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In 2025/26, cotton production worldwide amounted to some * million 480-pound bales. Cotton production has been relatively stable since 2017/18, following a brief decline in 2015/16. 

How do prices and trade flows shape the cotton market?

In 2025, the average global cotton price stood at about U.S. cents per pound, reflecting a decline compared to recent peaks and signaling softer market conditions. The cotton commodity price index provides a longer-term perspective on price dynamics beyond annual averages. As of January 2026, the index stood at points (base year 2018 = 100), indicating that global cotton prices have increased by less than one percent relative to the base period. This level contrasts sharply with the historical peak of points recorded in 2011, highlighting a substantial long-term decline and subsequent stabilization in cotton prices. The index suggests that, despite short-term fluctuations, the cotton market has experienced relatively subdued price growth, reflecting balanced supply-demand conditions and broader trends in agricultural commodity markets.

How trade flows shape the cotton market? 

Trade is highly structured, with Brazil and the U.S. leading exports, supported by its large-scale, mechanized production. On the import side, textile-oriented economies dominate demand; for example, Bangladesh imported roughly *** million metric tons of cotton in 2024/2025, making it one of the largest global importers. This imbalance between production and manufacturing locations drives extensive cross-border trade.