Around 90% of the Australian cotton crop has now been picked with growers and cotton gin operators reporting better than expected yields and, in some cases exceptional quality despite the challenges.
Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray said early indications are that the 2022/23 crop may top last year’s result of 5.6 million bales which in itself was a record.
“With good rainfall leading to healthy soil profiles and good water storage results, we had forecast a good crop in 2021/2022 and we recorded the largest crop ever at just over 5.6 million bales.
“That rainfall became a problem in parts of NSW and southern Queensland in late 2022 with severe flooding recorded in many growing areas as well as crop and infrastructure damage. The conditions at that point led to a downgrade in expectations.
“I’m pleased to say that better conditions, including a warmer than expected start to 2023, resulted in a boost for growers and the results are now becoming clearer.”
The latest results from gins and reports from growers suggest that it will be a close call as to whether 2023 will be a record crop, or just slightly less than 2022.
The other fact that some forecasters find surprising is that in some areas, impacted severely by floods and crop damage, the quality is exceptionally high with lint that is white and clean while also recording good fibre strength.
Cotton quality is measured by a variety of factors including the colour, strength, contamination by leaf and other plant matter, staple length and micronaire, which is a measure of fibre maturity and linear density as determined by a process utilising compressed air.
Mr Murray said the timing for Australian growers is good with crops processed through gins lining up with the increased shipping capacity as shipments traditionally ramp up from June through to September.
“Industry forecasts suggest that while US and Brazilian cotton is being traded at significant levels to some of our trading partners, our cotton is considered to be of the best value when you take into consideration the quality, the lower transportation costs and the turnaround times.”
The crop results come as the growing footprint of cotton in Australia continues to expand as more growers consider cotton in Queensland, the Northern Territory and WA.
Mr Murray said cotton can grow across a wide geographical range and climatic conditions, with scope for growth in many areas north of the NSW border and also the Victorian border, although Southern NSW was suffering from below average conditions this year.
“We are hearing reports of growers in coastal Queensland locations adding cotton to their rotations and doing very well. And while some areas are considered ideal because of the rainfall and temperatures, cotton can thrive in other conditions and provide a profitable alternative.
“Some growers see the lack of nearby cotton gins as an issue but with a gin close to completion in the NT, a commitment to build one in the Ord River area, and plenty of positive industry talk about one for North Queensland, those transport costs will become less of an impediment.
“In Australia we sell every bale we grow so clearly the global demand is there and as global economic conditions improve, so too will demand for our cotton which is seen as among the highest quality produced.”
