Cotton seed, a byproduct of cotton fiber production, is a vital agricultural commodity used for oil extraction, animal feed, and planting. The world’s top producers of cotton seed are India, China, the United States, Brazil, and Pakistan, reflecting regions with favorable climates and established cotton industries. Historically, cotton cultivation originated in ancient India and the Americas, with evidence of domestication dating back thousands of years. The Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries saw a massive expansion in cotton production, particularly in the United States and British colonies, driven by technological advancements like the cotton gin. As global demand for cotton fiber grew, so did the production and utilization of cotton seed, which became increasingly valuable for oil and livestock feed. Today, the leading cotton seed producers continue to innovate in crop management and processing, maintaining cotton’s central role in global agriculture and industry.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 11,600,000 |
| 2 | China | 9,850,000 |
| 3 | Brazil | 4,454,186 |
| 4 | United States of America | 4,023,360 |
| 5 | Pakistan | 2,252,784 |
| 6 | Uzbekistan | 1,685,000 |
| 7 | Greece | 1,065,060 |
| 8 | Turkey | 1,064,189 |
| 9 | Argentina | 535,000 |
| 10 | Benin | 451,000 |
| 11 | Mexico | 383,000 |
| 12 | Burkina Faso | 370,000 |
| 13 | Turkmenistan | 350,000 |
| 14 | Cote d Ivoire | 290,000 |
| 15 | Cameroon | 260,000 |
| 16 | Tanzania | 220,000 |
| 17 | Tajikistan | 200,000 |
| 18 | Kazakhstan | 179,621 |
| 19 | Nigeria | 163,400 |
| 20 | Azerbaijan | 162,000 |
| 21 | Australia | 161,529 |
| 22 | Myanmar | 156,445 |
| 23 | Ethiopia | 102,000 |
| 24 | Egypt | 100,750 |
| 25 | Sudan | 100,000 |
| 26 | Zimbabwe | 93,390 |
| 27 | Spain | 83,120 |
| 28.5 | Uganda | 80,000 |
| 28.5 | Chad | 80,000 |
| 30 | Mali | 78,016 |
| 31 | Togo | 72,000 |
| 32 | Iran | 65,000 |
| 33 | Syria | 63,389 |
| 34 | Afghanistan | 48,140 |
| 35 | Kyrgyzstan | 48,031 |
| 36 | Bangladesh | 47,362 |
| 37 | South Africa | 41,086 |
| 38 | Malawi | 40,000 |
| 39 | Mozambique | 38,000 |
| 40 | Zambia | 27,000 |
| 41 | North Korea | 25,445 |
| 42 | Guinea | 22,882 |
| 43 | Congo | 19,906 |
| 44.5 | Paraguay | 18,000 |
| 44.5 | Central African Republic | 18,000 |
| 46 | Israel | 14,770 |
| 47 | Peru | 12,000 |
| 48 | Senegal | 11,000 |
| 49 | Colombia | 9,346 |
| 50 | Ghana | 9,300 |
| 51 | Madagascar | 7,527 |
| 52 | Yemen | 6,738 |
| 53 | Niger | 5,574 |
| 54 | Bolivia | 5,500 |
| 55 | Somalia | 4,544 |
| 56.5 | Nicaragua | 4,000 |
| 56.5 | Kenya | 4,000 |
| 58 | Venezuela | 3,819 |
| 59 | Laos | 3,291 |
| 60 | Angola | 3,129 |
| 61 | Guinea-Bissau | 3,100 |
| 62 | Ecuador | 2,203 |
| 63 | Thailand | 2,000 |
| 64 | Honduras | 1,971 |
| 65 | Guatemala | 1,400 |
| 66 | Tunisia | 1,225 |
| 67 | Eswatini | 1,133 |
Data from United Nations FAO Stat