Record-breaking export performance for China's refined cotton in H1 2026

Buoyed by a raft of favorable factors, China's refined cotton exports have reached an unprecedented peak in 2026. Monthly exports surpass 10kt for four consecutive months from Mar to Jun, with Jun's volume climbing more than 60% year-on-year and first-half cumulative exports rising by over 44%.

China's refined cotton exports posted an outstanding performance in 2026, hitting an all-time high. Monthly export volumes have stayed above 10kt for four consecutive months, with Jun's single-month exports surging by over 60% year-on-year. Total exports in Jan-Jun maintained robust growth and reached a new record high.

I. Brilliant export performance in H1

Driven by multiple factors including incremental demand and export substitution, China's refined cotton exports delivered remarkable results in the first half of 2026 with a marked volume uptick. According to customs statistics, single-month exports of refined cotton maintained rapid growth in Jun at 10,702 tons, up 4.24% month-on-month and 63.42% year-on-year, marking four straight months of monthly exports exceeding 10kt. Cumulative exports for H1 of 2026 stood at 60,966 tons, a year-on-year increase of 44.5%, nearly matching the full-year export volume recorded in 2020 and 2021.

II. Anhui takes the lead by a wide margin

Thirteen provinces and municipalities recorded exports in Jun. Anhui ranked firmly first with monthly exports of 4,055 tons, jumping 75.1% year-on-year and accounting for 37.9% of the national total. Guangdong emerged as a dark horse, holding the second position for the second consecutive month. Shandong slipped to third place, with Jun exports of 1,468 tons (up 16.4% year-on-year), representing a 13.7% share.

Fifteen provinces and municipalities achieved export deliveries in H1 of 2026. Anhui, Shandong and Hubei occupied the top three rankings, jointly contributing 61.3% of total exports. Anhui overtook Shandong for the first time in 2025 and kept its leading position this year, registering first-half exports of 19,012 tons, a 54.7% year-on-year rise and a 31.2% proportion. Shandong's cumulative exports in the same period reached 10,068 tons, growing 24.5% year-on-year with a 16.5% share. In addition, Hubei saw a sharp year-on-year export increase of 38.8%. By contrast, exports from Jiangsu and Xinjiang declined notably by 16.2% and 4.2% respectively year-on-year.

III. Conclusion

Buoyed by a raft of favorable factors, China's refined cotton exports have reached an unprecedented peak in 2026. Monthly exports surpass 10kt for four consecutive months from Mar to Jun, with Jun's volume climbing more than 60% year-on-year and first-half cumulative exports rising by over 44%. Anhui has maintained its dominant edge since 2025 and secured the top spot again in 2026. Shandong, the long-standing leading province, falls to second place in H1 of 2026, while Hubei posts strong growth to close the gap. Guangdong stands out as the biggest dark horse with promising prospects ahead.