Mali and Burkina Faso Drive Record West Africa Cotton Exports

Cotton

October 12, 2018//-West Africa cotton exports for 2018/19 are projected to surpass last year’s record, driven by record production. Mali and Burkina Faso are the largest cotton producers and are forecast to have record crops amid expanding area.

This is according to the October 2018 edition of the Global Agricultural Information Network (GRAIN) compiled by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

West Africa accounts for more than three-fourths of Africa’s cotton exports. Nearly all of West Africa cotton is exported, as mills are sparse within the region, signifying the pivotal role that foreign demand plays for the sub-region producers and merchants.

South and Southeast Asia are the predominant destinations, due to robust growth in consumption for both regions. Bangladesh, the world’s largest importer, has recently opted for greater supplies from West Africa over Central Asia (CA) origin, the report added.

Not only is CA 2018/19 production forecast lower but Uzbekistan, the largest exporter in the region, is using more cotton domestically to support a growing textile industry.

Record exports in the midst of record global use in 2018/19 will underscore the importance of cotton as a vital cash crop for farmers and a prominent source of foreign currency for West African countries.

African Eye Report

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