Global Cotton Production: Top Producing Countries and Africa

Global cotton production today exceeds 25 million tonnes of fibre per year, dominated by a handful of Asian and American giants. But Africa, and particularly the West and Central African CFA zone, plays a strategic role: sixth global producer, but second net exporter. For the 2025-2026 campaign, the regional ranking is shifting — Benin reclaims first place ahead of Mali as the top African producer. This article reviews volumes, producing countries and export flows from the perspective of a Lomé-based trader.

Global ranking of cotton producing countries

Since 2015, India is the world’s leading cotton producer, position it took from China after the latter dominated for over three decades. These two countries alone produce more than half of global cotton each year, primarily for their massive domestic textile industries.

Behind this duo, three other major producers structure the market: – The United States, second global exporter after India, with high mechanization and long fibres prized by premium spinneries; – Brazil, in strong growth thanks to Mato Grosso expansion, now the world’s 3rd producer; – Pakistan, with fluctuating production but structurally important volumes.

These five countries — India, China, USA, Brazil, Pakistan — account for around 75% of global seed cotton production. It’s in the remaining 25% that Africa positions itself, with specific weight on the export market.

Africa’s role and the CFA franc zone

West and Central African CFA Africa represents only the sixth global producer, but it is the second net exporter after the United States. This anomaly is explained by the industry structure: most cotton fibre produced in West Africa is destined for export (Asian, European, Turkish spinneries), while local processing remains limited.

Four countries concentrate most African production, together responsible for about 50% of the continent’s production: – Benin; – Mali; – Burkina Faso; – Ivory Coast.

To this nucleus are added Chad, Cameroon and Togo on the CFA zone side, plus Egypt (long-fibre Giza cotton), Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe across the rest of the continent.

2025-2026 campaign: Benin reclaims top African position

For the 2025-2026 agricultural campaign, Agence Ecofin and other regional observers forecasts converge: Benin should reclaim top West African producer position from neighbour Mali. Key figures:

Country	2025/26 forecast (seed cotton)
Benin	~ 632,000 – 647,000 tonnes
Mali	~ 433,700 tonnes
Burkina Faso	~ 350,000 tonnes (estimate)
Ivory Coast	~ 270,000 tonnes (estimate)

Benin owes this return to structural reforms initiated since 2016: improved producer support, input access, ginning unit modernization, and producer-price stability. The country also hosts the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), which aims to locally process a growing share of cotton fibre, modifying the export structure over time.

At UEMOA scale, Mali and Benin represent nearly 60% of zone cotton production — a decisive weight in both countries’ export revenues.

Which exporters and which buyers?

On the supply side, African cotton fibre exporters are primarily national cotton companies (SOFITEX in Burkina, CMDT in Mali, IC Bénin, COIC) or multinationals active in ginning (OLAM, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Plexus, COPACO). On the cotton seed side — a by-product representing over 60% by weight of seed cotton — export flows are less formalized and pass through a network of regional traders and merchants specialized in commodities, including BEST AGRI BUSINESS.

On the demand side, African cotton fibre goes mainly to: – Bangladesh and Vietnam (textile industry); – China (variable volumes depending on purchasing policy); – Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan.

For cotton seeds and their derivatives (meal, oil), buyers are more regional: West African and Maghreb feed mills, soap manufacturers, oil refineries, biomass industrial operators.

2026 market trends

Three dynamics structure the market in 2026:

1. Price volatility on the NYBOT (New York Board of Trade) linked to climatic hazards in India and Texas, US duties and Chinese purchasing decisions.
2. Increased competition from synthetic fibres (polyester), weighing on global demand for natural cotton, except sustainable and organic segments.
3. Rising African local processing, supported by industrial policies (Benin ZES, Ivory Coast) — modifies raw cotton availability for export medium-term.

For a cotton seed or crude oil buyer, this means: arbitrate origins (USA vs West Africa), secure multi-year contracts with reliable regional traders, and monitor harvest calendars (October-February in West Africa).

Request a West African cotton seeds quote

BEST AGRI BUSINESS operates from Lomé on the CFA zone cotton supply chain. We source cotton seeds (cottonseed), cottonseed meal and crude cotton oil from ginners in Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Togo. Capabilities: FCL containers (24-26 MT) or multi-container bulk lots, deliverable FOB Lomé, Cotonou or Tema depending on preference.

Conclusion

Global cotton remains a market of giants — India, China, USA, Brazil — but West Africa, particularly Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, holds a strategic place on the export side. The 2025-2026 campaign marks Benin’s return to African leadership with 647,000 tonnes, supported by a modernized industry. For international buyers and regional industrial operators, West Africa offers a competitive and geographically advantageous alternative to Asian and American origins, provided you work with regional traders who master ginning supply chains and export logistics.

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Internal links: – Cotton seed distributors and price per ton (article D-EN) – Product page: Cotton seeds – Market page: Benin – Our West African sourcing services