Global Cotton Production Forecast Cut by 310,000 Bales

Mumbai. In its latest monthly (September) report, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has projected total global cotton production for the 2026-27 season at 117.32 million bales (480 lbs per bale), which is 310,000 bales lower than the August estimate. While production forecasts for Brazil, the African Franc Zone, and Kazakhstan have been raised, larger downward revisions were made to the estimates for the US, Turkey, and Pakistan.

However, due to substantial carryover stocks, total global cotton availability for the 2026-27 marketing season is expected to reach 192.62 million bales. According to the USDA report, cotton consumption in the 2026-27 season is likely to rise in Indonesia while declining in the US. The global cotton import forecast has also been raised from 43.8 million bales to 44.24 million bales.

Exports from Brazil and the African Franc Zone are projected to increase, alongside an expected rise in imports by Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The estimate for global cotton ending stocks has been raised from 69.69 million bales in August to 69.86 million bales in the September report. Higher opening stocks will result in a slight increase in closing stocks as well.