Weather conditions play havoc with global cotton planting
The area planted with cotton in Australia is projected to more than double to 300,000 hectares in the 2015/2016 season as the country recovers from drought, according to the International Cotton Advisory Committee.
Assuming a 27% decrease in the average yield to 1,867 kg/ha, production in Australia is forecast to increase by 11% to 560,000 tons in 2015/16.
India’s production of around 6.2 million tons accounts for around 30% of production in the Northern Hemisphere. China’s production is estimated at 5.3 million tons, down 19% from 2014/15 and 35% from the record of 8.1 million tons achieved in 2007/08.
After achieving a record of 812 kg/ha last year, the average yield in Pakistan may decrease by 22% to 637 kg/ha due to adverse weather, increased pest pressure from whitefly and pink bollworm, and the high cost of inputs discouraging farmers from better crop management. Production is estimated at 1.7 million tons on an area of 2.7 million hectares.
A 13% reduction in harvested area in the US coupled with lower yields due in part to excessive rains in autumn are expected to lead to a fall in production of 18% to 2.9 million tons.
World cotton mill use will remain unchanged from 2014/15 at 24.3 million tons.
