US cotton production projected to fall

Cotton Ginnings report, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said. In 2014-15, the US produced 16.3 million bales of cotton.

Upland production was placed at 12.44 million bales while the ELS crop was estimated at 430,000 bales. The USDA will release final 2015-16 production estimates on May 10.

With starting stocks unchanged in April, this season's cotton supply is now estimated at approximately 16.6 million bales, nearly 2.1 million bales below 2014/15.

US cotton demand estimates were unchanged in April. American exports remain projected at 9.5 million bales, down from nearly 11.3 million bales in 2014-15 and the lowest since 2000/01. With lower shipments, the US share of global trade is expected to reach 27 per cent in 2015-16, compared with nearly 32 per cent in 2014-15.

US cotton mill use is forecast at 3.6 million bales, nearly identical to 2014-15. Based on the latest data, US mills have used 2 million bales during the first 7 months of the marketing year, similar to a year ago.

US cotton acreage in 2016 is projected to rise from last season's three-decade low. Based on the National Agricultural Statistics Service's (NASS) Prospective Planting s report that surveyed, farmers as of early March, producers intended to plant 9.56 million acres to cotton in 2016. The initial projection is 1 million acres (11 per cent) above 2015's plantings. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India