Problem
Instability of cotton trade
Nature:
The proportion of cotton in world fibre consumption (in cotton equivalent weight) is declining. Synthetic substitutes are taking over particularly in developed market economies, but inroads by synthetics have also occurred in cotton-producing developing countries. This has not only resulted in a stagnation in demand for cotton but has also in some cases caused cotton prices to rise higher than the price of synthetics. The high cotton prices have forced many mills out of business or caused them to change to production of synthetics, and this move is difficult to reverse. Despite high world prices, producer developing countries have not benefited proportionately because they have failed to switch to strains of cotton which blend more easily with synthetic fibres. These trends in consumption and prices are threatening the well-being and jeopardizing the economic and social development large areas of the developing world.
Incidence:
About 55% of cotton fibre consumption is accounted for by the developing countries.
Broader Problems:
Instability of trade in unprocessed textile fibres and their waste Narrower Problems:
Cotton seed oil trade instability Related Problems:
Instability of vegetable fibre trade, excluding cotton and jute Subject(s):
Commerce → TradePlant Life → Plants yielding fibres
Societal Problems → Instability
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST