(Ecofin Agency) - In 2017/18, the global cotton output will increase by 10% to reach 25.4 million tons. This was disclosed by the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), in a statement published on October 1, 2017. 

According to the institution, the forecast is due to a greater area sown (32 million hectares), stability of global prices in 2016/17, and a better ratio of cotton’s prices against other crops during the 2017/18 planting season.

The most significant portion of the increase will come from the USA which should record an output of 4.6 million tons in 2017/18, up 23% compared to the previous season.

Other producers whose output is expected to rise include India, China, Pakistan, Brazil, Turkey, and some French-speaking African nations. The latter include Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Chad and Senegal which should in 2017/18 harvest a total of 1.9 million tons of cotton, against 1.8 million tons in 2016/17, according to forecasts of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).         

Expecting an increase in demand in the global textile industry, in the main producing countries (namely China, Pakistan, Vietnam, Turkey, Bangladesh), the ICAC said cotton mills should have their productions rise by 2.7% to stand at 25.2 million tons in 2017/18.   

Espoir Olodo