What country has the highest quality of cotton?

Question

Just as how Washington state has premier quality of apples, what country has the highest quality of cotton? Zimbawae? Egypt? USA - Texas? Where?

Answer 1

Your question roused my interest and I went on line to find some data for you.

I normally thrive on pulling data together and offering good answers to questions such as yours. But I am now going to throw my hands up in the air and just send you a link and let you extract the data you need.

One needs a Doctorate to understand all the elements involved in choosing the best cotton. The main premise seems to be how much it costs to produce, the quality, the variety, chemicals, machinery available, and so much more. Then they come up with some arcane formula to determine the best! But all in all it seems to boil down to dollar figures.

http://southwestfarmpress.com/mag/farming_icac_crunches_world/

I am sorry but that is it. I did read that China is beefing up its cotton business but they have had much trouble with too many pesticides and are now worried about cotton from India and Pakistan.

India, because of its variety of climates, is the only country on the planet able to successfully grow all 4 varieties of cotton, Pak only two. Indian cotton is more hands on as well because the work is done by animals and humans, very little machinery. Cost of production is cheaper as a result but the farmers still do ok. To be honest, I was in India last summer and I can attest to the fabulous quality of their cottons and silks.

Of course the States has been producing wonderful cotton for centuries. I think, however, cost of production in America is quite high.

Since the Egyptians have been weaving the sheerest and finest of cottons for millenia, I am sure they are up near the top for quality but I could find no mention of them anywhere.

Syria has a wonderfully developed system regarding using chemicals. Uzbekistan has almost no insect pests due to the cold winters. Turkey grows fine cotton but not the manpower to pick it and there are long lines to use the country's 10 machines.

Each of these seems to be a factor towards what is "best". Nowhere in my 2 hours of searching, yes.. TWO HOURS... did I find a site saying that India grows the finest quality... or the best cotton for this or that comes from Georgia. There are just too many factors. I hope you find your answers.

P.S. Bird, I think you might rethink that. It seems it is the climates that determine the varieties grown in India and other countries.

Answer 2

Highest Quality Cotton

Answer 3

I'm no authority, but I understand the best cotton is descended from Egyptian cotton. That was a long time ago and there has been plenty of progress in breeding plants. I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference where you grow the stuff, just like it doesn't make any difference where you grow apples.

Answer 4

The US is the largest exporter of cotton with the continent of Africa coming a close second. This doesn't make it necesarily the best cotton, it makes it the most profitable and the most desired for the textile trade. Do the the prime growing conditions American cotton tends to have stronger fibre making it desirable for textile applications.

Answer 5

I'll take Egyptian cotton over anything else out there.

Answer 6

I want to ask the same question as the op.