U.S. Cotton Exports To China Plunge 73%

U.S. cotton exports to China fell sharply by 73% to just 151,000 metric tons between August 2024 and February 2025, dropping America’s market share in China from 29.6% to 17.1%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Sourcing Journal reported.

China's slump stems largely from bumper harvests in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

China, formerly the top buyer of U.S. cotton, has now slipped to fourth behind Pakistan, Vietnam, and Turkey.

The slump stems largely from bumper harvests in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, which accounted for 92.3% of China’s cotton output this marketing year—up from 90.9% last year.

This rise came despite U.S. restrictions on Xinjiang-linked imports under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. FAS noted Xinjiang’s higher yields are driven by favorable conditions, large-scale operations, and mechanization.

With digital trade platforms and improved breeding technologies, China is further doubling down on its domestic supply, especially in Xinjiang, while production outside the region wanes due to weaker subsidies and market competition.