Global cotton trade grows 20% during 2016-18

In terms of volume, the global cotton trade was 12.237 million tonnes in 2016, which increased to 12.651 million tonnes in 2018 with a CAGR of 1.8 per cent. The total trade volume gained 6.41 per cent in 2018 compared to 2017. It is anticipated to reach 14.398 million tonnes in 2021 with a CAGR of 4.10 per cent from 2018, according to Fibre2Fashion's market analysis tool TexPro.

In terms of value, the global cotton export was $9.025 billion in 2016, which increased to $13.548 billion in 2018 with a CAGR of 22.52 per cent. The overall cotton export moved up by 17.15 per cent in 2018 over the previous year. It is anticipated to reach $20.303 billion in 2021 with a CAGR of 14.44 per cent from 2018.

Global cotton export, in terms of volume, was 7.397 million tonnes in 2016, which dropped by 4.69 per cent to 7.050 million tonnes in 2018. The overall cotton export rose by 8.00 per cent in 2018 over cotton export in 2017. It is expected to reach 8.683 million tonnes in 2021 with a CAGR of 7.19 per cent from 2018.

In terms of value, the global cotton import was $8.084 billion in 2016 which grew at CAGR of 17.95 per cent to $11.246 billion in 2018. The overall cotton import jumped 12.40 per cent in 2018 over the previous year. It is anticipated to reach $14.234 billion in 2021 with a CAGR of 8.17 per cent from 2018.

Global cotton import, in terms of volume, was 4.840 million tonnes in 2016, which rose at CAGR of 7.58 per cent to 5.601 million tonnes in 2018. The overall cotton import increased by 4.47 per cent in 2018 over the cotton import in 2017. It is forecast to grow marginally at CAGR of 0.67 per cent to 5.714 million tonnes in 2021 from 2018.

In 2018, US (3,582.75 thousand tonnes), Indonesia (1,146.43 thousand tonnes), Brazil (915.54 thousand tonnes), Australia (478.77 thousand tonnes) and Greece (214.68 thousand tonnes) were the key exporters of cotton across the globe, together comprising 90 per cent of total exports. It was distantly followed by the Cote d Ivoire (165.31 thousand tonnes), Turkey (94.23 thousand tonnes), Argentina (90.96 thousand tonnes), Mexico (65.29 thousand tonnes) and Spain (61.80 thousand tonnes).

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export, amongst the main exporting countries, was attained by US (28.37 per cent) and Brazil (58.82 per cent).

In value terms, US ($6,562.68 million), India ($2,234.28 million), Brazil ($1,587.34 million), Australia ($958.34 million), Greece ($396.75 million) and Cote d Ivoire ($288.64 million) were the key exporters of cotton across the globe in 2018, together comprising 88.77 per cent of total export. It was followed by Turkey ($176.57 million), Argentina ($144.89 million), Spain ($117.26 million) and Mexico ($105.14 million).

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of export, amongst the main exporting countries, was shown by US (17.34 per cent), Brazil (43.49 per cent), Turkey (76.10 per cent) and Argentina (248.68 per cent).

In 2018, China (1,572.87 thousand tonnes), Indonesia (758.78 thousand tonnes), Turkey (751.28 thousand tonnes), Pakistan (605.98 thousand tonnes) and India (270.34 thousand tonnes) were the key importers of cotton across the globe, together comprising 70.68 per cent of total imports. It was followed by Thailand (258.91 thousand tonnes), Mexico (198.74 thousand tonnes) and South Korea (197.11 thousand tonnes).

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import, amongst the main importing countries, was registered by Pakistan (61.28 per cent), India (56.82 per cent) and Indonesia (12.88 per cent).

In value terms, China ($3,165.50 million), Indonesia ( $1,434.17 million), Turkey ($1,394.19 million), Pakistan ($1,098.40 million), India ($625.95 million) and Thailand ($522.96 million) were the key importers of cotton across the globe in 2018, together comprising 73.28 per cent of total import. It was followed by South Korea ($395.12 million), Mexico ($387.28 million), Malaysia ($332.65 million) and Taiwan ($253.95 million).

From 2013 to 2018, the most notable rate of growth in terms of import, amongst the main importing countries, was attained by India (58.26 per cent) and Pakistan (42.40 per cent).

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)