Ethiopia: Cotton Annual
Ethiopia's cotton production, which has remained fairly flat in recent years, is estimated at 184,000 bales (40,000 metric tons) in MY14/15. Due primarily to the gradual expansion of acreage planted, production is forecast to expand slightly in MY15/16 to 200,000 bales (43,500 metric tons). Meantime, consumption is forecast to outstrip domestic cotton production in large part due to the demands of the rapidly-expanding textile/apparel industry. Thus, it is anticipated that imports, some of which will likely come from the United States, will fill this gap. Imports are estimated at 37,000 bales (8,000 metric tons) in MY14/15 and 55,000 bales (12,000 metric tons) in MY15/16.