USDA Forecasts 2026/27 Global Cotton Stocks at Lowest Level Since 2011/12
Cotton Farming Magazine’s October 2026 outlook reports that USDA forecasts 2026/27 global cotton ending stocks at 70.7 million bales, 5.0 million bales below the previous season and the lowest since 2011/12.
AI-generated source brief by USFarms.ag
The October 2026 Cotton and Wool Outlook says USDA forecasts global cotton production at 118.0 million bales in 2026/27, down 4.1 million bales (3.4 percent) from the previous year, while mill use is projected to rise 2.3 million bales (1.9 percent) to 123.1 million bales. Global ending stocks are forecast at 70.7 million bales, down 5.0 million bales and more than 6.5 percent from the previous season. For the United States, the outlook forecasts 2026/27 production of 13.4 million bales and ending stocks of 3.8 million bales.
Key takeaways
2 things worth knowing
- 01
USDA forecasts 2026/27 U.S. cotton production at 13.4 million bales, 241,000 bales (1.8 percent) above the September forecast but 455,000 bales below the 2025/26 crop.
- 02
The outlook forecasts 2026/27 global cotton ending stocks at 70.7 million bales, 5.0 million bales below the previous season and the lowest since 2011/12.
Why it matters for agriculture
The outlook reports a 2026/27 Delta cotton production estimate of 4.0 million bales, below the 5-year average of 4.2 million bales, alongside a projected record yield of 1,267 pounds per harvested acre. These are source forecasts, not observed outcomes.
Reader context does not establish a local impact or state-level finding.
Topics
Crops