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Informist, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025

MUMBAI – Although the world cotton demand is likely to remain sensitive to broader economic conditions in months ahead, its core strength will remain solid, the International Cotton Advisory Committee said in its "Global Trends in Cotton: A Review of the 2024-25 Season" report. Companies that combine consistent quality, reliable delivery, and credible environmental and social assurances will have a competitive edge, the report said. 

"Public policy can accelerate this transition by aligning seeds and standards, investing in classification and extension, and supporting pilot-to-program pathways for PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services). Private investment can do the same by backing gin upgrades, contamination control, and mill modernization that demonstrably lift efficiency," it said.

The global cotton sector saw a complicated mix of weather shocks, shifting demand, and rising expectations for traceability and environmental performance in the year 2024-25, it said.

Producers contended with irregular rainfall, localised pest outbreaks, and input costs that were slower to retreat than many had hoped, the report said. Traders navigated fragile shipping schedules and intermittent congestion at major ports, while spinners and brands tried to maintain tight inventory control even as they stayed agile to shifts in consumer demand.

However, the system proved resilient. A defining feature of this period has been the normalisation of "sustainability as strategy", the report said. Across the period, prices were shaped by cautious demand offset by ongoing supply risks, with weather concerns, logistics disruptions, and currency moves causing brief spikes while buyers stayed disciplined on inventories.

This environment favoured origins offering consistent quality, reliable shipping, and strong documentation, allowing some exporters to retain market share despite output swings. Overall, the industry is adopting a more integrated value-chain perspective, where gains in farming, ginning, logistics, and milling are increasingly viewed as interconnected drivers of competitiveness, the report said. 

India reinforced its position as a leading cotton producer but continued to face volatility from uneven rainfall, pest pressures, and farm-level economics. Policymakers sustained farmer support through minimum support prices and insurance, while also promoting better seeds and integrated pest management, the report said. Extension efforts increasingly focused on practical, field-level guidance--such as optimal plant density, nutrient scheduling, and careful pesticide use--will help farmers lift yields without squeezing margins.

On the demand side, the textile sector dealt with a stop-start recovery, gradually improving as global retail restocking picked up in stages. Investment interest broadened from conventional spinning into technical textiles and speciality blends to manage volatility. While India benefits from a deep, entrepreneurial value chain and a large skilled workforce, the key challenge remains translating these strengths into more consistent value through improved quality reliability, logistics efficiency, and wider adoption of sustainability documentation aligned with global buyer requirements, it said.  End

Reported by Udita S. Jaiswal

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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