LOWER WORLD TRADE EXPECTED IN 1995/96

摘要

World cotton imports are expected to fall to 6.2 million tons in 1995/96, from 6.7 million tons in 1994/95, due to reduced purchases by China (Mainland), Mexico, Pakistan, India and Turkey. During 1994/95, a season of record high cotton prices, worldcotton trade also reached its highest level ever. Both cotton trade and prices were boosted by strong import demand from cotton producing countries with inadequate domestic supplies, especially China (Mainland). China (Mainland) was the largest cotton importer during 1994/95, with imports estimatedat 870,000 tons, or 13% of world trade, the third largest volume of imports in history by any country. Japan imported 990,000 tons in 1936/3 7 and China (Mainland) imported 900,000 tons in 1979/80. Of the total imported by China (Mainland) in 1994/95,67% came from the USA, and 17% came from Central Asia. About 30,000 tons were imported from Sudan and 35,000 tons from Australia. Francophone Africa, Argentina and even Mexico were also among the suppliers of cotton during 1994/95 to China (Mainland).