Report: Organic Cotton Production Grows 56%

LAMESA, Texas-A recent report cites a 56% growth of global cotton production from 2017-2018. The statistic comes from Textile Exchange’s 2019 Organic Cotton Market Report.

According to the organization, the latest numbers put the production of organic cotton at its highest volume since the 2009-2010 report. This year’s report calculates the output at 180,971 metric tons. Textile Exchange says it expects the number to continue to grow, pointing to countries such as India, Tanzania, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and China as cotton-growing centers in the transition to entirely organic production. The report contends that organic cotton production takes place in 19 countries, and 98% of the output comes from seven countries, including these nations, as well as the U.S. and Tajikistan.

“Organic cotton, alongside other organic land-based fibers, must be part of the future,” stresses Liesl Truscott, director of European & materials strategy at Textile Exchange. “Organic cotton farmers, organizations, companies, and other supporters represented in this report provide a guiding light.”

In addition to the broader growth of organic cotton production, the report points out that India’s organic cotton farmers increased the proportion of land certified for cotton growth from 45-70%, which Textile Exchange attributes to a 44% growth in India’s production.

For more information, visit https://textileexchange.org/.