Global organic cotton market reaches 3.2 billion US Dollars, according to Organic Exchange

Global retail sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products reached an estimated $3.2 billion in 2008, according to the Organic Cotton Market Report 2007-2008 released by the non-profit organization Organic Exchange on March 31, 2009.

(Press release of Organic Exchange, March 31, 2009) - This represents a 63 percent increase from the $1.9 billion market in 2007. The top ten organic cotton-using brands and retailers globally were Wal-Mart (USA), C&A (Belgium), Nike (USA), H&M (SE), Zara (Spain), Anvil (USA), Coop Switzerland, Pottery Barn (USA), Greensource (USA), and Hess Natur (Germany).

Despite the global retail outlook, most brands and retailers selling organic cotton products remain committed to their sustainability plans and upbeat about market growth with plans to expand their product lines 24 and 33 percent in 2009 and 2010, respectively, to result in an estimated $4 billion market in 2009 and a $5.3 billion market in 2010.

The amount of organic cotton farmers grew worldwide in 2007/08 increased 152 percent, according to OE’s Organic Cotton Farm and Fiber Report 2008, organic cotton production increased to 145'872 metric tons (MT) (668,581 bales) grown on 161,000 hectares in 22 countries worldwide (from 57,932 MT (265,517 bales) produced in 2006/07).

Organic Exchnage notes that during 2008, certified organic cotton fibre supplies grew by 95 percent, significantly higher than annual growth rates of 45 percent in 2006 and 53 percent in 2007. “

About Organic Exchange

Founded in 2002, Organic Exchange facilitates expansion of the global organic cotton fiber supply by working closely with the entire value chain, from farmers to retailers, to help develop organic cotton programs. It has hosted numerous organic cotton conferences and trainings in supply chain centers around the world, including Brazil, China, India, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Contact

Sandra Marquardt
Organic Exchange
Lubbock
Texas, US
Tel. +1 3...
smarquardt(at)onthemarkpr.com
http://www.organicexchange.com/

Further information

Press release of the Organic Exchange of March 31, 2009: Global Organic Cotton Market Hits $3.2 Billion in 2008, New Organic Exchange Report Shows
Order the 2008 Organic Cotton Market Report
September 21-25, 2009: International Congress on Organic Cotton in Interlaken, Switzerland
The 2009 edition of 'The World of Organic Agriculture' contains a chapter on organic cotton, co-authored by Organic Exchange expert Simon Ferrigno.