Cotton Production, Purchase And Sale In African Cotton Producing Countries

Tanzania - the volume of domestic production is expected to reach 140 thousand tons this year, which is one of the largest output in the country, about two times that of the previous year.

Owing to the shortage of funds in local ginning factories, the price of seed cotton has been stable throughout the whole year.

About 75% of the lint has been sold to Cotton Traders and India textile mills.

The congestion problem at the port of Das Salam has resulted in the breach of some of the sale contracts, which is expected to increase the number of sales available on the market.

But exporters do not plan to lower the level of offer.

The new flower planting has begun in several major cotton producing areas. According to the initial prediction, the new flower yield is expected to reach 140 thousand tons again.

Zimbabwe drought coupled with the two growth period resulted in a very small volume of 100 thousand tons of domestic production, which was 25% lower than originally expected.

Zimbabwe's domestic economy is in a crash and accompanied by inflation, but this does not seem to have much impact on cotton growers' enthusiasm for planting cotton.

It is estimated that next year's output will be 160 thousand tons.

But it depends on whether exporters / ginning factories are willing to invest enough funds.

Sowing has begun in some areas and should end in mid January 2009 at the latest.

Zambia's heavy rainfall has shattered the desire to have high production this year. The total output of 40 thousand tons is only a little higher than that of the previous year, but far below the total output of 70 thousand tons in 06/07.

Next year, the expected output will reach 06/07 level, because cotton farmers are more satisfied with the mainstream purchase price of seed cotton in the market.

Good demand supports next year's high yield forecast.

Uganda, compared with the disappointing 12 thousand tonnes of 07/08, it is expected that the output of new cotton will reach 30 thousand tons this year.

The picking work has been carried out in a comprehensive way, but the lowest seed cotton purchase price issued by the government is a bit too high for the ginning plant, which makes the ginning factory not yet large-scale acquisition.

At present, the parties are working hard to solve this embarrassing situation, and the first shipment time will be delayed before the solution is completely resolved.