How much cotton does United States produce and export?
United States is the 4th largest producer of cotton: 2.6 million tonnes in 2023, 11% of the world's 24.7 million tonnes (FAOSTAT). It is the 2nd largest exporter by value: $4.9 billion in 2024, 28% of world exports of raw cotton lint (HS 5201) (CEPII BACI). Its biggest customer is China, which takes 32% of its cotton exports by value.
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United States's cotton production
| World rank | Production (tonnes) | Share of world | Ten-year growth | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2.6 million tonnes | 11% | -0.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18% | 20% | 17% | 13% | 11% |
United States's cotton exports
| World rank | Export value | Share of world exports | Quantity (tonnes) | Average value per tonne | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $4.9 billion | 28% | 2.3 million t | $2,129 | 2024 |
CEPII BACI international trade database (HS22, V202601), HS 5201 (Cotton, not carded or combed).
Where United States's cotton goes
| Destination | Value | Share of United States's exports |
|---|---|---|
| China | $1.6B | 32% |
| Pakistan | $772M | 16% |
| Vietnam | $581M | 12% |
| Turkey (Türkiye) | $382M | 7.7% |
| Bangladesh | $251M | 5.1% |
The cotton price United States 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, "United States cotton: production, exports and prices", https://commodityorigins.com/countries/USA/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.