Cotton
In many countries cotton (Gossypium spp.) is one of the most important fibre producing plants. Cotton crop not only provides fibre for the textile industry, but also plays a role in the feed and oil industries with its seed, rich in oil (18 24%) and protein (20 40%). An estimated 350 million people are engaged in cotton production either on-farm or in transportation, ginning, baling and storage. China consumes 40% of the worlds raw cotton. Australia and Egypt produce the best quality cotton in the world. Cotton is a major export revenue source for Burkina Faso, Benin, Uzbekistan, Mali, Tajikistan, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Egypt and Syria. The worlds lowest cost cotton producers are Australia, China, Brazil and Pakistan.
The USA and Israel are two of the highest cost cotton producers in the world. Worlds main cotton exporters are the USA, Uzbekistan, Brazil and Australia. World cotton demand has increased steadily since the 1950s at an average annual rate of growth of 2%.
In terms of global production, cotton is the foremost fibre crop. Present world production is some 25.5 million tons of seed cotton from 34.8 million ha. China, USA and India are the world's major cotton producing countries, accounting for nearly 60% of the world production. Nearly 53% of cotton produced in the world is subsidized. Cotton producing countries that subsidize their domestic industry include the USA, China, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt and India.
