The cotton growers of Australia are likely to produce 4.15 million bales of 217 kg each by the end of this fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2013.
According to Cotton Australia, a leading body for Australia’s cotton industry, there will be a decline of 20 percent in the cotton harvest this year compared to last year, when the country produced its largest quantity on record.
In a conversation with fibre2fashion, CEO of Cotton Australia, Mr. Adam Kay said, “The biggest challenges to Australian cotton currently are the high value of the Australian dollar on world currency markets; access to water, which is strictly monitored and controlled by regulatory authorities; the cost of energy, which continues to rise year-on-year; and the potential negative impacts of mining and coal seam gas extraction operations.”
“However, the industry is meeting these challenges and, we would argue, coming out on top,” he opines.
In the fiscal year 2011-12, Australian Cotton Growers produced the highest quality upland cotton in the world and 85 percent of the country’s cotton crop met the base grade of ‘middling’ with only 15 percent at grades below middling (middling refers to 31 colour; 3 leaf; 1.13 staple; 3.5 – 4.5 NCL micronaire).
According to Mr. Kay, demand for Australian cotton is strong despite the high Australian dollar, because of its excellent quality. “Cotton growers in Australia are the most water-efficient in the world, and our industry has achieved a 40 percent increase in water productivity over the past decade,” he continues.
“In addition, Cotton Australia has a strong advocacy platform and is actively working to keep the cost of energy down, and prevent potential negative impacts from mining operations,” he informs.
Australia exports 99 percent of its cotton crop and 70 percent of it is exported to China.
The production and export of cotton depends on a number of factors, including demand from countries that produce as well as consume cotton, such as China and the United States, seasonal and climatic conditions, regulatory and economic environments, etc.
Mr. Kay is of the view that “Australia may never be the world’s largest cotton exporter, but we lay claim to being the most efficient producer with the highest quality cotton.”
