2020/21 Xinjiang cotton quality index analysis (January)

By January 31, inspection volumes of 2020/21 cotton reached 5.507 million tons in China, including 5.368 million tons of Xinjiang cotton, up 10% year on year. Arrivals of new cotton are basically drawing to a close, and quality fluctuations are quite stable. The below analysis is based on the data by end January.

(The indicators only refer to the 2020/21 Xinjiang cotton, and the yearly change is based on the data by the end January.)

1. Color index
For the color index, the proportion of white cotton, grade-2 cotton increased slightly, as the processed cotton was mainly from South Xinjiang in late period. In terms of quantity, the yearly decrement of white color, grade-2 cotton narrowed, while the yearly increment of white color, grade-3 cotton enlarged.

2. Length
The improvement of length in late period of processing was not favorable as color index. The proportion of cotton with length of 29mm continued to edge lower, and the volumes kept decreasing. By end January, quantity of 2020/21 cotton with length at 29mm and above only reached 1.27 million tons, a fall of 1.42 million tons year on year. The proportion of cotton with length at 28mm and above reduced from 93.5% in 2019/20 season to 79.2%.

3. Breaking tenacity
This index changed little overall this season. The strength focuses on S3 (26-28.9gpt). By end January, 2020/21 cotton with strength at 29gpt and above was only 1.068 million tons, a fall of 650kt year on year.

4. Length uniformity
In 2020/21 season, the length uniformity inclines to concentrate on U3 (80-82.9).

5. Micronaire
Though the proportion of cotton with micronaire A+B increased slightly compared with end December, but the yearly decrement of cotton with micronaire A continued to enlarge. By end January, 2020/21 cotton with micronaire A+B declined by 450kt year on year, and the proportion in total inspection volumes reduced from 83.5% in 2019/20 season to 67.5%, down by 16% year on year.

6. Ginning quality
There was little overall change in terms of ginning quality.

Conclusion
By January 31, inspection volumes of 2020/21 Xinjiang cotton totaled 5.368 million tons, up 10% year on year. In the later period of cotton ginning, quality has no big change. Color index improves slightly compared with end December, but no improvement is seen on length, strength, and micronaire. By end January, 2020/21 cotton with length at 29mm and above is only 1.27 million tons, down 1.42 million tons year on year and 2020/21 cotton with strength at 29gpt and above is only 1.068 million tons, a fall of 650kt year on year. 2020/21 cotton with length at 29mm and above and strength at 29gpt and above only reaches 1.068 million tons, which was 1.718 million tons in 2019/20 season. According to the standard of Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange, the quality of micronaire reduces much this season. The proportion of cotton with micronaire A+B declined from 83.5% in 2019/20 to 67.5% by end January, down 16% year on year.