Cotton Yarn Industry Clues: 74+ Global Stats, Trends & Data 2023

By Jodie Morgan

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This is a complete list of up-to-date Cotton Yarn Industry statistics. Discover everything you need to know about the global cotton yarn industry.

Essential info, growth figures, market share, revenue, demographics, market size, data, cotton yield, yarn production, cotton prices, insights, cotton exports, and more in this report and market analysis of the global cotton yarn market!

World Cotton Yarn Statistics Featured Img - A look into the world cotton area of the textile industry.

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Here’s a breakdown of everything you’ll find out about on this page of global cotton yarn statistics and cotton statistics:

Table Of Contents

Top 10 Statistics About Cotton Yarn In 2023

Here are the most interesting cotton yarn industry statistics and insights for 2023.

  1. In 2022, approx 13.8M acres of cotton were planted in the US.
  2. In 2020, approx 15.6M 480-pound bales of cotton were exported from the United States.
  3. Japan exported an estimated 7,620 USD worth of cotton yarn to Cambodi 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database.
  4. On average, cottom farmers make $2516 USD a hectare.
  5. China exported 1,785,000 million tons (metric) of cotton in 2021-2022.
  6. Myanmar is the country that searches the most for cotton yarn according to Google.
  7. 7.4M acres of cotton were harvested in the US in 2022.
  8. On average, 1kg of cotton costs $1.83 USD.
  9. Cotton is 30% stronger when wet because the hydrogen atoms in water create extra bonds with the cellulose atoms.
  10. US Cotton gets exported to places like China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

Cotton Yarn Industry Search Insights & Cotton Statistics

Google Trends – Global Web Search Interest Over Time (2004 – 2023)

Google Trends - Global Search Interest Over Time

In Apr 2020, it experienced a surge of popularity. In Feb 2004, it reached its peak.

Google Trends – Global Image Search Interest Over Time (2008 – 2023)

Google Trends - Cotton Yarn Global Image Search Interest Over Time

In May 2020, it experienced a surge of popularity. In Jun 2020, it reached its peak.

Google Trends – Global YouTube Search Interest Over Time (2008 – 2023)

Google Trends - Cotton Yarn Global YouTube Search Interest Over Time

In Jul 2017, it experienced a surge of popularity. In Nov 2013, it reached its peak.

Google Trends – Global Search Interest By Region

Global Search Interest In Cotton Yarn

The countries highlighted in the darkest shade of blue are the ones where it’s most popular, and the ones in gray show where there’s not enough data to record. Here are the top 15 countries.

  1. Myanmar
  2. South Africa
  3. Sri Lanka
  4. Nigeria
  5. Kenya
  6. Bangladesh
  7. Australia
  8. Philippines
  9. Singapore
  10. Canada
  11. Pakistan
  12. India
  13. United States
  14. Hong Kong
  15. Malaysia

Google Trends – USA Search Interest By Region

USA Search Interest In Cotton Yarn

The darker the blue color of the state, the more common the search term is. Here are the top 10 states.

  1. Rhode Island
  2. Vermont
  3. Kentucky
  4. South Carolina
  5. Arkansas
  6. Nebraska
  7. Oregon
  8. Alabama
  9. Louisiana
  10. Washington

Google Trends – Related Search Terms

Most Popular Related Search Terms To Cotton Yarn

Here are the top 5 related search terms.

  1. Crochet Cotton Yarn
  2. Crochet Cotton
  3. Cotton Yarn Crochet Patterns
  4. Spinning Cotton Yarn
  5. Cotton Wool

Global Search Interest Growth Over The Past 15 Years (2008-2023)

Global Search Interest In Cotton Yarn Over The Last 15 Years

Over the past fifteen years (2008-2023) it has experienced a 43% increase in growth.

Global Search Interest Growth Over The Past 10 Years (2013-2023)

Global Search Interest In Cotton Yarn Over The Last 10 Years

Over the past ten years (2013-2023) it has experienced a 60% increase in growth.

Global Search Interest Growth Over The Past 5 Years (2019-2023)

Global Search Interest In Cotton Yarn Over The Last 5 Years

Over the past five years (2019-2023) it has experienced a 51% increase in growth.

Global Search Interest Growth Over The Past 2 Years (2021-2023)

Global Search Interest In Cotton Yarn Over The Last 2 Years

Over the past two years (2021-2023) it has experienced a 1% increase in growth.

