Recently, “Xinjiang cotton” has been pushed to the forefront of public opinion. Foreign clothing companies H&M, Nike and other brands were exposed as boycotting Xinjiang cotton, sparking public outrage and being boycotted by the entire network. The reason why these companies boycott Xinjiang cotton is actually based on lies such as the so-called “forced labor” in Xinjiang. In fact, cotton picking in Xinjiang has already achieved mechanical automation, and China itself does not have enough high-quality Xinjiang cotton. As a media in the textile industry, this magazine feels it is necessary to popularize some basic facts about Xinjiang cotton in order to set the record straight.
About the production and consumption of cotton in China
Starting from the national output of 444,000 tons in 1949 , China’s cotton output reached its peak of 7.5971 million tons in 2007, and then fell back, but it still ranks among the top in the world. The latest data released by China Grain Reserve Management Group shows that China is the world’s largest cotton consumer and second largest cotton producer. Cotton production in 2020/2021 is about 5.95 million tons, with total demand of about 7.8 million tons, and an annual gap of about 1.85 million tons. Ton. Although China’s cotton output ranks second in the world, the huge domestic market has brought unsatisfied demand. China still needs to import about 2 million tons of overseas cotton every year to fill this gap.
Production distribution of major cotton producing countries in the world
At the same time, China is also the world’s largest textile producer. In addition to exporting finished cotton spinning products, there are also many intermediate cotton spinning products exported to other textile producing countries, which are then processed into clothing and other products and then exported to Europe and the United States. land. For example, among the cotton yarn imported by Vietnam every year, the proportion of cotton yarn from China can reach more than 50% according to statistics; among the gray fabrics it imports, more than 60% comes from China. It is worth noting that China’s textile and clothing exports to Europe and the United States are mainly mid- to high-end products, and most of the cotton yarn, gray cloth, fabrics, etc. exported to Southeast Asia are mid-to-high-end products. Among them, Xinjiang cotton accounts for a very high proportion, about 95% %above.
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is the largest high-quality cotton production base in my country and one of the most important high-quality cotton production bases in the world. Therefore, the cotton industry in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region ranks first in the country and even in the world. The world plays an important role. According to relevant statistics, in 2020/2021, Xinjiang’s cotton output was 5.2 million tons, accounting for about 87% of my country’s total cotton output and about 67% of total domestic cotton consumption. As of the end of 2019, there were 808 cotton processing enterprises in Xinjiang, accounting for 84% of the country’s total, and the scale of cotton spinning spindles reached 19.91 million, accounting for approximately 16% of the total number of spindles in the country. In addition, since 1988, the average yield of cotton fields in Xinjiang has been higher than the national average for 32 consecutive years. From 1996 to 2018 alone, it increased from 1,301 kg/ha to 2,051 kg/ha, which is very impressive.
Some characteristics of Xinjiang cotton
The public may have a question, since Xinjiang’s cotton production is not enough to meet domestic demand, is there no other cotton available? Of course there is, but there is a big difference between Xinjiang cotton and ordinary cotton.
First of all, compared with ordinary cotton, Xinjiang cotton fibers are soft and long, white and shiny, have better elasticity and higher brushing strength. Secondly, Xinjiang’s cotton production areas have superior natural conditions. They are mainly produced in the Turpan Basin of Xinjiang and Aksu, Bayingoleng, Kashgar and other places in the Tarim Basin. They are the first long-staple cotton producing areas in my country. Xinjiang’s long-staple cotton is of excellent quality, with all quality indicators exceeding national standards, especially those produced in Turpan. Because of its geographical location, Xinjiang has unique natural conditions. In terms of cotton growth characteristics, cotton is a crop that loves temperature and light. Xinjiang has sufficient sunshine and high effective accumulated temperature, which can fully meet the heat and light required for cotton growth, and can provide up to 18 hours of light. The winter in Xinjiang is relatively cold, so the harm from diseases and insect pests is less during the growth process.
Xinjiang cotton is long-staple cotton, also called island cotton. This kind of cotton has long fibers and high strength. The clothes and quilts produced are warm, breathable and comfortable. The supply exceeds the demand all year round, and the quality of cotton can reach the top level in the world.
Xinjiang long-staple cotton
The planting and picking of cotton in Xinjiang are increasingly modernized
According to data released by the Xinjiang agricultural department, the mechanical picking rate of Xinjiang cotton reached 42% in 2019. The picking rate is as high as 69.83%, of which 95% of cotton in northern Xinjiang is picked mechanically. Foreign media’s statement that 70% of Xinjiang’s cotton is picked manually is seriously inconsistent with the facts.
First of all, Xinjiang has a huge climate advantage for growing cotton. Xinjiang has long sunshine hours and sufficient light. There is not much precipitation, but the melted water from ice and snow can be used for cotton cultivation. Irrigation can effectively ensure the moisture required by cotton. Secondly, the ecological conditions of Xinjiang’s cotton fields are good. Not only are the technical measures to prevent and control pests in place, but the cotton areas are relatively dry and the winter is severely cold, which is not conducive to pest control.�Overwinter and reproduce. In addition, in Xinjiang, which is vast and sparsely populated, the flat land is conducive to mechanized operations. At the same time, agricultural drones have also been widely adopted. Last year alone, a certain brand of drones helped 383,353 Xinjiang farmers complete defoliant spraying operations on more than 13 million acres of cotton fields, with a total operating area of 26.2186 million acres.
In April 2020, Xinjiang Yuli County promoted and implemented the “Wheat and Cotton Simultaneous Sowing” model on a large scale to carry out cotton field cultivation. Spring broadcast
In September 2020, an agricultural plant protection drone sprayed cotton fields in Yuli County, Xinjiang Defoliant
“Xinjiang Cotton Textile Industry Social Responsibility Report” has been officially released
2021 At the beginning of the year, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Textile Industry Association released the “Xinjiang Cotton Textile Industry Social Responsibility Report”, which introduced the Xinjiang cotton textile industry’s efforts to build harmonious labor relations, safeguard workers’ legitimate rights and interests, and achieve decent work. It can be seen from this report that after nearly seventy years of development, Xinjiang’s cotton textile industry has developed into an industry of pivotal significance to the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, China’s textile and apparel industry, and the global textile and apparel value chain. At present, Xinjiang’s cotton textile industry not only protects the livelihood of millions of Xinjiang cotton farmers, cotton textile workers and their family members, improves their lives, promotes the realization of their various economic and social rights, but also connects China’s textile and apparel industry, which employs hundreds of millions of people directly or indirectly, provides high-quality raw materials and good development conditions. Textile and apparel products with excellent quality and price originating from Xinjiang meet the clothing needs and needs of billions of consumers around the world. Fashion pursuit.
Some international brands and international institutions have excluded Xinjiang cotton and its products from their commercial activities based on lies and false information. This behavior caused great indignation among Chinese society, the textile industry and consumers. In response, the China Textile and Apparel Industry Federation has issued a relevant statement opposing any stigmatization of Xinjiang cotton. The statement emphasized: China has the world’s largest textile and apparel industry with the most complete industrial chain. At the same time, it has also built the world’s largest textile and apparel intermediate products market and consumer market. The vast market is also open to international brands. The China National Textile and Apparel Council welcomes and supports the normal business activities of multinational companies in China and their efforts to build industrial and supply chains. It calls on international brands to respect the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese textile industry and the free choice of Chinese consumers.
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