The Bremen Cotton Index serves as one of the most important international benchmarks for cotton prices, offering critical insights for traders, textile manufacturers, and procurement specialists. For African cotton, particularly from major producers like Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, the Bremen Index helps contextualize monthly price fluctuations in the global market.
This article provides a monthly overview of African cotton prices as referenced by the Bremen Index and explains how these updates reflect broader market dynamics in 2024 and into mid-2025.
Why African Cotton Matters in Global Trade
Africa contributes around 5–7% of global cotton output, but it plays a disproportionately large role in exports, as most countries on the continent export the majority of their raw cotton. The continent's cotton—especially from West Africa—is prized for its long staple length, low contamination levels, and handpicked quality, which appeals to premium textile markets in Europe and Asia.
Countries like:
- Benin (Africa's top cotton exporter)
- Mali
- Burkina Faso
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Chad
...are regular contributors to CIF Bremen-indexed export flows.
How the Bremen Index Reflects African Cotton Prices
The Bremen Index reports globally averaged cotton prices, often used to gauge CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) values to major ports like Bremen, Germany. While not solely based on African cotton, it incorporates prices from exporters around the world, including Africa.
Monthly African Cotton Updates:
African-origin cotton is benchmarked as part of the C.I.S./Africa CIF Bremen composite, providing reliable monthly updates for procurement specialists sourcing African varieties.
Monthly Trends: African Cotton (28 mm, CIF Bremen)
January–May 2025 Overview (indicative based on available trends)
Month | Avg. Price (USD/kg) | MoM Change (%) | Notes |
January | 2.08 | -0.91% | Slow post-holiday demand |
February | 2.11 | +1.44% | Rise due to port delays in West Africa |
March | 2.06 | -2.37% | Global oversupply pressures |
April | 2.02 | -1.94% | Improved shipment flows from Mali, Benin |
May | 1.99 | -1.48% | Lower Chinese demand, steady supply |
Average African cotton CIF Bremen price in May 2025: $1.99/kg
These changes reflect multiple variables, from harvest seasonality in the Sahel to global trade flows, especially with buyers in China, Turkey, and Bangladesh.
Factors Impacting Monthly Price Movements
1. Seasonal Harvesting and Shipping
- Most African countries harvest cotton between October and January
- Bulk shipments reach international markets from January through April, influencing early-year price dips
2. Global Demand and Yarn Prices
- Reduced demand from major buyers (especially Chinese mills) puts pressure on prices
- Yarn price movements in Bangladesh and India also affect demand for raw fibre
3. Currency Fluctuations
- African cotton is priced in USD, but local currency weakness can encourage more exports, impacting supply dynamics
4. Infrastructure Delays
- Port congestion in Cotonou (Benin) and Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) has caused shipment delays, occasionally spiking prices due to temporary shortages
Volatility and Risk Management
African cotton prices, while relatively stable compared to U.S. Pima or Australian cotton, can still experience short-term swings. The standard deviation for African cotton prices in the first five months of 2025 has been ±0.041 USD/kg, reflecting low-to-moderate volatility.
For procurement teams, understanding this volatility helps in:
- Budget planning
- Inventory buffering
- Forward contracts or hedging strategies
How TexPro Tracks African Cotton Prices
TexPro, Fibre2Fashion’s market intelligence platform, offers real-time data and monthly updates for:
- African cotton prices indexed to Bremen CIF
- Year-on-year and month-on-month price changes
- Forecasts for next 9–12 months
- Comparative analysis with C.I.S., Brazilian, and Indian cotton
This empowers textile sourcing professionals to make data-driven decisions for long-term procurement strategies.
Conclusion: Stay Ahead with Monthly Bremen Index Insights
As global demand fluctuates and shipping routes evolve, African cotton remains a reliable yet price-sensitive fibre source. Monthly updates through the Bremen Index and tools like TexPro offer critical visibility into pricing trends, allowing buyers to:
- Plan purchases strategically
- Adjust to market shifts promptly
- Stay informed on regional logistics and export flows
Stay updated with African Cotton Prices – Get TexPro
- Access Bremen-indexed monthly prices
- Monitor African market trends & forecasts
- Make informed sourcing decisions