Global Search Interest Growth Over The Past Year (2022-2023)

Global Search Interest In Cotton Yarn Over The Last Year

Over the past year (2022-2023) it has experienced a 25% decrease in growth.

Global Search Interest Growth Over The Past 6 Months (Sep 2022-Feb 2023)

Global Search Interest In Cotton Yarn Over The Last 6 Months

Over the past six months (Sep 2022-Feb 2023) it has experienced a 17% decrease in growth.

Global Search Interest Growth Over The Past 3 Months (Dec 2022-Feb 2023)

Global Search Interest In Cotton Yarn Over The Last 3 Months

Over the past three months (Dec 2022-Feb 2023) it has experienced a 17% decrease in growth.

Pin For Later

Cotton Yarn Statistics Pin

Cotton Yarn Statistics – Cotton Yarn Exports Data

Australian Cotton Yarn Exports

The value Australian exports of cotton yarn to New Zealand was an estimated $6,930 USD in 2021, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database. (Trading Economics)

Australian Cotton Yarn Exports To New Zealand ($ Thousand USD Per Year)

Here is how much estimated value of Australian cotton yarn exported to New Zealand 2013-2021. All numbers are estimated, and based on reports sourced from the United Nations COMTRADE database.

  • 2013 – $20,884 USD
  • 2014 – $1,400 USD
  • 2015 – $3,876 USD
  • 2016 – $1,465 USD
  • 2017 – $5,268 USD
  • 2018 – $48,076 USD
  • 2019 – $13,659 USD
  • 2020 – $2,127 USD
  • 2021 – $6,927 USD

Chinese Cotton Yarn Exports

Exports of Chinese cotton yarn increased to 114,011 USD in Dec from 112,868 USD in Nov 2019. (Trading Economics)

Top 10 Countries China Exports Cotton Yarn To

Here are the top ten countries China exports yarn to, based on the value. All this data is estimated, and sourced from reports by the Chinese Customs.

  1. United States
  2. Hong Kong
  3. Japan
  4. Vietnam
  5. Singapore
  6. India
  7. Netherlands
  8. Malaysia
  9. Germany
  10. Russia

India Cotton Yarn Exports

The value of Indian cotton yarn exports reported at 225,943.800 INR in 2017. (CEICData)

India Cotton Yarn Exports ($ Thousand INR Per Year)

Here is how much cotton yarn was exported from India each year from 2006-2017, based on value. All data was sourced from reports from the the Indian Office Of The Textile Commisioner.

  • 2006 – $64,432.5 INR
  • 2007 – $74,695.2 INR
  • 2008 – $76,030.3 INR
  • 2009 – $68,733.3 INR
  • 2010 – $75,934.2 INR
  • 2011 – $122,508.9 INR
  • 2012 – $143,645.3 INR
  • 2013 – $193,209.7 INR
  • 2014 – $277,313.1 INR
  • 2015 – $242,239.5 INR
  • 2016 – $237,075.3 INR
  • 2017 – $225,943.8 INR

Japanese Cotton Yarn Exports

Japan exported an estimated 7,620 USD worth of cotton yarn to Cambodi 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database. (Trading Economics)

Japanese Cotton Yarn Exports Into Cambodia ($ Thousand USD Per Year)

Here are the estimated value of Japanese cotton yarn exported to Cambodia. All this data is estimated, and sourced from reports by the United Nations COMTRADE database.

  • 2012 – $3,921 USD
  • 2013 – $2,3189 USD
  • 2014 – $6,365 USD
  • 2015 – $35,816 USD
  • 2016 – $7,118 USD
  • 2017 – $7,027 USD
  • 2018 – $5,381 USD
  • 2019 – $74,913 USD
  • 2022 – $7,619 USD

Worldwide Cotton Exports

The US was the top exporter of cotton in 2021/2022, with a volume of approx 3,211,000 metric tons.

Top Cotton Exporters Worldwide (In 1000 Metric Tonnes)

Here are the top ten exporters of cotton yarn in 2021-2022 based on volume.

