USDA forecasts China’s 2020/21 cotton production at 26.5 million 480-pound bales (5.77 million metric tons), down 3 percent from last year, and down 4 percent from the 5-year average. Area is forecast at 3.3 million hectares, down 4 percent from last year, but up 1 percent from the 5-year average. Yield is forecast at 1,748 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha), up 2 percent from last year and up 3 percent from the 5-year average of 1,697 kg/ha. Yield is at the long-term trend due to the increasing share of cotton being planted in Xinjiang province where yield is nearly double elsewhere in the country. Approximately 85 percent of total China cotton is produced in Xinjiang. Total cotton area in China has been decreasing due to the decreases in eastern areas. (For more information, please contact Dath.Mita@usda.gov.)