2016/17年度全球植棉面积预计将增长1%至3190万公顷

The cotton area may expand 1 per cent to 31.9 million hectares in 2016/17
As per ICAC, in 2016/17, world cotton consumption is projected to remain stable as modest growth in the top consumers outside of China offsets the decline in China's cotton consumption.
Aside from Australia where production is forecast to increase by 6 per cent to 546,000 tons, cotton production in the top 10 cotton producing countries all declined in 2015/16.
World cotton area contracted by 8 per cent to 31.2 million hectares as low cotton prices in 2014/15 and higher prices for competing crops discouraged farmers from planting cotton.
Adverse weather in many countries led to the world average yield decreasing by 7 per cent to 711 kg per hectare and India's cotton production fell 7 per cent to just under 6 million tons.
Production in China decreased for the fourth consecutive season by 20 per cent to 5.2 million tons and in the United States by 21 per cent to 2.8 million tons.
Pakistan's production is estimated down 34 per cent to 1.5 million tons due to pest pressure and inferior inputs lowering yields.
“In 2016/17, poor returns for competing crops and relatively stable cotton prices may encourage farmers to plant more cotton, and cotton area may expand 1 per cent to 31.9 million hectares,” ICAC noted.
Modest increases in cotton area in India, Pakistan and the United States are expected to offset losses in China, Brazil and Uzbekistan. World cotton production is projected to increase by 3% to 23 million tons in 2016/17. (AR)
译文如下：
2016/17年度全球植棉面积预计将增长1%至3190万公顷
据国际棉花咨询委员会称，2016/17年度全球棉花消费量预计将保持稳定，中国以外地区的棉花消费量或将出现适度的增长，部分抵消了中国棉花消费量的下跌。
2015/16年度，全球10大产棉国的棉花产量均有所减少，只有澳大利亚棉花产量增长6%至54.6万吨。
由于2014/15年度棉花价格较低，且更高价格的竞争作物打击了农民种植棉花的积极性，全球棉花种植面积萎缩了8%至3120万公顷，
在许多国家不利天气条件的影响下，全球棉花平均收益率同比下降7%至每公顷711公斤，印度棉花产量下降7%至600万吨以下。
中国棉花产量连续第四个赛季下滑，产量同比下降20%至520万吨，美国棉花产量同比下降21%至280万吨。
由于害虫的入侵且产能较低，巴基斯坦棉花预计减产34%至150万吨。
国际棉花咨询委员会称，2016/17年度，竞争作物价格缺乏优势以及棉花价格相对稳定可能促使棉农种植更多的棉花，全球植棉面积预计将增长1%至3190万公顷。
印度、巴基斯坦和美国的面积会有小幅增加，抵消中国、巴西和乌兹别克斯坦种植面积的减少。全球棉花产量预计将增加3%至2300万吨。