Costs and climate squeeze cotton supply

WASHINGTON – Global cotton area, production and trade are all projected to fall in the 2026/27 season, contracting the world cotton area will contract by 1% to 30.1 million hectares, while production is expected to decline by 2% to 25.7 million tonnes.

ICAC says weather conditions are adding further strain. In the United States, drought affects an estimated 98% of the crop area, while planting is projected to shrink by 6% to 2.9 million hectares, pulling production down 4% to 2.8 million tonnes — the lowest level in three seasons.