Cotton seeds market in Eastern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The cotton seeds market in Eastern Asia showed fluctuating volumes between 2018 and 2023, with market size peaking at 10.7 million t in 2022 before declining to 10.3 million t in 2023. Domestic production mirrored this volatility, while imports more than doubled from 2021 levels, reaching 891 thousand t in 2023, partly offsetting lower domestic output in some years.

The market expansion in 2022 coincided with the Chinese cotton textile industry's push to release an innovative product catalogue, which indirectly stimulated downstream demand for cotton seeds. Conversely, the contraction in 2023 occurred against a backdrop of weak demand from the livestock sector and falling soybean meal prices, which rendered cotton seed processing unprofitable and led to adjustments in crushing rates at oil mills. Throughout the period, the processing industry consolidated, shifting from numerous small, family-run facilities to larger corporate operations, exemplified by Xinjiang Chenguang Biotechnology's expansion of its detoxified cottonseed protein production lines in 2023.

Government policy played a stabilizing role, with ongoing support for Xinjiang cotton farmers through targeted subsidies and the 2024 implementation of a quality-linked cotton target price policy to encourage higher-grade production. Technological upgrades in processing improved protein yield and reduced costs, while growing demand from the feed, food, and deep-processing sectors, alongside a consumer trend toward healthier and functional cottonseed oil, provided underlying market support. Imports remained elevated in 2024 at 808 thousand t, reflecting continued reliance on foreign supply amid tight domestic availability influenced by weather and logistics.

Production cotton seeds in Eastern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of cotton seeds, 2017-2020

World map of production of cotton seeds, 2017-2020

In 2018, Eastern Asia produced 10 125 K t of cotton seeds, marking the highest output during the period. Production then declined by 3.0% in 2019 to 9 825 K t, the lowest level recorded. In 2020, output remained relatively stable at 9 872 K t, showing no significant change from the previous year, though it represented a modest 2.0% increase from the 2018 peak.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports cotton seeds from Eastern Asia

Exports in kind, K t

Eastern Asia's cotton seed exports showed significant volatility from 2017 to 2020. In 2018, exports hit their lowest point at 0.0 K t, reflecting a sharp 38.7% decline. The following year, 2019, saw a dramatic recovery with a 9,897.7% increase. By 2020, exports peaked at 2.9 K t, representing an 85.2% rise from 2019. The overall fluctuation between the 2018 low and 2020 high was substantial, with a 185-fold difference.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

The value of cotton seed exports from Eastern Asia experienced considerable instability during this period. In 2018, export value reached its minimum at 0.1 M $ US, after a 57.4% decrease. A remarkable turnaround occurred in 2019 with a 935.6% surge. By 2020, exports hit their maximum at 1.5 M $ US, showing a dramatic 186.7% increase compared to 2019. The overall swing from the 2018 low to the 2020 high was 30-fold.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for Eastern Asia's cotton seed exports by value were Bangladesh (8.2% of total exports), Kyrgyzstan (1.5%), and Benin (1.2%). Together, these three markets accounted for 10.9% of the region's total export value during this period.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports cotton seeds to Eastern Asia

Imports in kind, K t

After declining for two consecutive years, cotton seed imports into Eastern Asia rebounded in 2020. Imports reached 267.9 K t that year, up 5.8% from 2019. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 253.3 K t, following a 32.3% drop. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 48%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -19.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, the United States and Australia dominated Eastern Asia's cotton seed imports by volume, jointly accounting for 86.1% of total imports. The remaining 13.9% was distributed among various other countries.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Following a two-year downturn, the value of cotton seed imports into Eastern Asia increased in 2020. Imports totaled approximately 70.3 M $ US that year, a moderate 6.2% rise from 2019. The lowest import value was recorded in 2019 at 66.2 M $ US, after a 38.1% decline in 2018. Over the 2017-2020 span, import value fell by 56.6%, with a CAGR of -24.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United States and Australia were the primary sources of Eastern Asia's cotton seed imports by value, together representing 86.3% of total imports. The remaining 13.7% came from a diverse range of other markets.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020