ICAC Projects Global Cotton Trade to Hit 10.3 Million Tonnes

The International Cotton Advisory Committee projects global cotton trade will increase from 9.4 million tonnes in the 2025/26 season to approximately 10.3 million tonnes by 2028/29. This growth is expected despite a predicted 2% decrease in world production, which is forecast to drop to 25.8 million tonnes in the 2026/27 season. Consumption is anticipated to remain resilient at 25.5 million tonnes during that same period.

Brazil is expected to maintain its position as the leading global exporter of cotton lint for 2025/26, while China is projected to increase its imports as domestic demand recovers. The organization warns that a narrowing gap between global supply and use will make the inventories held by exporters critical for meeting international demand.

Several risk factors threaten this outlook, including high energy costs, shifting tariff policies, and logistics disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Principal Statistician Parkhi Vats noted that supply constraints, inventory levels, and policy decisions will play an increasingly important role in the trade landscape, though the medium-term outlook remains positive as markets respond to stable consumption.