China's Cotton Imports Surging

WASHINGTON - May 1/06 - SNS -- China could import 4.1 million metric tons (MT) of cotton in 2006-07 to meet the surging demands by the country's textile industry, which may consume 10.2 million MT of cotton in 2006-07.

The problem is domestic production is not expected to exceed 6.05 million MT, forcing mills to cover the supply gap through imports.

On March 8, 2006, the State Cotton Marketing Monitoring Network (SCMN) released the results of its cotton planting intention survey conducted in February. The survey covered 3519 househoulds/farms located in 84 counties/cities in 16 cotton-producing provinces. The results showed farmers intended to plant 4.68% more area to cotton than previous year. Total intended planting area is to reach 5.3 million hectares for 2006-07.

In February 2006, the Cotton Farmers Branch of China Cotton Association (CCA) released its cotton planting intention survey results. They forecast a 9.4% area increase to 5.6 million hectares for 2006-07. An earlier survey conducted in December 2005 by MOA's Survey Office on Fixed Rural Households concluded that 2006-07's cotton area is expected to increase by 14.9%.

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