Today, there are 91 Cotton Producing Countries in World. Recently, Total production of seed cotton in the world was 72.5 million metric tons from 33.8 million hectares. The continent of Asia ranks 1st in cotton production and area harvested, while North America ranks 2nd and Africa 3rd in production. The continent of South America ranks 4th in production, while Australia and Europe are not prominent in production.
Top 10 Largest Producer of Cotton in the World – Listed as per Cotton Production by Country
| Countries | Production (in lac metric tons) | Percentage of World Production |
| China | 284.0 | 26.4 |
| India | 226.7 | 21.0 |
| USA | 158.8 | 14.7 |
| Pakistan | 115.0 | 10.7 |
| Indonesia | 75.4 | 7.0 |
| Brazil | 40.5 | 3.8 |
| Turkey | 40.0 | 3.7 |
| South Korea | 23.7 | 1.2. |
| Italy | 21.2 | 2.0 |
| Egypt | 16.4 | 1.5 |
| Japan | 15.8 | 1.5 |
1: China Cotton Production
China outranks all Cotton Producing Countries in the world. China has a very long tradition of growth of about 5,000 years, not only in this, but China also ranks number one in rice producing countries, fisheries and many more.
China Cotton Farming States
The principal China cotton farming areas of production lie between 29° to 35° north latitude in the fertile lower valleys of the Yangtze, Kiang, and Hwang-Ho, Wei Valley of Shensi, The Central Hupei Basin. North China Plain, Yangtze Delta, Kiangsu Coast, South Central Szechwan Basin.
Last year, production of cotton in China crossed 23 million metric tons seed cotton, which was harvest from 5.4 million hectares area.
2: US Cotton Production – The United States of America
The USA ranks second in Cotton Producing Countries in the world. Till 1980 its position was at the top. The U.S.A. exports about 40% of output.
US Cotton Production by State
The southwest of Mississippi river enjoys the supremacy in cultivation. The US cotton belt stretches from northern Florida to North Carolina and westward of California. The states of Texas, Georgia, California, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, and the Salt River Valley in Arizona are leading cultivation states.
The U.S.A. produces above 12 million metric tons seed cotton, while area harvested was 4.3 million hectares. The US accounts for 20% of global output.
3: India Cotton Production
India has a long history. It ranks third in seed cotton production in the world. In India, as a cash crop, outranks all other crops in value-added and provides the most essential raw material for highly organized cotton textile industry. India accounts for about 10% of the global output.
India Cotton Production by State
Most cotton producing states in India are Maharashtra, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. Gujrat is the largest producer of cotton and accounts for about 25% of India’s output.
India harvests 9.5 million metric tons, from 9.3 million hectares.
4: Pakistan Cotton Production
It is an important Kharif crop in Pakistan and after Wheat, it occupies the 2nd largest area of all crops grown in the fertile soil of Pakistan. It provides, raw material to cotton textile industry, while accounts for 80% of the national oilseed production. Pakistan understands the Importance of agriculture and tries to achieve a higher rank in the world, yet it is the fourth largest producer of cotton in the world.
Upper and lower Sindh (Punjab + Sindh) irrigated districts are main cotton growing areas in Pakistan. The province of Punjab ranking first produces 78% produced in Pakistan and Southern Punjab is more important.
Pakistan annual production increased to 6.5+ million metric tons and the area is 3.3 million hectares.
5: Brazil
In the continent of South America, Brazil is the most important. Today, in the southeast Sao Paulo, is the most valuable cotton producing region. Potentially, Brazil is capable of competing for first place in the world. Brazil produced 3.9 million metric tons seed cotton and area harvested was 1.1 million hectares.
6: Uzbekistan
Until 1990 U.S.S.R. (Russia) was an outstanding country in cotton production and Uzbekistan was the hub in Russia, this regions output is 50% of total output of the U.S.S.R. Today, Uzbekistan ranks 6th in seed-cotton production.
It produces 3.3+ million metric tons, while this output was harvested from 1.5 million hectares.
Due to the continental climate, almost every field requires irrigation. Uzbekistan has developed an excellent irrigation system. Uzbekistan exports of lint is renowned in the world.
7: Turkey Cotton Production
During the last two decades, Turkey has become an outstanding nation in cotton production in the world. Today, it is the 7th largest seed cotton producer in the world. Turkish cotton demand is also increasing.
The Mediterranean climate is most suitable, therefore Adana, Azmir and Central Anatolian plateau regions are the main producers in Turkey.
Turkey cotton production crosses 2.5+ million metric tons of cotton and area under crop 735 thousand hectares.
8: Syria
Syria has become an important producer and is the 8th largest cotton producer in the world. The Mediterranean, the continental climate is best suitable.
In Syria, cotton is cultivated in the plain central region with the help of irrigation. Syria exports bulk of its output in the international market and ranking 9th in the world.
Recently, Syria produced 1.1 million metric tons seed cotton and area harvested was 250 thousand hectares.
9: Greece
Greece has emerged on important cotton producer and is an outstanding cotton producing country in the continent of Europe.
More than 75% land surface of Greece is occupied by Massif Mountains; therefore small river basins are available for cultivation. On the other hand, the Mediterranean dry climate is most suitable. River Axios basin is most important for cotton crop cultivation.
Greece produced more than one million metric tons of seed cotton, this production was harvested from 300 thousand hectares.
10: Turkmenistan
In the Central Asian region, after Uzbekistan, another important cotton producer is Turkmenistan. It ranks at number 10 in Cotton Producing Countries. Due to continental climatic conditions, cultivation is not possible without irrigation. But Turkmenistan has developed an excellent irrigation system.
Burkina Faso, Australia, Egypt, Nigeria, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Argentina, Benin, Cameroon, Cote-d-Ivoire, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mali, Paraguay, Tajikistan, Uganda and Zimbabwe are important.
Turkmenistan cotton production is more than 0.94 million metric tons, while the area under crop is 642 thousand hectares.
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