Pakistan's cotton production projected to decline 6% in 2026–27: World Bank

Pakistan’s cotton harvest is forecast to fall 6% in the 2026-27 season, according to the World Bank’s October Commodity Markets Outlook, which cites USDA estimates. China is also expected to see a 6% decline, while global output is projected to contract 3%; production is forecast to rise about 1% each in Brazil and India.

The report says international cotton prices gained 6% in the third quarter of 2026 and stood about 20% above their year-earlier level in early October. It projects an average price of $1.95 per kilogram for 2026, up from $1.71 in 2025, with further increases to $2 in 2027 and $2.02 in 2028. Global consumption is expected to grow 2% in 2026-27, taking the stocks-to-use ratio down to 0.57 from 0.63.