The price race between two of the most famous fabrics has always been on the top of discussion in the textile and apparel market.

Cotton is ruling the textile industry since its inception. While polyester is only around half a century old fabric, still dominating the textile and apparel market.

Both the fabrics, cotton, and polyester are quite similar when it comes to comfort, durability, breathability, and performance. Though, they both are obtained from radically different sources. Cotton is a crop while polyester is obtained from petroleum.

Cotton is more comfortable or Polyester? Check here!

And probably, that’s why they differ in price!

Yes, Cotton and polyester prices have always been into a race to the bottom. One of the major factors driving this race is sales. As the price of fabrics drives the sales of fabrics.

In the 2000s, the cotton and polyester prices were extremely close to each other. After that, in the year 2011, jump in oil prices caused the polyester to jump simultaneously. And to date, the prices of both the fabrics are into intense competition.

Let’s discuss these fabrics one by one to check out the market value.

Cotton

Consumers love cotton!

Since the beginning of clothing, cotton is everyone’s favorite. Consumers love cotton because of its well-defined qualities:

Breathability

Hypoallergenic

Absorbent

Strength

Versatility

In the modern era, also cotton maintains its relevance and popularity, because of the two major qualities – Biodegradable and Sustainable.

Today, cotton is grown in 80 countries across the globe on 77 million acres of land. And the fabrics are used to manufacture everything from home fashion to industrial products.

With time, the cotton market has seen many ups-downs regardless of any goodness. In 2008, the cotton consumption per capita jumped to 10.4 kilograms from 3.7 kilograms in 1950, according to a report by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States and International Cotton Advisory Committee.

 In the year 2009, the consumption of man-made fibers raised by 3.6 percent and the cotton consumption dropped down.

The cost-drives for cotton are:

Market demand

Agriculture commodities

Sustainability

Which is more sustainable – Cotton or Polyester?

During the mid of the year 2010 and the midst of the year 2012, cotton consumption declined largely. One of the major reasons was the cheap price of polyester. While in the year 2011, the cotton price was at a peak with an average price of 155.7 cents per pound.

After that, the price of cotton showed a declining trajectory.

In recent years 2017 and 2018, the price of cotton has fallen to 85.56 cents and 87.8 cents per pound respectively.

Polyester