the great cotton stitch-Up - The Fairtrade Foundation

The world in which West African
cotton operates today
World cotton production more than doubled from just
under 10 million tonnes in 1960 to almost 25 million
tonnes in 2010. This, despite the introduction of new
and cheaper synthetic fibres such as polyester that
compete with cotton on price.
Globally, much of the growth of cotton production is
due to improvements in yields rather than areas under
cultivation. Since 1945, yield levels have increased
fourfold whereas the area under cultivation has only
increased by a third. 3 West Africa today produces about
4% of global production. The West African C-4 nations
export virtually all of their cotton, mostly to China.
China is the world’s biggest cotton producer
producing 32.5% of global supply. But China
consumes most of what it produces to supply its
rapidly growing garment sector, and has become a
net importer of cotton.
In 2010 India banned exports of its cotton to meet the
demands of its own processors. The United States is
by some way the world’s biggest exporter of cotton.
In the most recent figures, it accounts for 34% of
global exports. This is projected to rise.
India 18%
United States 34%
Major producers and consumers of cotton 2009
(million Major of producers metric tonnes) and consumers of cotton 2009
China
India
United States
Pakistan
Brazil
Uzbekistan
Australia
Turkey
African Franc Zone
Turkmenistan
Rest of the world
Share of world cotton exports 2009
Source: US Department of Agriculture
Production
Consumption
Rest of the
world 12%
Uzbekistan 10%
Australia 6%
Brazil 6%
African Franc Zone 5%
Turkmenistan 3%
Greece 3%
Pakistan 3%
Tajikistan 1%
Zimbabwe 1%
0
Source: US Department Department of of Agriculture Agriculture
5 10
millions of tonnes
15 20
West Africa’s
dependence on cotton
Many least developed countries are dependent on
cotton for rural livelihoods and export revenue. But
few places rely on it to the extent of Mali, Benin,
Burkina Faso and Chad where it accounts for
5%-10% of GDP. 4 All four countries are classified
as ‘low human development’ in the UN’s Human
Development Index. 5
Unlike other nations, most cotton cultivation in West
Africa is rain-fed, so reducing its water footprint. In
fact, only a quarter of global cotton is produced in
rain-fed conditions rather than irrigated fields.
The West African C-4
MAlI
About 40%
of rural households,
or 2.5 million people,
depend on cotton for
their livelihood. Cotton is
grown on around onethird
of cultivated land,
and provides the second
largest source of
foreign exchange
earnings.
BuRkInA FASo
Cotton accounts
for around 60% of
export earnings
and is produced
by 250,000 cotton
growers, supporting
the livelihoods of
two million
people.
BEnIn
Cotton
accounts for
60% of foreign
exchange earnings
and employs
45% of rural
households.
Source: UNCTAD INFO COMM
CHAD
40% of the
population
(around two million
people) depend on
cotton, which also
accounts for
two-thirds of
exports.
10 The great cotton stitch-up The great cotton stitch-up 11