Cotton output forecast lowered

06 Mar '06

1 min read

Cotton output for MY 2005/2006 has been lowered to 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) due to slightly lower yields.

However, cotton exports are forecast to grow higher than expected as cotton consumption is less within the country.

Final seed cotton harvest for MY 2005/06 as of 1/30/06 is estimated at 3.749 million metric tons, which is 149,000 metric tons higher than the official state target reveals Government data.

Sources said that conducive climate in September and October helped crop conditions and aided farmers to cross targets.

Now the forecast based on the information provided by the trade, predicts Uzbekistan's MY 05/06 seed cotton production at 3.7 million metric tons and lint at 1.2 million metric tons.

Despite plans by Government to step up domestic lint consumption by 50 percent of production in the coming years, FY 05/06 domestic consumption is predicted to go down to 250,000 metric tons (down 40,000 metrioc tons) reportedly due government's plans to raise exports to earn valuable foreign currency.

Lint export has been predicted for MY 2005/06 higher at 880,000 metric tons (up 30,000 metric tons than previous forecast) in line with Uzbek Government's move to boost this year's exports.

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