> In 2023 China produced 9.4 million t of cotton seed, the 2nd largest in the world (22.9% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 26%.

Source: https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/china/

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# Cotton seed production in China

In 2023 China produced 9.4 million t of cotton seed, the 2nd largest in the world (22.9% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 26%. The record was 15.2 million t in 2007.
The 2023 figure is from an external organisation.

[Market prices in China](https://husfarm.com/country/china/)

Production, 20239.4 million t
World rank2 of 85
10-year change−26%
Record15.2 million t2007

## Cotton seed in China, 1961–2023 (tonnes)

## China compared with the world, 2023

Share of world total22.9%28.1% in 2013
10-year change−26%world −8.8%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [India](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/india/) | 10,600,000 | 25.8% |
| 2 | **China** | 9,400,000 | 22.9% |
| 3 | [Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/brazil/) | 4,494,600 | 11.0% |
| 4 | [United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/united-states/) | 3,305,780 | 8.1% |

[Full ranking of 85 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/)

### Map of world production of cotton seed

under 0.1%0.1–1%1–5%5–15%15% or moreno data
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.

## By year

| Year | Tonnes | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2023 | 9,400,000 | −6.0% |
| 2022 | 10,000,000 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 9,600,000 | −2.5% |
| 2020 | 9,850,000 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 9,800,000 | −3.0% |
| 2018 | 10,100,000 | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 9,900,000 | −7.4% |
| 2016 | 10,686,000 | −4.8% |
| 2015 | 11,220,000 | −8.9% |
| 2014 | 12,320,000 | −2.4% |
| 2013 | 12,620,000 | −7.7% |
| 2012 | 13,680,000 | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 13,177,918 | +10% |
| 2010 | 11,940,000 | −6.4% |
| 2009 | 12,754,000 | −15% |
| 2008 | 14,984,000 | −1.7% |
| 2007 | 15,248,000 | +13% |
| 2006 | 13,492,000 | +18% |
| 2005 | 11,400,000 | −9.9% |
| 2004 | 12,647,020 | +30% |
| 2003 | 9,719,418 | −1.1% |
| 2002 | 9,832,000 | −7.7% |
| 2001 | 10,647,000 | +21% |
| 2000 | 8,834,000 | +15% |
| 1999 | 7,658,000 | −15% |
| 1998 | 9,002,000 | −2.2% |
| 1997 | 9,206,000 | +9.5% |
| 1996 | 8,406,326 | −12% |
| 1995 | 9,536,000 | +9.8% |
| 1994 | 8,682,000 | +16% |
| 1993 | 7,478,000 | −17% |
| 1992 | 9,016,000 | −21% |
| 1991 | 11,350,000 | +26% |
| 1990 | 9,015,476 | +19% |
| 1989 | 7,576,000 | −8.7% |
| 1988 | 8,298,000 | −2.3% |
| 1987 | 8,490,000 | +20% |
| 1986 | 7,080,000 | −15% |
| 1985 | 8,294,000 | −34% |
| 1984 | 12,516,000 | +35% |
| 1983 | 9,274,000 | +29% |
| 1982 | 7,196,000 | +21% |
| 1981 | 5,936,000 | +9.6% |
| 1980 | 5,414,000 | +23% |
| 1979 | 4,414,000 | +1.8% |
| 1978 | 4,335,000 | +5.8% |
| 1977 | 4,099,000 | −0.3% |
| 1976 | 4,110,000 | −14% |
| 1975 | 4,762,000 | −3.3% |
| 1974 | 4,922,000 | −3.9% |
| 1973 | 5,124,000 | +31% |
| 1972 | 3,916,000 | −7.0% |
| 1971 | 4,210,000 | −7.6% |
| 1970 | 4,554,000 | +9.5% |
| 1969 | 4,158,000 | −12% |
| 1968 | 4,708,000 | 0.0% |
| 1967 | 4,708,000 | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 4,674,000 | +11% |
| 1965 | 4,196,000 | +26% |
| 1964 | 3,325,400 | +39% |
| 1963 | 2,400,000 | +60% |
| 1962 | 1,500,000 | −6.3% |
| 1961 | 1,600,000 | — |

## Trade, 2024

Exports2,108 t USD 5.3 m
Exporter rank17 of 53
Imports574,385 t USD 216 m
Importer rank1 of 88
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. [World exporters and importers](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/)

## Questions and answers

### What is the production of cotton seed in China?

China produced 9.4 million t in 2023, 22.9% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

### Where does China rank in the world for production of cotton seed?

China ranked 2nd of 85 countries in 2023. The largest producer was India with 25.8% of the world total.

### How has the production of cotton seed in China changed?

It fell by 26% between 2013 and 2023, compared with −8.8% for the world. The record was 15.2 million t in 2007.

### Does China export or import cotton seed?

In 2024 China reported exports of 2,108 t (USD 5.3 m) and imports of 574,385 t (USD 216 m), according to FAOSTAT trade data.

### Where does this data come from?

From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2023 figure for China is from an external organisation. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

[India](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/india/)[Brazil](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/brazil/)[United States](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/united-states/)[Pakistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/pakistan/)[Uzbekistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/uzbekistan/)[Australia](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/australia/)[Turkey](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/turkey/)[Burkina Faso](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/burkina-faso/)[Argentina](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/argentina/)[Turkmenistan](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/turkmenistan/)[Greece](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/greece/)[Benin](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/benin/)
[All countries producing cotton seed](https://husfarm.com/production/cotton-seed/)

## Other products of China

[Maize](https://husfarm.com/production/maize/china/)[Rice (paddy)](https://husfarm.com/production/rice/china/)[Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.](https://husfarm.com/production/other-vegetables/china/)[Wheat](https://husfarm.com/production/wheat/china/)[Sugar cane](https://husfarm.com/production/sugar-cane/china/)[Potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/potatoes/china/)[Cucumbers](https://husfarm.com/production/cucumbers/china/)[Watermelons](https://husfarm.com/production/watermelons/china/)[Tomatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/tomatoes/china/)[Pork (pig meat)](https://husfarm.com/production/pork/china/)[Sweet potatoes](https://husfarm.com/production/sweet-potatoes/china/)[Apples](https://husfarm.com/production/apples/china/)
[Agricultural production in China](https://husfarm.com/production/country/china/)

Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL). Licence: [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.

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