Australia's cotton harvest for 2024-25 season more than 70% complete, production crosses 5 million bales
2025-05-15 13:27:35
Australia Cotton Harvest 70% Done, Exceeds 5M Bales
SYDNEY – More than 70 percent of cotton harvesting in Australia for the 2024-25 season has been completed. According to industry body Cotton Australia, total production this year is likely to exceed 5 million bales.
Most cotton producing areas in New South Wales and Queensland have recorded above-average yields and better quality of cotton this year. The estimated 5.1 million bale crop could prove to be another successful year for the Australian cotton industry, extremely close to record crop levels and equal to last season's production.
Some industry groups, such as the Australian Cotton Shippers Association, believe the figure could reach 5.5 million bales. The improved forecasts are underpinned by an increased cotton planted area this year, with farmers planting 390,000 hectares of irrigated cotton and 131,000 hectares of dryland cotton — down from 370,000 and 111,000 hectares respectively last year.
Cotton Australia general manager Michael Murray said the higher production was expected from the larger planted area, but rain-affected yields in some areas took a toll. "Yields have been good but could have been better without some periods of rain. However, the results are very positive across most regions," he said.
He also said the "Goldilocks"-like ideal weather (dry and sunny) in some parts during March and April had led to excellent crop quality and yields.
While harvesting is still ongoing in some areas, both irrigated and dryland crops performed better than average. Mr Murray also cited reports of irrigated cotton yields of up to 16 bales per hectare in the Darling Downs region.
