Cotton, the fabric of our lives
Cotton is an important means of livelihood for millions of smallholders, providing employment and income and attracting export revenues to some of the poorest countries. This sector is key to contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Commodity in focus
Cotton is the most important natural fibre due to its rapid growth rate and wide range of applications in apparel and home furnishings. Demand for cotton is a derived demand, as it depends on the global demand for textile products. Competition from substitutes, such as polyester and other synthetic fibres, also influences the performance of the sector. Over the last decade, textile utilization rose steadily and is mainly driven by population and income growth in developing countries, particularly in Asia. Moreover, demand for natural fibres has expanded quite markedly in recent years, reflecting a growing trend for sustainability.
Publications
OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2026–2035
29/06/2026
The Agricultural Outlook 2026–2035 is a collaborative effort of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. It brings together the commodity, policy, and country expertise of both organisations, as well as input from collaborating member countries, to provide an annual assessment of the prospects for the coming decade of national, regional, and global agricultural commodity markets.
Gender dimension in the Cotton Sector: characterising the role of women
05/07/2023
Cotton is an important source of livelihood for millions of smallholders worldwide and women contribute significantly to cotton farming, constituting a large share of the workforce involved in primary production. However, women face disproportionate barriers along the cotton value chain in terms of access to land, inputs and services that affect the quality of their participation and the benefit they can derive.
The largest cotton producing countries are China and India, followed by the United States of America and Brazil. | |
Around 80 percent of cotton is used in apparel, 15 percent in home furnishings and the remaining 5 percent in mostly non-woven applications, such as filters and padding. | |
Many countries implement policies and programmes to support the cotton sector, including direct support paid to producers, border protection, crop insurance subsidies and price support mechanisms. | |
The cost pressure on manufacturers throughout the apparel value chain is leading to consolidation in textile and apparel production among countries and companies. | |
| World Cotton Day (WCD) is celebrated on the 7th of October, and it represents an opportunity to promote cotton, share knowledge and showcase cotton-related activities and products. |
| Cotton contributes significantly to the economies of many developing
countries and to the livelihoods of millions of rural smallholders
worldwide. |
| The performance of the cotton sector is influenced by cotton policies and programmes implemented at the country level. |
| Cotton faces a number of challenges such as climate change, low productivity, and the price-cost squeeze faced by actors along the value chain. |
| Mobilizing innovative technologies and resources is vital for the viability and sustainability of the sector. |
Related links
- Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP)
- Intergovernmental Group (IGG) on Hard Fibres and the IGG on Jute, Kenaf and Allied Fibres
- World Cotton Day
- Global Commodity Markets
Video
Cotton, weaving a better future together (partners)
07/10/2022
More than just a textile, cotton is a culture and a way of life for hundreds of millions of households worldwide. Cotton creates jobs and incomes for...
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