China’s 2018/19 cotton production is forecast by USDA at 27.0 million 480-pound bales (5.88 million metric tons), down 2 percent from last year, but same as the 5-year average. Area is estimated at 3.35 million hectares, down 2 percent from last year. Yield is forecast at 1,755 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha) down slightly from last year’s record of 1,761 kg/ha but up 10 percent from the 5-year average of 1,602 kg/ha. The projected yield is above the long-term trend due to an increasing share of cotton being planted in Xinjiang province where yield is nearly double compared to elsewhere in the country. (For more information, please contact Dath.Mita@fas.usda.gov).