See the latest Cotton & Wool Outlook report.
Global 2024/25 Cotton Production Highest Since 2017/18
The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cotton projections for 2024/25 (August–July) forecast global production at 119.45 million bales, nearly a 6-percent increase from 2023/24 and the highest since 2017/18. China, the United States, and Brazil primarily lead the increase, partially offset by decreases in Pakistan and India.
Global cotton mill use is expected to increase 1.6 million bales (1.4 percent) to 115.9 million bales, the highest since 2020/21. Except for China’s 1-million-bale decrease year over year, all other major mill use countries are expected to increase in 2024/25. World trade is forecast at 42.5 million bales this season, a 4.8-percent decrease from 2023/24, as China imports decrease substantially. With world cotton mill use expected below production in 2024/25, global ending stocks are projected to increase 3.8 million bales (5 percent) to 77.9 million bales, the highest in 5 years.