Cotton growing area to decline further
According to the International Cotton Advisory Committee, world cotton area is projected to continue declining for the third consecutive season in 2009-10.
Decreasing cotton returns, more attractive prices for competing crops and expected difficulties in financing inputs are encouraging farmers to continue switching to alternative crops.
World cotton area is forecast down by 3% to 30.1 million hectares in 2009-10. World cotton production is expected to decrease by 1% to 23.5 million tons.
Meanwhile, world cotton mill use is expected to remain almost stable in 2009-10 at 23.9 million tons. World cotton imports are forecast to rebound by 1.1 million tons in 2009-10 to 7.5 million tons, helped by the expected small recovery in mill use in mainland
