Cotton sown in the 2014-15 growing season was down by 46 per cent in comparison to the previous growing season due to dry seasonal conditions in the lead-up to planting and reduced availability of water for irrigation. However, production is on the rebound. Australia has the highest yield in the world and this year it is up 10 per cent on record. More than 2.2 million bales are expected to be harvested nationally this year.

Production of cotton in Australia has a reputation of being free from child labor and abuse of pesticides.

Despite the dry start to the Australian growing season, consistent temperatures and good grower management led to the record yields.

To Australia's advantage, lower cotton production is forecast in all major producing countries such as China, India, Brazil and the US, with forecasts predicting a 5 to 14 per cent decline. Although world cotton prices are forecast to fall this season, irrigated cotton is still expected to remain the most profitable irrigated crop in 2015-16. Improved production is expected to encourage growers to plant cotton if sufficient irrigation water is available.

Cotton is the world's number one natural fiber with a market share of 30 per cent of the world fiber market.