Global 2014/15 cotton production is projected to decline 2 percent from a year ago to 115.9 million bales; lower expected crops in several major cotton-producing countries more than offset increases in the United States, Brazil, and Turkey.

China’s 2014/15 production is forecast to decrease 8 percent from a year earlier to 29.5 million bales, the lowest since 2005/06. India’s production is expected at 28.5 million bales, nearly 7 percent below 2013/14, despite an increase in forecast area.

Production in Australia is projected to decline 1 million bales to 3.1 million bales as an area reduction is expected due to low reservoir levels. In addition to the U.S. production increase for 2014/15, gains for Brazil (8.3-million-bale crop) and Turkey (2.9-million-bale crop) are expected to result from increased area. Production in Pakistan and Uzbekistan are projected to remain near year-ago levels.

World area harvested in 2014/15 is forecast at 33.0 million hectares, up marginally from the previous season’s 32.8 million hectares. Like production, area increases in a number of countries are somewhat offset by declines in others. The global cotton yield is forecast at 764 kg/hectare in 2014/15, down 20 kg/hectare from a year ago and the lowest since 2010/11.