US cotton acreage seen falling to decade low in 2026: CoBank

02 Mar '26

2 min read

US cotton acreage seen falling to decade low in 2026: CoBank

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Insights

US cotton planted area is forecast to decline for a second straight year to about 9 million acres in 2026, down 3 per cent year on year, reflecting weak price competitiveness.
Acreage shifts towards soybeans and corn, slower exports to China, rising competition and fibre substitution are weighing on plantings.
Meanwhile, farm support payments are expected to stabilise the overall acreage decline.

US cotton planted area is projected to decline for a second consecutive year in 2026, with acreage expected to fall to 9 million acres, down 3 per cent year on year and marking the lowest level in more than a decade, according to CoBank analysis. The outlook reflects subdued price competitiveness relative to alternative crops and shifting producer economics ahead of spring planting decisions.

Regional adjustments are anticipated to drive the contraction. Cotton acreage across the southern United States is expected to transition towards soybeans amid improved profitability prospects, while irrigated cotton areas in the Plains are likely to shift towards corn production as producers rebalance crop rotations and manage input cost pressures, CoBank said in an article by Tanner Ehmke and Emmie Noyes.

Slower US cotton export momentum to China, intensifying competition from Brazil and Australia in global markets, and continued substitution by manmade fibres have collectively restrained price recovery, limiting growers’ willingness to expand cotton area.

Despite the projected decline, policy mechanisms are expected to provide a degree of support. Base acreage payments under farm support programmes are likely to cushion the adjustment, helping stabilise cotton plantings and preventing a sharper contraction in the 2026 season.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

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