumption outpacing production as the 2021/22 season comes to a close. They were closely aligned through most of the year but given these smaller-than-expected crops, consumption is expected to exceed production by about 265,000 tonnes.

Highlights from the June 2022 Cotton This Month include:

• With two months left in the 2021/22 season, cotton consumption has overtaken and exceeded production

• Global area for the 2022/23 season is estimated to decrease by 1% to 32.78 million hectares

• Global production for the 2022/23 season is projected to be 26.13 million tonnes

• Global consumption for the 2022/23 season is currently projected at 26.09 million tonnes

• Prices will be influenced by multiple, hard-to-predict events including governmental policies

As the 2021/22 season comes to a close:

• Global area is estimated to decrease by 1% to 32.78 million hectares

• Global production is projected to be 26.13 million tonnes

• Global consumption is currently projected at 26.09 million tonnes

To asses the impact of those figures on prices, the stocks-to-use ratio — which measures the available cotton stocks as a share of cotton mill use — can help quantify the relationship between cotton supply and demand. When supply is tight compared to demand, the ratio is lower. A lower stocks-to-use ratio could indicate higher prices. In contrast, when supply exceeds demand then the ratio increases putting downward pressure on cotton prices. Planted area also can have a major impact on prices, as shown in the graph below:

Given so many variables and unknowns, the Secretariat is temporarily suspending publication of the price projections. We will reevaluate the price situation in August and determine if we should resume price forecast projection modelling. High volatility and extenuating circumstances in global markets make it difficult for any modelling framework to produce accurate and useful information. Please note that this is only a temporary pause and as soon as we are confident in the model data we will release projections. From a historical perspective, the only other time the price model was suspended was during the 2010/11 season of unprecedented high price and volatility.

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 15 June 2022. The next Cotton This Month will be released on 1 July 2022.

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.

Trützschler and Wisdom-Greentech held a signing ceremony for the ultra-high-speed 4.2m Air-Through Bonding (ATB) line

On May 20, 2026, Trützschler and Wisdom-Greentech, a Chinese customer specializing in high-end maternal, infant & child care industry and related disposable nonwoven products, held a signing ceremony for the purchase of a ultra-high-speed 4.2m ATB line in Geneva, Switzerland. This cooperation not only represents a deepened partnership between the two parties in the ATB sector, but also marks a new milestone in production efficiency for the high-end maternal, infant and child care product industry chain. This jointly developed 4.2m ATB line is more than just an investment. It stands as a milestone achievement of Sino-German technological cooperation, empowering the high-end hygiene industry including feminine care, adult care and related disposable nonwoven products, and realizing a dual breakthrough in production capacity and product quality.

Wangjin holdings signs 10th production line agreement with Trützschler – Driving innovation in the eco-friendly nonwovens industry

Wangjin Holdings and Trützschler held a grand signing ceremony for the Pulp X Spunlace Nonwoven Production Line, alongside the successful commissioning ceremony of Line 3 of Zhejiang Jinnuo Medical New Material Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Wangjin Holdings, in Geneva, Switzerland on May 20, 2026. The newly signed Pulp X production line marks the 10th production line that Wangjin Holdings has introduced from Trützschler. It is not only the strategic implementation outcome of Wangjin Holdings' decade-long deep cultivation and continuous layout in the nonwovens sector, but also demonstrates its unwavering commitment to leading the innovative development of the global eco-friendly nonwovens industry, injecting powerful new momentum into the industry's green transformation.

Trützschler establishes in-depth strategic cooperation with Fujian Leo Group

The strategic cooperation signing ceremony between Trützschler and Fujian Leo Group, a Chinese customer specializing in the R&D, production and sales of personal hygiene products for ten 4.2m Air-Through-Bonding (ATB) lines was grandly held in Geneva, Switzerland. The signing marks a new milestone in the partnership. Leveraging Trützschler’s advanced nonwoven technology, Fujian Leo Group will complete a large-scale production line upgrade, further consolidate its production capacity advantages and strengthen its core competitiveness in the industry.

INDEX 2026: Reicofil introduces RF 5.10 upgrade boosting output by 10 percent

At INDEX 2026, Reifenhäuser Reicofil will present its latest developments for the nonwovens industry under the guiding themes “Grow Together”, “Expand Together” and “Transform Together”. On this occasion, the leading manufacturer of nonwoven machinery will be unveiling two brand-new technology advancements – RF 5.10 upgrade and RF Core – at the show.