World cotton trade to decline in 2013/14 – USDA

Mexico is forecast to import 1.2 million bales in 2013/14, up 20 percent from a year ago.

Pakistan and Vietnam are forecast to import 3.0 million bales and 2.5 million bales, respectively, in 2013/14, an increase of 11 percent and 9 percent from the preceding year. Turkey’s 2013/14 imports are projected at 4.0 million bales, up 8 percent from a year ago.

China—the world’s leading cotton importer—is forecast to import 11.0 million bales in 2013/14, down 45 percent (9.0 million bales) from the previous year; sharply lower imports by China are driven mainly by anticipated constraints on the world’s exportable supplies.

The expected decline in China’s 2013/14 cotton imports will reduce its share of world imports to 29 percent, compared with a global share of 43 percent in the previous year.

Exports are projected to decline in 2013/14 across major exporting countries. Australia and Brazil are forecast to export 4.2 million bales and 2.6 million bales, respectively, in 2013/14, down 26 percent and 42 percent from the preceding year; these reductions are due mainly to expected lower stocks on hand at the beginning of the season.

Greece and India are forecast to export 925,000 bales and 5.7 million bales, respectively, in 2013/14, down 25 percent and 21 percent from the previous year. The United States—the world’s top cotton exporter—is expected to export 11.0 million bales in 2013/14, down 19 percent from the previous year.

United States Department of Agriculture