U.S. - Cotton Lint - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights
Report Update: Jun 1, 2025

U.S. - Cotton Lint - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends and Insights

Single report
Sent by email within 24h (Mon-Fri)
Subscription
Online access and download
from $350/month

Get instant access to more than 2 million reports, dashboards, and datasets on the IndexBox Platform.

View Pricing

Cotton Lint Prices in the United States

U.S. Cotton Lint Export Price per Ton in July 2022

In July 2022, the cotton lint price per ton amounted to $2.8K (FOB, US), rising by 2.2% against the previous month. Over the last six-month period, it increased at an average monthly rate of +2.4%. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in May 2022 when the average export price increased by 5.5% month-to-month. The export price peaked in July 2022.

Average prices varied noticeably for the major overseas markets. In July 2022, the highest price was recorded for prices to Bangladesh ($3.1K per ton) and India ($3.0K per ton), while the average price for exports to China ($2.6K per ton) and Turkey ($2.7K per ton) were amongst the lowest.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was recorded for supplies to Bangladesh (+3.3%), while the prices for the other major destinations experienced more modest paces of growth.

U.S. Cotton Lint Exports

For the third month in a row, the United States recorded decline in overseas shipments of cotton lint, which decreased by -12.2% to 269K tons in August 2022. Overall, exports recorded a slight curtailment. The growth pace was the most rapid in March 2022 when exports increased by 19% m-o-m. As a result, the exports attained the peak of 424K tons. From April 2022 to August 2022, the growth of the exports failed to regain momentum.

In value terms, cotton lint exports fell to $736M (IndexBox estimates) in August 2022. In general, exports recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in March 2022 with an increase of 21% m-o-m.

U.S. Cotton Lint Exports by Country

China (85K tons) was the main destination for cotton lint exports from the United States, with a 28% share of total exports. Moreover, cotton lint exports to China exceeded the volume sent to the second major destination, Vietnam (39K tons), twofold. The third position in this ranking was held by Turkey (37K tons), with a 12% share.

From January 2022 to July 2022, the average monthly growth rate of volume to China totaled -5.6%. Exports to the other major destinations recorded the following average monthly rates of exports growth: Vietnam (-3.2% per month) and Turkey (+10.4% per month).

In value terms, the largest markets for cotton lint exported from the United States were China ($224M), Vietnam ($113M) and Turkey ($99M), with a combined 50% share of total exports. These countries were followed by India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Mexico, which together accounted for a further 31%.

Among the main countries of destination, India, with a CAGR of +26.5%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the cotton lint market in the U.S.. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • FCL 767 - Cotton Lint
  • FCL 328 - [Seed Cotton]

Country coverage:

  • United States

Data coverage:

  • Market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Trade (exports and imports) in the U.S.
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    3. TRADE BALANCE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORTS
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. COUNTRIES WITH TOP YIELDS
    4. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    5. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024) AND FORECAST (2025–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2024)
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country, 2012-2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012-2024
    10. Exports Prices, By Country, 2012-2024
  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply Vs. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply Vs. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    5. Trade Balance, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    6. Trade Balance, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    7. Per Capita Consumption: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    10. Market Size and Growth, by Product
    11. Average Per Capita Consumption, by Product
    12. Exports and Growth, by Product
    13. Export Prices and Growth, by Product
    14. Production Volume and Growth
    15. Yield and Growth
    16. Exports and Growth
    17. Export Prices and Growth
    18. Market Size and Growth
    19. Per Capita Consumption
    20. Imports and Growth
    21. Import Prices
    22. Production, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    23. Production, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    24. Harvested Area: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    25. Yield: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    26. Imports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    27. Imports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    28. Imports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2024
    29. Imports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    30. Imports, in Value Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    31. Import Prices, by Country, 2012-2024
    32. Exports, in Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    33. Exports, in Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2024) and Forecast (2025–2035)
    34. Exports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2024
    35. Exports, in Physical Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    36. Exports, in Value Terms, by Country, 2012-2024
    37. Export Prices, by Country, 2012-2024
Store
Blog
Event
Challenges for U.S. Cotton Industry: Lower Production and Exports in 2024/25
Nov 13, 2024
Eye 213

The U.S. cotton industry confronts challenges in 2024/25 with lowered production and exports, as highlighted by the latest WASDE report.

United States Experiences Significant Decrease in Cotton Lint Export Earnings to $6B in 2023
Apr 4, 2024
Eye 426

The Cotton Lint exports reached a peak of 3.8M tons in 2020, but stayed at a lower figure from 2021 to 2023. In terms of value, Cotton Lint exports sharply declined to $6B in 2023.

U.S. Cotton Lint Price Grew Steadily through 2022, Reaching $2,822 per Ton
Sep 21, 2022
Eye 758

In July 2022, the cotton lint price per ton amounted to $2,822, growing by 2.2% against the previous month.  

Cotton Lint Price per Ton June 2022
Aug 9, 2022
Eye 2160

In June 2022, the cotton lint price per ton stood at $2,761 per ton in June 2022, surging by 1.6% against the previous month.  

Cotton Lint Price per Ton May 2022
Jul 14, 2022
Eye 762

In May 2022, the cotton lint price per ton amounted to $2,718 (FOB, US), increasing by 5.5% against the previous month.

Cotton Prices Jump After U.S. Cut Exports Twofold
Nov 10, 2021
Eye 968

Cotton prices jumped by +13% to $2.59 per kg in October 2021, according to World Bank's data. Global supply shows a sign of reduction, as American cotton exports dropped twofold from September to October. Droughts have wiped out a significant part of cotton crops across the U.S., especially in Texas. The U.S. remains the world's leading supplier, accounting for 41% of global cotton lint exports. China, Vietnam, and Pakistan represent key importers of cotton lint from America.

The Best Import Markets for Cotton Lint
Oct 27, 2023
Eye 698

Cotton lint is a crucial commodity in the textile industry, serving as the primary raw material for spinning yarn and weaving fabrics. The global demand for cotton lint has been steadily increasing as countries strive to meet the growing needs of their textile industries. In this article, we will explore the top import markets for cotton lint, backed by data from the IndexBox market intelligence platform.

Cotton Prices to Pick Up 5% in 2022 on Rising Demand and Limited Crops in India and U.S.
Feb 4, 2022
Eye 1313

In 2022, cotton prices are expected to gain 5% y/y, as last year's ending stocks are rapidly reduced amid strong global demand outpacing available supply. Last year, the average cotton price soared by 41% y/y to $2.23 per kg.

Cotton Prices to Rise Due to the Textile Industry’s Demand Booming Over the Supply
Jun 17, 2021
Eye 2445

After stagnating during the pandemic, the textile industry has begun to strongly recover and the demand for cotton has risen. It is expected that cotton consumption in 2021 will grow faster than the supply. This will lead to a reduction in global cotton stocks and higher prices. The issues of sustainability and ethical background become increasingly important in the transformation of cotton supply chains.

Which Country Consumes the Most Cotton Lint in the World?
Feb 9, 2018
Eye 1225

Global cotton lint consumption amounted to X thousand tons in 2015, growing by +X% against the previous year level.

Free Data: Cotton Lint - United States