How much cotton does Australia produce and export?
Australia is the nullth largest producer of cotton: 1.3 million tonnes in 2023, 5.1% of the world's 24.7 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the 3rd largest exporter by value: $2.4 billion in 2024, 14% of world exports of raw cotton lint (HS 5201) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 29% of its cotton exports by value.
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Australia's cotton production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 million tonnes | 5.1% | +3.4% a year | 2023 |
FAOSTAT Crops and livestock products (QCL), 2023. World total is the sum of reporting countries.
Share of world output over time
| 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7% | 4% | 1.5% | 0.5% | 5.1% |
Australia's cotton exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $2.4 billion | 14% | 1.2 million t | $2,007 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 5201 (Cotton, not carded or combed).
Where Australia's cotton goes
| Destination | Value | Share of Australia's exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $684M | 29% |
| Vietnam | $608M | 26% |
| India | $267M | 11% |
| Bangladesh | $232M | 9.8% |
| Indonesia | $224M | 9.5% |
The cotton price Australia sells into
The benchmark price, Cotlook A Index, CFR Far East, was $2.1/kg in September 2026, up 22% over twelve months. Its five-year volatility is 19% a year, calmer in 67% of its earlier five-year windows. A single country's export price can differ from the benchmark: see trade price against benchmark. Monthly averages lag the market and are not investment advice. Cotton price history.
Cite as: Commodity Origins, "Australia cotton: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/AUS/cotton/ (CC BY 4.0). Rankings count only countries reporting to the sources named; this page is shown only for top-five producers or exporters with at least 3% of the world total. Report an issue with this page.