The cotton market is in a tough spot. The quality has deteriorated significantly, with an overabundance of white stagfoil flaps, which drags down the overall value. Prices are being pulled down by low-grade lint cotton, making it nearly impossible to secure a stable price. How can hand-picked cotton avoid losses? This is the current reality and mindset of many cotton businesses today.
Dafeng, a top executive from a cotton company in Jiangsu, shared his perspective with the author. According to him, this year’s mid- to late-season cotton growth brought in good yields, and the development of cottonseeds was strong and full. Farmers have increasingly chosen high-yield, double-resistant cotton varieties with common color shades. However, the results are surprisingly low in quality.
The company maintains strict raw material inspections because most of its lint is destined for large, well-known textile companies. During on-site testing of seed cotton, the dressing percentage was generally around 35%. Achieving 37–38% or more clothing fraction is difficult. Recently, the company found a batch of grade 3 seed cotton with only 31%! A veteran explained that, based on current market prices, the difference between a kilogram of clothing fiber equates to a loss of about 0.13–0.15 yuan per kilogram of seed cotton. At regular prices, purchasing 100 pounds of 31% versus 38% seed cotton could mean a difference of over ten yuan.
When it comes to quality issues, the boss often sighs in frustration. Moisture levels are way above standard, and very few farmers bother to dry their cotton before selling. It's not uncommon to see cotton picked and sold without proper drying. Acquisition companies no longer differentiate between grades, often assigning a generic rating and focusing on mainstream colors. As for listed transactions, there's inconsistency—some say one thing, others another. A comprehensive quality evaluation system is desperately needed.
The veteran picked up a handful of seed cotton and showed the author: it contained flowers, white stiff fibers, and grey-yellow cotton. At the processing site, workers manually remove foreign fibers at the feed port. Even after clearing and ventilating, there are still clumps of mixed, stale cotton that need further loosening and finishing. This process increases labor costs, but how can processing companies reduce expenses when the quality is so poor?
As for the volatile prices, it's hard for anyone to keep up. Farmers don’t fully understand the challenges faced by cotton enterprises, while textile companies are also confused about what to do. Some cotton just can't be collected. Information spreads quickly, and profits are transparent—yet who really cares about your losses? Cotton is a product with a yearly cycle, but its seasonal acquisition and processing make it vulnerable to price fluctuations. With such uncertainty, who would dare to bet against the unpredictable market?
Harvesting cotton in the cotton regions is becoming increasingly challenging. Many cotton company executives still express this sentiment.
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