National Cotton Planting Intention and Sowing Progress Survey by 15th April, 2014

The cotton sowing started since the Tomb-sweeping festival (5th April). The Xinjiang target price for trialed areas in 2014 is announced by government at price of 19,800 Yuan per ton, receiving positive feedbacks from Xinjiang growers whose cotton planting intention is relative higher compared with inland, where no government supportive policy clearly announced. During the early April, weather conditions in most cotton regions are conducive for cotton growth, sowing in Xinjiang, south of Yellow River region and north of Yangtze has completed, and some plants come to seedling emergence period, the general progress is faster than last year.
By 15th April, according to weighted average calculation of cotton planting intentions of growers investigated, the average cotton planting intention nationwide reduced by 12.6%, 0.6% further decrease over last survey, with 24.5% of the decrease from Yellow River region, 0.9% further over the month; 19.5% of the reduction by Yangtze region, 1.9% further over the month; the planting intention in Xinjiang increased by 1.6%, similar with last year. Based on CCA cotton acreage statistics in 2013, the national cotton acreage in 2014 estimates to be 4.08 million hectares.
By 15th April, the cotton planted nationwide is 55.4% of the acreage projection, 10% faster than the corresponding time last year.
Monitored by: China Cotton Association Cotton Farmer Cooperation Branch and Xinjiang Huatai Cotton Professional Cooperation
Monitored Sources: 2,766 cotton planting units in 13 major cotton Provinces or municipalities