Cotton linter import of China in Jul exceeds 20kt again

Chinese cotton linter supply is short this year and the imports have seen blowout growth. In Jul, the import volume hits 5-year high by exceeding 20kt again, which is close to the peak in Apr.

The imports have filled the big supply gap in the later period of 2020/21 crop year when new cottonseed and cotton linter has not arrived yet. According to customs data, cotton linter import of China totals 24,260.89 tons in Jul 2021, up 29.5% m-o-m and up 526% y-o-y.

In the first seven months of this year, cotton linter import of China amounts to 124.9kt, up 179.4% y-o-y. The monthly average import is 17.8kt as of 2021, which is 6.4kt in 2020.

Cotton linter import price has been rising since Jan this year, which averages at $374.5/mt in Jul, up 6.7% m-o-m but down 18.6% y-o-y. It has gained ground by $100.3/mt or 37% from the price in Jan at $274.2/mt.

In Jan-Jul of this year, the import price averages at $333.96/mt, down 4.4% y-o-y, which is below $337.7/mt in 2015 and stays at 15-year low. Although the import price has increased m-o-m, it still lingers at low level compared with the same period of past years.

The destinations of imported cotton linter have reduced from seven in Jun to four in Jul. Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu continue to take the lead by taking up 91% of total imports. In Jan-Jul, the three provinces also rank the top three places by occupying 78% of total imports.

In terms of origins, Turkey takes the leading position, which is followed by Brazil and India and the three countries take up more than 85% of total imports, representing higher concentration.