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#Raw Materials

Tariffs to escalate, production to outpace consumption

In the 2024/25 season, estimates show that production should reach 25.9 million tonnes, 7.38% higher than in 2023/24. Consumption is expected to increase but by a smaller percentage (2.27%), reaching 25.5 million tonnes. Given escalating tariffs, regulatory pressures, and fiber market competition, consumption is expected to remain under pressure.
© 2025 ICAC
© 2025 ICAC


World trade is estimated to be about 9.9 million tonnes, which is very close to the previous season’s levels. The cotton lint trade is under slight pressure due to tariff escalations between China and USA, with both being leaders and close bilateral trade partners in cotton. Any changes in trade policies between those two countries would have ripple effects all over the global cotton trade.

In 2018 and 2019, during the trade tension phase between US and China, China had diverted its trade basket away from the USA and towards Brazil and Australia for its cotton import needs; those countries are expected to gain the most if tariff escalations between US and China continue in 2025. In the 2024/25 season, the USA has supplied comparatively more cotton to Pakistan and Vietnam than China.

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.

Dr Matthew Looney has resigned as Data Scientist at the ICAC. The new author of Cotton This Month is Parkhi Vats, ICAC Economic Affairs Officer. You can email her with comments and questions by clicking here.

https://www.icac.org/

The next Cotton This Month will be released on May 1, 2025.




More News from International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)

#Europe

ICAC to support European Commission on pending PEF legislation

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#Natural Fibers

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#Natural Fibers

Bangladesh becomes World's largest importer in 2024/25 after China cuts imports by 65% to 1.1 million tonnes

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#Natural Fibers

ICAC announces postponement of the 83rd Plenary Meeting in Tanzania

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#Raw Materials

Esquel Group adds two new extra-long staple cotton varieties approved

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#Raw Materials

Aid by Trade Foundation reaches new milestones in supply chain transparency

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#Raw Materials

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

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#Raw Materials

2026 production plan set for a record 10 metric tons of recombinant spider silk cocoon per month

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#Recycled_Fibers

Selenis to double capacity in Portugal by Q3 2027 - Accelerating the Global transition to circular and low-carbon polyesters

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#Technical Textiles

Independent testing confirms no detectable PFAS in Milliken firefighter turnout gear fabrics

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#Home Textiles

Intertextile Shanghai Home Textiles returns in August as global sourcing hub and trend barometer for home textiles industry

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