News

Executive Summary
The March 2023 edition of Cotton This Month:

• Addresses the devastating challenges of climate change 
• Warns that farmers will need to improve their water management practices
• Explains how weather patterns are changing the places where cotton is grown

 
Climate Change Demands New Varieties, Better Water Management, and Flexibility
Climate change used to be something that the world was going to need to address decades from now, but that prediction was far too optimistic because — as farmers know all too well — it's already here.

Rising temperatures and multiple 'storms of the century' will force the cotton industry to scramble for solutions, and everyone will need to chip in. It starts with scientists, who will be tasked with developing more durable and resilient varieties. Farmers will need to improve their water management and adopt regenerative agriculture techniques, and textile manufacturers need to choose more natural fibres. Everyone in the cotton supply chain has a role to play — as indeed, do all humans — even if it's nothing more than making better choices when we shop. 

One of the most significant changes climate change has brought is where cotton is grown. As weather patterns change, places where cotton is currently grown are becoming too hot (or too dry, or too wet) so farmers are moving to areas where the climate is better suited to cotton. Of course, picking up a field, family and life to move elsewhere isn't an option for everyone, which will add to the challenges the cotton industry faces going forward. 

On the bright side, as the headline indicates, there are tools at our disposal to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Whether or not humanity makes the right choices remains to be seen, but at least we have options. Price Projections
The Secretariat’s current price forecast of the season-average A index for 2022/23 ranges from 85.39 cents to 124.65 cents, with a midpoint at 101.57 cents per pound. The price projection for 2022/23 is based on the ending stocks-to-mill use ratio in the world-less-China in 2020/21 (estimate), in 2021/22 (estimate) and in 2022/23 (projection), on the ratio of Chinese net imports to world imports in 2021/22 (estimate) and 2022/23 (projection), and the average price in 2021/22. The projection reflects a 95% confidence interval.

Cotton This Month is published at the beginning of the month with the Cotton Update published mid-month. The Cotton Update is a mid-month report with updated information on supply/demand estimates and prices. The next Cotton Update will be released on 15 March 2023. The next Cotton This Month will be released on 3 April 2023.
 
_________________________________________________
About the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
Formed in 1939, the ICAC is an association of cotton producing, consuming and trading countries. It acts as a catalyst for change by helping member countries maintain a healthy world cotton economy; provides transparency to the world cotton market by serving as a clearinghouse for technical information on cotton production; and serves as a forum for discussing cotton issues of international significance. In addition, members can take advantage of the ICAC’s global network of cotton researchers, whose expertise covers the supply chain from farm to textile manufacturing, and have free access to its cutting-edge technologies like the voice-based app and virtual technology cotton training programme. Committed to ensuring cotton’s continued sustainability, the ICAC is the only intergovernmental commodity body covering cotton that is recognised by the United Nations. For more information, please visit www.icac.org, Twitter or LinkedIn.