China Cotton: Production Increased Due to Higher Projected Yields USDA forecasts China’s marketing year (MY) 2024/25 cotton production at 27.5 million 480-
pound bales (6.0 million metric tons), up 0.5 million bales or 2 percent from last month, unchanged
from last year, but down 3 percent from the 5-year average of 28.4 million bales. Harvested area
is estimated at 2.9 million hectares (mha), no change from last month and down 2 percent from
last year and 10 percent from the 5-year average. Yield is forecasted at 2,101 kilograms per hectare
(kg/ha), up 2 percent from last month, and from last year. Yield is higher than the 5-year average
of 1,968 kg/ha, up by 7 percent, due to the increasing quantity of cotton produced in Xinjiang
province where yield has nearly doubled compared to elsewhere in the country. (For more information, please
contact Dath.Mita@usda.gov.)