CCA China cotton production and harvesting survey in September, 2026

According to China Cotton Association's investigation over 1,965 growers across 10 provinces and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, covering cotton production, picking and marketing progress, China's 2026 cotton planting area stood at 43.692 million mu, down 2.5% year-on-year. Yield is estimated at 166.2 kg per mu, edging up 0.5% year-on-year and unchanged from the previous forecast. Total production is projected at 7.263 million tons, down 2.0% year-on-year and revised upward by 109,000 tons versus the prior estimate.

Nationwide cotton entered peak boll-opening stage in September, with northern Xinjiang ceasing growth by month-end. Xinjiang cotton saw earlier boll opening and faster picking & marketing than normal years. Supported by lower total production, rising planting costs and high cotton prices, new seed cotton opening prices exceeded last year's levels. Farmers held high price expectations at first; amid greater market volatility later, sentiment turned rational and most sold at prevailing market prices, keeping market performance generally stable. As of September 30, national picking progress reached 17.3% (+12.2 pts YoY), marketing progress 12.6% (+10.8 pts YoY), and farmers' average seed cotton selling price hit 7.4yuan/kg, up 16.9% YoY.

Xinjiang

Sustained early heat pushed Xinjiang cotton's growth cycle 7-10 days ahead of average. Overall Xinjiang yield was roughly flat with last year. Early-September weather benefited boll opening and defoliant spraying; mid-to-late month temperature swings impacted cotton quality and harvesting. Large-scale machine picking commenced at month-end. As of Sep 30, Xinjiang picking progress stood at 16.1% (+12.6 pts YoY), marketing progress 12.7% (+11.3 pts YoY). Average seed cotton selling price was 7.4yuan/kg (+16.9% YoY). Machine-picked seed cotton traded mostly at 7.3-7.5yuan/kg; hand-picked seed cotton at 8.1-8.3yuan/kg.

Gansu

Gansu posted sound cotton growth with higher planting area and yield; total production reached 60,000 tons (+10.5% YoY). Weather was mostly favorable, and large-scale harvesting had not yet started. As of Sep 30, its picking progress was 3.6%, flat YoY.

Yangtze River Basin

In the Yangtze River Basin, favorable sunlight-temperature conditions supported cotton ripening in early September. Persistent rain in Hubei, Anhui and other areas in mid-late September hurt cotton quality and hampered harvesting. Only Hubei reported notable seed cotton marketing this month. As of Sep 30, picking progress was 36.8% (-1.3 pts YoY), marketing progress 11.4% (-1.1 pts YoY), average selling price 7.0yuan/kg (+18.4% YoY).

Yellow River Basin

Most areas in the Yellow River Basin enjoyed ample light and heat, though late-month rainy, low-sunshine weather in Henan disturbed boll opening and harvesting. Ginneries across the basin opened procurement; seed cotton prices mostly ranged 8.0-8.4yuan/kg, with high-ginning-outturn cotton near 9yuan/kg. As of Sep 30, picking progress hit 66.9% (+7.8 pts YoY), marketing progress 11.2%, largely flat YoY, average selling price 8.1yuan/kg (+14.7% YoY).