Executive Summary
Highlights from the October edition regarding the 2018/19 season:

• Global cotton area projected to decrease 2% to 33.4 million hectares
• Global yields expected to decrease 1% to 777 kg per hectare  
• Global production projected to decrease 4% to 26 million tonnes
• Stocks in China are at their lowest level since 2011/12 

Decreases Expected in Area, Yields and Production in 2018/19

Many aspects of the global cotton industry are expected to decline in 2018/19, including area, yields, production and stocks:

• Global cotton area is currently projected to decrease by 2% to 33.4 million hectares.
• Global yields are expected to decline by 1% to 777 kg per hectare, remaining close to the 10-year average of 770 kg per hectare.
• Global production is projected to decrease by 4% to 26 million tonnes.
• Global stocks are expected to decline to 17.2 million tonnes.

The decrease in stocks come from China, with the rest of the world’s inventory remaining steady at 10.2 million tonnes. With only 7.1 million tonnes in its warehouses — the lowest number since 2011/12 — China is expected to import 2 million tonnes of fibre for its mills in 2018/19.
Despite an expected 2% decrease, India will remain the world leader in cotton plantings with 11.9 million hectares. The United States is expected to remain the world’s top exporter at 3.5 million tonnes, and the second- and third-largest importers (after China) are expected to be Bangladesh and Vietnam at 1.8 million tonnes and 1.7 million tonnes, respectively