World 2013/14 cotton production is forecast to decline 3 percent from a year ago to 117.2 million bales, as relatively higher expected crops in several major cotton countries are more than offset by declines in China and the United States.
Brazil and Australia are forecast to produce 4.5 million bales and 7.0 million bales, respectively, up 5 percent and 21 percent from the preceding year. India and Pakistan are forecast to produce 27.0 and 9.5 million bales, respectively, in 2013/14, an increase of 2 percent each from a year ago.
China’s 2013/14 production is forecast to decline 3 percent from a year earlier to 34.0 million bales. The United States is expected to produce 13.5 million bales in 2013/14, down 22 percent from the previous year.
Global 2013/14 area harvested is forecast at 33.9 million hectares, down 1 percent from a year ago and the second consecutive annual decline in world harvested area.
Weaker world market prices for the fiber since 2010 explain much of this decline. World cotton yield is forecast at 753 kg/hectare in 2013/14.
