The 2022 Australian cotton crop has endured many variations in weather events - the most obvious being the above average, frequent rain events. Notably this season these rain events have also brought extended periods of cloud cover. Sunshine is vital to the cotton plant’s growth to deliver the high-end quality cotton that Australian cotton is well-known for.

Coupled with this the delayed crop has meant finishing off the crop in a different temperature window with cooler days. All potential challenging conditions for quality production year.

It is however very pleasing to see, that despite what Mother Nature has thrown at us over the past eight months the quality coming through the classing rooms is positive and encouraging. The word resilience springs to mind, and this is certainly what we are seeing at this stage.

We will no doubt see more Middling this year than what is normally produced. Australia will produce the full suite of colour grades in the white group from Good Middling down to Strict Low Middling. For the markets that Australia now sells to, having the choice of colour grades will support all Australian bales in finding their way to a mill before our next crop in 2023 comes online.

Australia is well-known for its resilience and it is our superior fibre quality that is standing up and leading the way as it normally does year in, year out. Parameters such as length, strength and micronaire are standing up well and no matter what colour grade.

Australian cotton for some years now has had an average length of 1-3/16” which is two lengths higher than the base length of 1-1/8”. Indications at this stage suggest Australian cotton will again produce an average length of 1-3/16”. In a year like we have had with the growing conditions being less than ideal, the Australian crop will still deliver to the export market consistent and uniform length parameters that are superior to any other Upland growth.

Micronaire is another very important quality characteristic and spinners need to have optimal micronaire specifications for their finished yarn. Of the three main fibre characteristics (length, strength and micronaire), micronaire is potentially the most sensitive to growing conditions. It is sensitive to heat, cooler temperatures, soil, water, lack of water and general growing conditions during the life cycle of the plant. Looking back on the growing season we have had, we are pleasantly surprised with what we are seeing come through. The season average (YTD) around 4.5-4.6 – noting the premium range within the G5 range (3.5–4.9) is 3.8–4.5.

Strength has also stood up well to the growing conditions and weather events that our growing regions have experienced. Early indications at this point in time suggest that the strength of this 2022 crop will give spinners the necessary needs for spinning a fantastic high-quality yarn.

In summary it is fair to say that our overall Strict Middling and better colour grades appear to be down in terms of the percentage of the crop but what is there, and what will continue to support the sale of Australian cotton, is our high-end, consistent, and reliable fibre properties. Our export markets rely on Australian cotton’s reputation for producing Upland cotton that is long and strong, and the 2022 crop will certainly not disappoint.