  1. United States – 3,211,000 Metric Tons
  2. Brazil – 1,720,000 Metric Tons
  3. India – 871,000 Metric Tons
  4. Australia – 871,000 Metric Tons
  5. Greece – 305,000 Metric Tons
  6. Benin – 305,000 Metric Tons
  7. Cote d’Ivoire – 299,000 Metric Tons
  8. Mali – 239,000 Metric Tons
  9. Burkina Faso – 174,000 Metric Tons
  10. Argentia – 163,000 Metric Tons

Cotton Yarn Imports Statistics

Vietnamese Cotton Yarn Imports

In 2021, Vietnam imported approx 117,000 tns of cotton yarn. Cotton yarn accounted for 11% of yarn imported to Vietnam in 2021. (Statista)

Cotton Yarn Imports Into Vietnam (Metric Tons Per Year)

Here is the volume of cotton yarn imported into Vietnam 2016-2021 in metric tonnes.

  • 2016 – 63 Metric Tonnes
  • 2017 – 77 Metric Tonnes
  • 2018 – 110 Metric Tonnes
  • 2019 – 107 Metric Tonnes
  • 2020 – 100 Metric Tonnes
  • 2021 – 117 Metric Tonnes

Worldwide Cotton Imports & Consumption Statistics

In 2021-2022, Vietnam imported approx 1.48M metric tons of cotton. (Statista)

Top Cotton Importers Worldwide (In 1000 Metric Tonnes)

Here are the top ten countries importing cotton by volume.

  1. China – 1,785,000 Metric Tons
  2. Bangladesh – 1,742,000 Metric Tons
  3. Vietnam – 1,481,000 Metric Tons
  4. Turkey – 1,208,000 Metric Tons
  5. Pakistan – 980,000 Metric Tons
  6. Indonesia – 555,000 Metric Tons
  7. Mexico – 218,000 Metric Tons
  8. India – 218,000 Metric Tons
  9. Thailand – 158,000 Metric Tons
  10. Egypt – 131,000 Metric Tons

Cotton Production Statistics: Market Analysis

Japanese Cotton Yarn Production

The amount of spun cotton yarn produced in Japan increased by 5,000 tons in 2021 compared to 2020.(Statista)

Japanese Cotton Yarn Production (In 1000 Tons)

Here is how much cotton yarn was produced in Japan each year measured per 1,000 tons 2012-2021.

  • 2012 – 37,640 Tons
  • 2013 – 36,860 Tons
  • 2014 – 37,360 Tons
  • 2015 – 36,640 Tons
  • 2016 – 34,210 Tons
  • 2017 – 33,170 Tons
  • 2018 – 31,860 Tons
  • 2019 – 31,150 Tons
  • 2020 – 21,320 Tons
  • 2021 – 26,360 Tons

United States Cotton Production

In 2022, approx 13.8M acres of cotton were planted in the US, and 7.4M acres of cotton were harvested. (Statista)

Cotton Planted In The US (In 1000 Acres)

Here is the amount of cotton planted 2001-2022 in the US by amount of acres.

  • 2001 – 15,768,500 Acres
  • 2002 – 13,957,900 Acres
  • 2003 – 13,479,600 Acres
  • 2004 – 13,658,600 Acres
  • 2005 – 14,245,400 Acres
  • 2006 – 15,274,000 Acres
  • 2007 – 10,827,200 Acres
  • 2008 – 9,471,000 Acres
  • 2009 – 9,149,500 Acres
  • 2010 – 10,947,200 Acres
  • 2011 – 14,735,400 Acres
  • 2012 – 12,264,400 Acres
  • 2013 – 10,407,000 Acres
  • 2014 – 11,037,400 Acres
  • 2015 – 8,580,500 Acres
  • 2016 – 9,879,000 Acres
  • 2017 – 12,717,500 Acres
  • 2018 – 14,100,300 Acres
  • 2019 – 13,735,700 Acres
  • 2020 – 12,092,500 Acres
  • 2021 – 11,215,500 Acres
  • 2022 – 13,763,000 Acres
Cotton Harvested In The US (In 1000 Acres)

Here is the amount of cotton harvested 2001-2022 in the US by amount of acres.

  • 2001 – 13,827,700 Acres
  • 2002 – 12,416,600 Acres
  • 2003 – 12,003,400 Acres
  • 2004 – 13,057,000 Acres
  • 2005 – 13,802,600 Acres
  • 2006 – 12,731,500 Acres
  • 2007 – 10,489,100 Acres
  • 2008 – 7,568,700 Acres
  • 2009 – 7,533,700 Acres
  • 2010 – 10,698,700 Acres
  • 2011 – 9,460,900 Acres
  • 2012 – 9,321,800 Acres
  • 2013 – 7,544,400 Acres
  • 2014 – 9,346,800 Acres
  • 2015 – 8,074,900 Acres
  • 2016 – 9,320,000 Acres
  • 2017 – 11,100,400 Acres
  • 2018 – 9,990,800 Acres
  • 2019 – 11,497,400 Acres
  • 2020 – 8,216,500 Acres
  • 2021 – 10,272,300 Acres
  • 2022 – 7,440,700 Acres

Worldwide Cotton Production

In 2021-2022, China produced around 5,879 metric tons of cotton. (Statista)

Global Cotton Yarn Production By Country (In 1000 Metric Tonnes)

Here are a series of stats on the top ten countries that produce cotton by volume in 2021-2022.

