Australia: Cotton and Products Annual
In 2015/16, Australian cotton production is forecast to be 2.2 million bales assuming average rainfall. Water storage levels in key cotton producing regions such as the Namoi Valley are well below previous years. This increases the importance of rainfall, especially in the planting window from September to November. Dryland cotton is less than ten percent of the total crop. Low water storages and attractive returns for alternative drought-tolerant crops such as sorghum will discourage some cotton plantings, but the overall harvest area is expected to be stable.
