> In 2024 China produced 18.7 million t of seed cotton, the largest total in the world (25.7% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 0.9%.

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

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# Seed cotton production in China

In 2024 China produced 18.7 million t of seed cotton, the largest total in the world (25.7% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 0.9%. The record was 23.5 million t in 2019. Area harvested: 2.8 million ha, yield 6.6 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.

[Today’s prices](https://husfarm.com/today-price/cotton/)[Market prices in China](https://husfarm.com/country/china/)

Production, 202418.7 million t
World rank1 of 83
10-year change+0.9%
Record23.5 million t2019

## Seed cotton in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)

## China compared with the world, 2024

Share of world total25.7%24.4% in 2014
Yield, t/ha6.6world 2.4 (+179%)
kg per person13.2world 8.92
10-year change+0.9%world −4.3%

### Position in the world ranking

| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **China** | 18,700,000 | 25.7% |
| 2 | [India](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/india/) | 15,000,000 | 20.6% |
| 3 | [United States](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/united-states/) | 9,573,295 | 13.1% |

[Full ranking of 83 countries](https://husfarm.com/production/seed-cotton/)

### Map of world production of seed cotton

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 | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2024 | 18,700,000 | +1.1% | 2,838,300 | 6.59 |
| 2023 | 18,500,000 | −6.1% | 2,788,140 | 6.64 |
| 2022 | 19,700,000 | +13% | 3,000,310 | 6.57 |
| 2021 | 17,366,363 | −11% | 3,028,170 | 5.73 |
| 2020 | 19,500,000 | −17% | 3,250,000 | 6.00 |
| 2019 | 23,504,576 | +27% | 3,450,000 | 6.81 |
| 2018 | 18,493,333 | +8.0% | 3,354,410 | 5.51 |
| 2017 | 17,130,303 | +6.9% | 4,845,000 | 3.54 |
| 2016 | 16,029,000 | −4.8% | 3,376,100 | 4.75 |
| 2015 | 16,830,000 | −9.2% | 3,766,870 | 4.47 |
| 2014 | 18,534,950 | −2.1% | 4,222,300 | 4.39 |
| 2013 | 18,930,000 | −7.7% | 4,345,630 | 4.36 |
| 2012 | 20,520,000 | +3.8% | 4,688,130 | 4.38 |
| 2011 | 19,766,876 | +10% | 5,037,800 | 3.92 |
| 2010 | 17,910,000 | −6.4% | 4,849,000 | 3.69 |
| 2009 | 19,131,000 | −15% | 4,951,830 | 3.86 |
| 2008 | 22,476,000 | −1.7% | 5,754,100 | 3.91 |
| 2007 | 22,872,000 | +13% | 5,926,100 | 3.86 |
| 2006 | 20,238,000 | +18% | 5,815,700 | 3.48 |
| 2005 | 17,142,000 | −9.6% | 5,061,900 | 3.39 |
| 2004 | 18,970,530 | +30% | 5,693,000 | 3.33 |
| 2003 | 14,579,127 | −1.1% | 5,111,000 | 2.85 |
| 2002 | 14,748,000 | −7.7% | 4,184,200 | 3.52 |
| 2001 | 15,970,500 | +21% | 4,809,740 | 3.32 |
| 2000 | 13,251,000 | +15% | 4,041,000 | 3.28 |
| 1999 | 11,487,000 | −15% | 3,725,600 | 3.08 |
| 1998 | 13,503,000 | −2.2% | 4,459,210 | 3.03 |
| 1997 | 13,809,000 | +9.5% | 4,491,000 | 3.07 |
| 1996 | 12,609,489 | −12% | 4,722,290 | 2.67 |
| 1995 | 14,304,000 | +9.8% | 5,422,000 | 2.64 |
| 1994 | 13,023,000 | +16% | 5,528,000 | 2.36 |
| 1993 | 11,217,000 | −17% | 4,985,000 | 2.25 |
| 1992 | 13,524,000 | −21% | 6,835,000 | 1.98 |
| 1991 | 17,025,008 | +26% | 6,538,467 | 2.60 |
| 1990 | 13,523,214 | +19% | 5,588,100 | 2.42 |
| 1989 | 11,364,000 | −8.7% | 5,203,300 | 2.18 |
| 1988 | 12,447,000 | −2.3% | 5,529,000 | 2.25 |
| 1987 | 12,735,000 | +20% | 4,844,000 | 2.63 |
| 1986 | 10,620,000 | −15% | 4,306,000 | 2.47 |
| 1985 | 12,441,000 | −34% | 5,140,000 | 2.42 |
| 1984 | 18,774,000 | +35% | 6,916,000 | 2.71 |
| 1983 | 13,911,000 | +29% | 6,071,200 | 2.29 |
| 1982 | 10,794,000 | +21% | 5,823,000 | 1.85 |
| 1981 | 8,904,000 | +9.6% | 5,180,000 | 1.72 |
| 1980 | 8,121,000 | +23% | 4,915,000 | 1.65 |
| 1979 | 6,621,000 | +1.8% | 4,507,000 | 1.47 |
| 1978 | 6,502,000 | +5.8% | 4,862,000 | 1.34 |
| 1977 | 6,148,000 | −0.3% | 4,840,000 | 1.27 |
| 1976 | 6,165,000 | −14% | 4,924,000 | 1.25 |
| 1975 | 7,143,000 | −3.3% | 4,950,000 | 1.44 |
| 1974 | 7,383,000 | −3.9% | 5,008,000 | 1.47 |
| 1973 | 7,686,000 | +31% | 4,937,000 | 1.56 |
| 1972 | 5,874,000 | −7.0% | 4,891,000 | 1.20 |
| 1971 | 6,315,000 | −7.6% | 4,918,000 | 1.28 |
| 1970 | 6,831,000 | +9.5% | 4,992,000 | 1.37 |
| 1969 | 6,237,000 | −12% | 4,824,500 | 1.29 |
| 1968 | 7,062,000 | 0.0% | 4,981,000 | 1.42 |
| 1967 | 7,062,000 | +0.7% | 5,093,000 | 1.39 |
| 1966 | 7,011,000 | +11% | 4,920,000 | 1.43 |
| 1965 | 6,294,000 | +26% | 4,998,000 | 1.26 |
| 1964 | 4,988,100 | +39% | 4,930,000 | 1.01 |
| 1963 | 3,600,000 | +60% | 4,405,000 | 0.82 |
| 1962 | 2,250,000 | −6.3% | 3,494,000 | 0.64 |
| 1961 | 2,400,000 | — | 3,866,000 | 0.62 |

## Questions and answers

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

China produced 18.7 million t in 2024, 25.7% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.

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

China was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of India.

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

It rose by 0.9% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −4.3% for the world. The record was 23.5 million t in 2019.

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

6.6 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (18.7 million t from 2.8 million 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 China is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.

## Other large producers

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

## 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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