  1. China – 5,879 Metric Tonnes
  2. India – 5,334 Metric Tonnes
  3. United States – 3,815 Metric Tonnes
  4. Brazil – 2,678 Metric Tonnes
  5. Pakistan – 1,306 Metric Tonnes
  6. Australia – 1,197 Metric Tonnes
  7. Turkey – 827 Metric Tonnes
  8. Uzbekistan – 577 Metric Tonnes
  9. Argentina – 327 Metric Tonnes
  10. Mali – 311 Metric Tonnes

FAQS About The Cotton Yarn Industry

Is Cotton Difficult To Grow?

Yes, cotton can be difficult to grow, as it requires lots of care and water.

How Many Months Does It Take To Grow Cotton?

It takes around four months to grow cotton.

What Month Is Cotton Harvested?

Cotton is harvested between July and October in the US.

How Do Farmers Pick Cotton?

Farmers pick cotton by using cotton harvesters.

What Are The 2 Types Of Cotton Harvester?

The two types of cotton harvesters are strippers and pickers.

What’s The Difference Between Cotton And Cotton Yarn?

The difference between cotton and cotton yarn is one is a fiber, and the other is a product made with it.

What’s A Cotton Picker Called?

A cotton picker is also called a cotton harvester.

Is Selling Cotton Profitable?

Yes, selling cotton can be profitable. In 2020-2021, the total global production of cotton used for the total weight of cotton yarn amounted to around 112.39 million bales.

How Are Cotton Bales Stored?

Cotton bales are stored in open yards or in sheds.

How Is Cotton Sold In The Market?

Cotton is sold in the market from the farmers to a buyer or merchant, who sell it on to a mill to be processed, ready to make various products.

What’s The Standard Of Cotton Yarn Count?

The standard of cotton yarn count is the number of hanks of 840 yards per pound.

What’s The Cheapest Type Of Cotton?

The cheapest type of cotton is calico cotton fabric.

Does Cotton Regrow After Harvest?

Yes, cotton can regrow after harvest.

Does Cotton Breathe When Wet?

Yes, cotton breathes when wet.

What’s The Strength Of Cotton Yarn?

The dry strength of cotton yarns are 27-45, and the wet strength of cotton yarn is 30-54.

When Did People Stop Picking Cotton By Hand?

People stopped picking cotton by hand in the 1950s in the US.

What Can Be Made From 1 Bale Of Cotton?

215 pairs of jeans, 249 bed sheets, 313,600 $100 bills, 690 bath towels, or 1,217 T-shirts can be made from 1 bale of cotton.

How Many Kgs Is In A Bale Of Cotton?

On average, there are 170 kilograms in a bale of cotton.

Who Buys The Bales Of Cotton?

Merchants, cotton mills, and local buyers buy the bales of cotton.

How Much Is 1kg Of Cotton?

On average, the price of 1kg of cotton costs $1.83 USD. According to the global index, this fluctuates with the season and demand.

Which Count Of Cotton Yarn Is Finest?

The count of Pima cotton yarn is the finest.

How Many Months Does It Take To Harvest Cotton?

It takes around two-four months to harvest cotton.

Why Can’t They Pick Cotton While It’s Raining?

They can’t pick cotton whike it’s raining because it makes the cotton heavy and difficult to process.

How Many Cotton Bales Per Hectare?

On average, a farm produces 6-12 bales per hectare.

How Much Is A Bale Of Raw Cotton Worth?

On average, a bale of raw cotton is worth $360 USD.

Why Is Cotton Harvested At Night?

Cotton is harvested at night because the faster they get it done, the sooner they can sell it.

Why’s Cotton 30% Stronger When It’s Wet?

Cotton is 30% stronger when wet because the hydrogen atoms in water create extra bonds with the cellulose atoms.

How Many Times A Year Can You Harvest Cotton?

You can harvest cotton 1-2 times a year.

