#Raw Materials

2025-03-06

The evolving landscape of cotton planting decisions in 2025/26

Right now, cotton farmers in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are facing a daunting task: how to make critical planting decisions during a time of extreme uncertainty.

Growers in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in the United States, India, and China, face a complex set of factors influencing their cotton planting decisions. Climate variability and water availability play a crucial role, as increasing unpredictability in weather patterns — including prolonged droughts, and excessive rainfall — necessitate a reliance on advanced climate models to determine optimal planting windows. Water availability remains a pressing concern, especially in water-stressed regions such as Texas in the USA and Gujarat in India.

In the Southern Hemisphere, cotton planting cycles differ, with major decisions occurring from September to December. Expanding arable land in Brazil offers a distinct advantage, as unlike the U.S. and India, where farmland is often limited, Brazil has been able to increase cotton acreage in the Cerrado region, utilizing degraded pastureland for high-yield cotton production. Favorable climate conditions provide another benefit, as Brazil’s well-defined wet and dry seasons reduce the risks of excessive rain during harvesting. In contrast, Australia faces water allocation restrictions, and Argentina deals with erratic weather patterns.

Price Projections

The Secretariat’s current price forecast of the season-average A index for 2024/25 ranges from 92.00 cents to 97.00 cents, with a midpoint at 94.00 cents per pound.

For the most up-to-date statistics, please refer to the Data Dashboard. It is updated with new data constantly, and that new information is immediately reflected on the Dashboard, making it a valuable, up-to-date resource all month long. You can view a video tutorial on how to use the ICAC Data Dashboard on the ICAC’s YouTube page here. * Please note: At press time, the Data Dashboard is unavailable. It will be restored as soon as possible.

Please note that the cotton balance sheets have been moved to the ICAC Data Dashboard. This ensures that the season balance sheets are always up-to-date and available whenever you need them. This also helps to reduce errors because the data is compiled directly from our database. They are included in this PDF report, but we strongly encourage users to obtain all data from the Dashboard.

Organic cotton at the crossroads: Ideology, evidence, and the road ahead

Organic cotton occupies one of the most contentious spaces in global agriculture. While praised by brands and consumers for its environmental ideals, it also faces persistent questions about yield stability, certification integrity, and scalability. The current edition of The ICAC Recorder cuts through the ideology to deliver a rigorous, evidence-based assessment of both sides of the debate.

AMSilk and Ajinomoto Foods Europe expand partnership to enable industrial-scale production of silk proteins

AMSilk GmbH (“AMSilk”), a global leader leader in biotech produced silk materials, today announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Ajinomoto Foods Europe (AFE), marking a key step in scaling the industrial production of its silk proteins. Building on the collaboration first established in 2023, the two companies have now entered into a long-term manufacturing and supply agreement, enabling the transition from industrial validation to dedicated, large-scale production.

Cotton made in Africa partners receive top marks in independent verifications

Cotton made in Africa® (CmiA) and CmiA Organic are two internationally recognised standards that aim to promote sustainable development in the African cotton sector south of the Sahara. To ensure the standards’ credibility among brands, retailers, and consumers, independent verifiers evaluate compliance on the ground. The verification results for 2025, now published in the Aggregated Verification & Implementation Report, were very strong: The verifiers awarded consistently very good remarks regarding management, people, prosperity, and the environment.

EU ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear now in force

The European Union's ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear has entered into force. Since July 19, 2026, large companies across the EU have been prohibited from destroying unsold textile products, while medium-sized companies will be required to comply with the same rules from 2030.

Eastman Naia™ brings its inside-out denim vision to Kingpins New York

Following its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam, Eastman Naia™ brings the next chapter of its denim story to Kingpins New York, taking place July 22–23. At Booth Green 7, Naia™ presents its denim proposition built around three complementary design directions: Performance Denim, Fashion Denim and Authentic Denim.