Customs Statistics: Kazakhstan'S Cotton Imports Are "Emerging As A New Force"

According to the online query platform of customs statistics, China's cotton import volume in November 2024 was 108900 tons, an increase of 2.85% month on month and a decrease of 64.61% year on year. The import volume of Brazilian cotton and Australian cotton still ranks in the top two (accounting for 63.45% and 20.11% respectively). Surprisingly, Kazakhstan imported 7900 tons of cotton (an increase of 467.80% month on month), accounting for 7.23% of China's total cotton imports that month, ranking third, squeezing the US cotton imports to the fourth place (only 4900 tons, accounting for 4.53%, down 62.69% month on month, down 88.49% year on year).

Some international cotton merchants and trade enterprises have said that Kazakhstan's cotton imports have "sprung up as a new force" since November, which is a bit unexpected when it surpasses American cotton, Sudanese cotton, Mexican cotton, Turkish cotton, Indian cotton and other competitors. According to the survey, in November and December, there were few orders/quotations (including bonded and non bonded) for Kazakh cotton in Qingdao/Zhangjiagang/Nantong/Wuhan and other ports. Most cotton enterprises said they did not have resources, and the ports also had few stocks. So why did Kazakhstan's cotton import volume rebound sharply in November (with a year-on-year growth rate of 467.80%) and become a "net celebrity" overnight? Industry analysis may be related to the following three factors:

First, Xinjiang textile enterprises will focus on using and digesting the cotton import quota with sliding tariff in 2024 from October to December (it is unlikely to issue "special quota" for cotton imports from Central Asian countries). Because Uzbekistan strictly controls the export of cotton and the price is high, Kazakhstan cotton, which has the advantages of railway/road transportation import, low freight and timely delivery, has become the first choice of Xinjiang textile enterprises.

Second, compared with Ukrainian cotton, American cotton and Brazilian cotton, Kazakh cotton has a higher cost performance ratio, which is favored by Xinjiang cotton textile mills/traders and is directly imported from Khorgos through land customs clearance.

Third, the grade/quality index of Central Asian cotton from Kazakhstan and other places is very close to that of Xinjiang cotton. The spinning enterprises can basically connect seamlessly, and are suitable for spinning C32S and above count cotton yarn, which has the characteristics of slightly coarse fiber, strong dyeing and uniform dyeing.

In addition, in recent years, China's cotton/cotton textile enterprises and seed companies have gone to Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries to breed and contract cotton, which has led to the return of lint.