How Much Cotton Can 1 Acre Produce?

1 acre can produce around 947 pounds of cottom.

When Did The Cotton Industry Peak?

The cotton industry peaked in 2004-2005.

Do Cotton Farmers Make Lots Of Money?

On average, cottom farmers make $2516 USD a hectare.

Why’s It So Hard To Find 100% Cotton?

It’s hard to find 100% cotton because it’s more expensive to produce than blends.

Why Do Cotton Farmers Struggle To Make Money?

Cotton farmers struggle to make money because they’re dependent on third-party buyers to sell their crops on, and those buyers often pay less than it’s worth.

What’s The Cotton Capital Of The World?

The cotton capital of the world is Greenville, Texas, USA.

Other places that grow cotton in the US include Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and the Virgin Islands.

Is There A Shortage Of Cotton In The World?

Yes, there’s a shortage of cotton in the world because there’s increased demand, higher prices, slower supply chains, and changing weather patterns.

Which Country Is Asia’s Biggest Cotton Market?

The biggest cotton market in Asia is China.

What 3 Countries Are Known For Cotton Production?

China, India and the United States are known for cotton production.

Who’s The Largest Consumer Of Cotton In The World?

China is the largest consumer of cotton in the world.

Why Are Cotton Yarn Prices Increasing?

Cotton yarn prices are increasing because of weather patterns, supply chain issues and increased demand.

Which Country Is No. 1 In The Cotton Industry?

China is the number one country in the cotton industry. It also has the largest consumption of cotton.

What Type Of Industry Is The Cotton Industry?

The cotton industry is an agricultural industry.

Which Country Imports Cotton Yarn?

The United States, China, India and many other countries import cotton yarn.

Who’s The Largest Exporter Of Cotton Yarn?

The United States is the largest exporter of cotton yarn in the world.

Where’s Most Cotton Imported From?

Most cotton is imported from the United States or China.

What’s The Most Expensive Cotton?

The most expensive cotton is Sea Island cotton.

Where’s Cotton Grown In Australia?

Cotton in Australia is grown in the New South Wales area and the Queensland region.

Who Buys The Most Cotton From Australia?

China buys the most cotton from Australia.

Where’s The Biggest Cotton Farm In Australia?

The biggest cotton farm in Australia is Cubbie Station, in Western Queensland.

Does Australia Have Any Cotton Mills?

No, Australia has cotton mills. The last cotton mill shut down many years ago.

Does Australia Import Cotton?

Yes, Australia imports cotton.

How Much US Cotton Is Exported?

In 2020, approx 15.6M 480-pound bales of American cotton (aka america cotton) were exported from the United States. That was far more than the estimated volume forecast.

Where Does US Cotton Get Exported To?

US Cotton gets exported to places like China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

What Do People Use Cotton To Make?

People use cotton to make things like clothing, sheets, towels, curtains, rope, twine, paper and batting for quilts and crafts.

What’s The Difference Between Indian & Egyptian cotton?

The difference between Indian and Egyptian cotton is Egpytian cotton fibers are longer.

Why Is Cotton Used For Yarn?

Cotton is used for yarn because it’s breathable, lightweight, good for summer, and long-lasting.

What Types Of Cotton Are There?

The types of cotton are Sea Island Cotton, Pima Cotton, Egyptian Cotton, Supima Cotton, Organic Cotton, and Recycled Cotton.

What Is Sustainable Cotton?

Sustainable cotton is cotton produced in an environmentally responsible way. This includes using practices like crop rotation, reducing synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, conserving natural resources, and efficient irrigation methods. Additionally, fair labor practices, fair wages and working conditions.

Conclusion

These stats provide valuable insights into the industry, and it’ll be interesting to see how it evolves in the future.

Which cotton yarn industry stat surprised you the most? Or maybe there’s a statistic I overlooked. (Whoops!) Please tell me by leaving a comment below.

About The Author

Jodie Morgan From Knit Like Granny

Jodie Morgan (Author & Founder)

jodie@knitlikegranny.com | Lives In: Regional Australia

Author: Jodie Morgan is a passionate knitter and blogger with 40+ years of experience currently living in regional Australia. Taught by her mother and wonderful grandmother “Mama”, she fell in love with crafting from a young age. When she’s not knitting, you’ll find her enjoying a cup of coffee with cream, or sharing helpful resources and tips with the online knitting community. Get to know Jodie and the team on our meet the team page.

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