China's cotton output this year has exceeded six million tons, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Wednesday.
The increase is attributed to a rise in planting area and improved yields per hectare.
The total cotton output reached 6.164 million tons, marking an increase of 546,000 tons or 9.7 percent compared with 2023. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region remains the largest contributor, yielding 5.686 million tons, with an increase of 574,000 tons or a 11.2 percent growth year on year.
The Yangtze River Basin's production reached 221,000 tons, up by 0.8 percent from the previous year.
The cotton-planting area nationwide has also expanded by 50,100 hectares to about 2.84 million hectares in 2024, marking a 1.8 percent growth from last year. The yield per hectare is projected at around 2.172 tons, an increase of 7.8 percent from the previous year.
Regionally, expectations for cotton yields in Xinjiang are stable, encouraging farmers to plant more. The planting area in Xinjiang this year has been increased by 78,600 hectares, or 3.3 percent.
Favorable weather conditions, including adequate sunlight and moisture, have supported cotton growth in Xinjiang, resulting in a yield increase of 165 kilos per hectare, up by 7.6 percent.
In the Yangtze River Basin, weather conditions remain similar to the previous year, with improved planting techniques and optimized varieties contributing to a steady increase in yields, which rose by 27 kilos per hectare.
However, cotton production in the Yellow River Basin has been negatively impacted by climatic factors, leading to a decrease in yields.
China's cotton output tops 6 mln tons in 2024
