Seed cotton production in Australia
In 2024 Australia produced 2.4 million t of seed cotton, the 7th largest in the world (3.30% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 12%. The record was 3.0 million t in 2012. Area harvested: 473,900 ha, yield 5.1 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 2.4 million t
- World rank
- 7 of 83
- 10-year change
- +12%
- Record
- 3.0 million t
- 2012
Seed cotton in Australia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Australia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 3.3%
- 2.8% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 5.1
- world 2.4 (+114%)
- kg per person
- 89.8
- world 8.92
- 10-year change
- +12%
- world −4.3%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Pakistan | 3,500,618 | 4.8% |
| 6 | Uzbekistan | 2,938,089 | 4.0% |
| 7 | Australia | 2,400,000 | 3.3% |
| 8 | Turkey | 2,243,000 | 3.1% |
| 9 | Argentina | 1,269,399 | 1.7% |
Map of world production of seed cotton
Share of the world total; Australia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,400,000 | −17% | 473,900 | 5.06 |
| 2023 | 2,900,000 | +3.6% | 765,688 | 3.79 |
| 2022 | 2,800,000 | +93% | 548,652 | 5.10 |
| 2021 | 1,450,000 | +400% | 275,128 | 5.27 |
| 2020 | 290,000 | −75% | 69,886 | 4.15 |
| 2019 | 1,150,000 | −53% | 303,484 | 3.79 |
| 2018 | 2,450,000 | +14% | 485,101 | 5.05 |
| 2017 | 2,150,961 | +42% | 518,589 | 4.15 |
| 2016 | 1,518,678 | +19% | 280,422 | 5.42 |
| 2015 | 1,274,100 | −40% | 197,000 | 6.47 |
| 2014 | 2,136,700 | −13% | 390,031 | 5.48 |
| 2013 | 2,456,000 | −17% | 444,000 | 5.53 |
| 2012 | 2,956,632 | +35% | 596,497 | 4.96 |
| 2011 | 2,195,082 | +134% | 588,294 | 3.73 |
| 2010 | 939,000 | +18% | 208,300 | 4.51 |
| 2009 | 795,000 | +148% | 164,000 | 4.85 |
| 2008 | 320,600 | −53% | 62,700 | 5.11 |
| 2007 | 689,200 | −52% | 143,600 | 4.80 |
| 2006 | 1,441,400 | −7.4% | 335,500 | 4.30 |
| 2005 | 1,557,400 | +85% | 320,900 | 4.85 |
| 2004 | 842,800 | −9.7% | 198,100 | 4.25 |
| 2003 | 932,900 | −47% | 224,500 | 4.16 |
| 2002 | 1,756,800 | −10% | 409,000 | 4.30 |
| 2001 | 1,959,000 | +9.6% | 527,300 | 3.72 |
| 2000 | 1,786,700 | +2.7% | 464,300 | 3.85 |
| 1999 | 1,740,000 | +8.3% | 565,100 | 3.08 |
| 1998 | 1,607,000 | +9.3% | 438,200 | 3.67 |
| 1997 | 1,470,200 | +45% | 396,100 | 3.71 |
| 1996 | 1,016,000 | +20% | 303,900 | 3.34 |
| 1995 | 848,600 | +1.9% | 246,000 | 3.45 |
| 1994 | 833,000 | −11% | 294,000 | 2.83 |
| 1993 | 936,800 | −28% | 286,000 | 3.28 |
| 1992 | 1,303,500 | +15% | 312,000 | 4.18 |
| 1991 | 1,133,000 | +42% | 279,000 | 4.06 |
| 1990 | 798,300 | +12% | 239,800 | 3.33 |
| 1989 | 712,300 | +1.2% | 194,100 | 3.67 |
| 1988 | 704,000 | +28% | 244,600 | 2.88 |
| 1987 | 551,600 | −15% | 156,000 | 3.54 |
| 1986 | 649,300 | −1.5% | 177,000 | 3.67 |
| 1985 | 659,100 | +99% | 183,100 | 3.60 |
| 1984 | 331,500 | +30% | 137,400 | 2.41 |
| 1983 | 255,200 | −28% | 96,500 | 2.64 |
| 1982 | 353,700 | +36% | 103,500 | 3.42 |
| 1981 | 260,300 | +19% | 83,600 | 3.11 |
| 1980 | 219,000 | +66% | 75,000 | 2.92 |
| 1979 | 131,600 | +13% | 49,800 | 2.64 |
| 1978 | 116,300 | +56% | 41,600 | 2.80 |
| 1977 | 74,600 | +14% | 35,300 | 2.11 |
| 1976 | 65,500 | −24% | 29,800 | 2.20 |
| 1975 | 86,700 | +11% | 38,500 | 2.25 |
| 1974 | 78,200 | −1.1% | 41,700 | 1.88 |
| 1973 | 79,100 | −27% | 43,600 | 1.81 |
| 1972 | 108,900 | +128% | 40,100 | 2.72 |
| 1971 | 47,800 | −35% | 35,100 | 1.36 |
| 1970 | 73,000 | −18% | 31,700 | 2.30 |
| 1969 | 88,900 | +3.0% | 32,500 | 2.74 |
| 1968 | 86,300 | +86% | 31,100 | 2.77 |
| 1967 | 46,500 | −12% | 21,500 | 2.16 |
| 1966 | 52,900 | +104% | 22,200 | 2.38 |
| 1965 | 25,900 | +275% | 15,300 | 1.69 |
| 1964 | 6,900 | +41% | 15,600 | 0.44 |
| 1963 | 4,900 | −18% | 15,300 | 0.32 |
| 1962 | 6,000 | −15% | 11,700 | 0.51 |
| 1961 | 7,100 | — | 15,000 | 0.47 |
Questions and answers
What is the production of seed cotton in Australia?
Australia produced 2.4 million t in 2024, 3.3% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Australia rank in the world for production of seed cotton?
Australia ranked 7th of 83 countries in 2024. The largest producer was China with 25.7% of the world total.
How has the production of seed cotton in Australia changed?
It rose by 12% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.3% for the world. The record was 3.0 million t in 2012.
What is the yield of seed cotton in Australia?
5.1 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (2.4 million t from 473,900 ha), against a world average of 2.4 t/ha.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Australia is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.