Cotton Production In West Africa Can Be Difficult To Achieve In The Chinese Market.

According to the USDA agricultural counsellor report, the cotton planting area in Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mali in 2019/20 was 1 million 400 thousand hectares, an increase of 1.5% over the same period last year, and cotton production is expected to be 2 million 470 thousand packs, an increase of 14.8% over the same period last year, and the export volume is expected to be 2 million 420 thousand packs, up 15.1% over the same period last year.

Recently, the Ivory Coast ginning factory Association said that the seed cotton output of 2019/20 in Ivory Coast is expected to reach a record high of 500 thousand tons, higher than the 32 thousand tons in the previous year, while Mali's agriculture department also indicated that the cotton seed output in Mali is expected to reach a record high of 800 thousand tons in, exceeding that of Burkina Faso as the highest yield country in West Africa. The total output of cotton in Africa, especially the West African cotton, is showing a trend of rapid growth in output, a substantial increase in exports and a growing trend in the global market. The December USDA global production and storage forecast report shows that the export volume of cotton in Benin and Mali is expected to be 305 thousand tons and 305 thousand tons in 2019/20 respectively, representing an increase of 0 million tons and 11 thousand tons respectively compared with 2018/19.

From the feedback of some international cotton traders and cotton related enterprises, China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Turkey and Pakistan are the main selling markets of West Africa cotton. At present, the African cotton mainly sold in our main port and 1/2/3 shipping season mainly includes South Africa, Benin, Mali and Zimbabwe, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Ivory Coast and other producing areas, and mainly SM, M, 1-3/32 and above. Overall, the growth of West African cotton exports to China is more obvious. After the Sino US trade war broke out, traders increased the inquiry and signing efforts of West African cotton, and formed a certain substitution for the United States cotton and Central Asian cotton.

Some institutions and cotton manufacturers believe that West Africa cotton is still a "niche" brand. 2019/20 has made great breakthroughs in China's exports. The reasons include the following points: first, the cotton production in India and Brazil's output in India increased substantially. With the improvement of the recognition of Brazil cotton quality by Chinese textile enterprises and traders, the substitution of Brazil cotton to American cotton and Australian cotton is further enhanced. Two, the West African cotton is mainly hand picked, the foreign fiber content is high and the color grade is yellow (coupled with the long transportation time, the sea transportation leads to the upland rising of the lint) and the color change. There is a large number of producing areas of West African cotton and a great difference in quality. Therefore, cotton mills will encounter more or less problems; and the three is the West African cotton price has no advantage. At present, 1/2 month shipping date Mali SM 1-5/32 and Cameroon M 1-5/32 offer respectively 79.50-79.80 cents / pound, 81.50-81.70 cents / pound, higher than Brazil cotton 1.5-2.5 cents / pound during the same period.