Preference for organic cotton has been occasioned by the rising consciousness around conventional cotton’s resource and pesticide use. For instance, 1 kg of cotton is estimated to require 10,000 litres of water to produce, with one cotton t-shirt requiring 2,700 litres of water. (source)
Conventional cotton is also criticized for its use of fertilizers, pesticides, and GMO seeds. Their use can lead to degradation of soil health, poisoning risks for farmers, and physical & mental health issues for users.
In such a scenario, organic cotton is seen as the way to go. Organic cotton utilizes less resources than conventional cotton, and its production is done without pesticides, fertilizers, and GMO seeds.
While organic cotton production represents less than 2% of all global cotton production, in today’s sustainability-focused world, it is the material to use if you want to put an eco-friendly foot forward. Below, we look at the top 10 organic cotton-producing countries, where your business could source the material from.
1. India
India is by far the leading country when it comes to organic cotton production. The country is claimed to produce more than half of the world’s organic cotton output.
The nation’s behemoth of a cotton industry plays a huge role in this progress, as India already has significant cotton-producing capabilities. Government initiatives like the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) also help further the cause of organic cotton in India.
Even with this progress though, there is still room for improvement. Only 2% of India’s cotton production is certified organic. (source) However, with growing sustainability sentiment among farmers, textile players, and consumers, the future is bright for organic cotton in the country.
Read more about organic cotton in India here.
2. Turkey
Turkey has seen rising amounts of organic cotton production in recent years. For instance, in 2020/21, Turkey produced about 24% of the world’s organic cotton. (source)
Things are set to get even better for Turkey’s organic cotton farming capabilities, as the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) has made its way into the nation. After working with farmers in India and Pakistan, the organization made its way into Turkey in 2024 and is set to take organic cotton farming in the nation to the next level.
3. China
China competes with Turkey to be the second-largest organic cotton producer in the world. China’s gargantuan cotton industry lends itself well to organic cotton production.
Despite losing some ground to Turkey in recent years, China’s organic cotton industry is still on a good trajectory. For instance, in 2020/21 China’s organic fibre output increased 10% Y-o-Y. (source)
There are challenges for organic cotton in China ahead, such as the hard-to-shake control of conventional cotton and forced labour issues. However, China remains a pivotal country in the organic cotton industry.
4. Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is the leading organic cotton producer in Central Asia, a region that is pivotal to the organic fibre’s trade. The country got the jump on organic farming practices by establishing Asia’s first government department dedicated to entirely to organic agriculture, in 2019.
Kyrgyzstan has also put into motion a national standard to certify organic farming in the country. This is estimated to increase the number of organic farmers in the country by 25% over the next decade. (source)
Kyrgyzstan’s organic cotton capabilities have flourished as a result of partnerships with Swiss organizations like Paul Reinhart and Helvetas. For instance, in 2024, 160 tons of organic cotton was delivered to Switzerland-based Paul Reinhart from Kyrgyzstan. (source)
5. Tajikistan
Staying in Central Asia, Tajikistan is another country making a name for itself in the trade. Through partnership with organizations such as the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), cotton farming is acquiring a more sustainable nature in the country.
Another initiative that has helped organic cotton farming in the country is Bio-Kishovarz. Bio-Kishovarz has helped increase Fairtrade and organic farming in the country, making more and more of the arable land available for organic use.
6. Tanzania
Tanzania is the largest organic cotton producer in Africa. With a country heavily dependent on agriculture and agricultural exports, organic cotton farming has emerged as another way for the farming industry to prosper in the country.
Organic cotton output in 2023/24 grew by nearly 2,000 tons compared to the previous year, according to Anamringi Macha, the Regional Commissioner of Simiyu, the only region in Tanzania that grows organic cotton. (source)
Read More: Top 10 Cotton Producing Countries in Africa
7. Kazakhstan
Although organic farming constitutes only a fraction of total farming in Kazakhstan, the future for it is promising in the nation. For instance, in 2023, 200,000 hectares of farmland was certified organic in the country, as opposed to 114,000 in 2022. (source)
8. USA
Organic cotton farming in the USA is done mainly in the states of Texas and New Mexico. US brands mostly rely on imports for their organic cotton needs. But with growing sustainability drives, there is potential for organic cotton to take more of a hold in the country’s agricultural industry.
9. Pakistan
With substantial cotton production facilities, organic cotton too has much room to grow in Pakistan. Projects like Premium Textile Mills and WWF Pakistan joining hands to engage more than 1,000 farmers in organic cotton cultivation are set to help the country achieve its full potential.
10. Greece
Like conventional cotton, Greece is also the top organic cotton cultivator in Europe. However, there is a long way to go for Greek organic cotton quantities to compete with traditional cotton.
Conclusion
The trifecta of India, Turkey, and China produce most of the world’s organic cotton. However, with new initiatives and more consumer demand, more nations are increasing the material’s production.
For textile businesses looking to source organic cotton, TexPro provides the best option to optimize sourcing. Through this tool, businesses can look up current, historical, and forecast prices of organic cotton easily.
Combined with other capabilities like import-export data, supplier lists, and more, TexPro can help textile businesses make organic cotton sourcing seamless.