In 2006/07 crop year, it is estimated that cotton production will reach at 6.41 million tons, announces a China Cotton Association note.

During this period, yarn production reached 16.82 million tons, a surge of 5 percent.

According to estimates, cotton accounts for 60 percent of total fibres, with six percent of waste in the country.

While for processing cotton to yarn, 1.06 million tons of raw cotton is needed.

With other factors unchanged, if industry uses 62 percent of cotton fibre for its total yarn production, about 11 million tons of raw cotton will be required. Therefore, industry needs to import about 4 million tons of cotton.

In next five years, cotton production is expected to reach about 7 million tons by 2010.

According China National Textile and Apparel Councilto estimates, if calculated at conservative annual growth of yarn production at five percent, cotton consumption in the country will be about 12.5 million tons, an increase of 2.8 million tons compared to 2005.

If calculated at 7.5 percent of average annul growth, cotton consumption volume will reach 14 million tons in 2010, an increase of 4.3 million tons compared to 2005.

Domestic cotton demand exceed production, the situation that supplied by imports will continue.

By 2010, textile industry needs to import 50 percent of its raw cotton and dependence of the industry on cotton imports will reach 50 percent.

The China Cotton Association is a non-profit nation-wide organization. Voluntary members include cotton farmers, cotton farmers’ cooperative organizations, enterprises engaged in cotton production, purchasing, processing and operations, cotton textile enterprises and cotton research institutes.