China surpasses India to become top buyer of Egyptian cotton in 2022

Egyptian cotton is characterised by its extra-long fibres, smaller in diameter than typical cotton. When these finer, longer fibres are combed and spun, they produce smooth yarn, which in turn yields smooth, soft cloth when woven. 

Egyptian cotton exports to China in 2022 were valued at $116.934 million, accounting for 43.09 per cent of the total shipment. India, the second largest market, imported cotton worth $75.152 million, which made up 27.69 per cent of the total. Among the top five markets, Pakistan received 14.17 per cent of the shipment, Vietnam 5.37 per cent, and Bangladesh 3.77 per cent, according to Fibre2Fashion’s market insight tool TexPro. 

This pattern of buyer distribution greatly contrasts with that of 2021, when cotton exports from Egypt to India were valued at $143.985 million, making up 65.58 per cent of total exports. Meanwhile, shipments to Pakistan constituted 15.32 per cent, Bangladesh 10.17 per cent, and China just 2.34 per cent of the total.