Raw Materials

2020-07-02

Brazil sees huge jump in share of China’s import market but most countries will see ranging from 7% to 73%

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the cotton world upside down, but not everything has changed in the past six months. China and the United States, for example, have suffered from the virus like every other country recently — and continued to batter each other with tariffs, as well — but they will remain the world’s largest cotton importer and exporter, respectively.

Highlights from the July 2020 Cotton This Month include:

China and the USA will remain the world’s top importer and exporter

Brazil’s share of China’s import market increased 170% in 2018/19 as US exports to China wilted under the 25% tariff

Through the August – April period of the 2019/20 market year, US exports to China are up significantly but most countries will see their shipments to China decrease between 7% and 73%

The Secretariat’s current projection for the year-end 2019/20 average of the A Index has been revised to 71 cents per pound this month

The price projection for the year-end 2020/21 average of the A Index is 58 cents per pound this month

Although Phase One of their trade agreement went into effect on 20 February, the cotton industry had already seen several changes as a result of the troubles:

Brazil has been the prime beneficiary of the USA’s losses in China, as the South American country saw its share of the Chinese import market increase by 170% in 2018/19.

The news isn’t all bad for the USA, which is still expected to export 3 million tonnes globally in 2019/20 and from August through April saw its shipments to China reach 277,000 tonnes, up 29% from the previous period.

For the 2019/20 season, most other countries are expected to find their shipments to China decrease, with West Africa’s exports declining by 48% and other countries that export to China seeing contractions ranging from 7% to 73%.

Imports from China to Brazil and the United States increase as imports from West Africa decrease. (c) 2020 ICAC

In terms of prices, The Secretariat’s current projection for the year-end 2019/20 average of the A Index has been revised to 71 cents per pound this month. The price projection for the year-end 2020/21 average of the A Index is 58 cents per pound this month.

Cotton This Month is published at the beginning of the month with the Cotton Update published mid-month. The Cotton Update, which is included in the Cotton This Month subscription, is a mid-month report with updated information on supply/demand estimates and prices. The next Cotton Update will be released on 15 July 2020. The next Cotton This Month will be released on 3 August 2020.