Greece is Europe's undisputed cotton leader, accounting for around 80% of total European Union production, according to a new market study on the Italian cotton sector by the Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Greek Embassy in Rome. Yet on the global stage, its output remains too limited to influence international pricing.
Within the EU, Greece and Spain are now effectively the only cotton-producing countries, as Italy and Portugal have ceased production. Overall, the EU contributes just 1% of global cotton output, confirming that Europe's strength lies less in raw-material production and more in processing, manufacturing, and fashion.
Globally, the cotton market is dominated by major producers. The latest 2025 figures show China leading with 25.6% of global production (around 30 million bales of 480 lb), followed by India at 20.1% (23.5 million bales), Brazil at 15.6% (18.25 million bales) and the United States at 12% (14 million bales). Other countries, including Pakistan, Australia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Argentina and Mali, each account for less than 5%. USDA data similarly place the EU as a whole at just 1% of global production.
With total EU output estimated at approximately 1.24 million bales for 2024/2025, Greece's 80% share translates into roughly 1 million bales annually. As the report notes, "Greece is significant only at the European level, not at the global level." In international trade, it is "not a price maker, but a regional producer."
Nonetheless, Greek cotton is widely regarded as high quality, valued for the stability and uniformity of its fibres. This reputation makes it strategically important for European textile industries, underlining Europe's comparative advantage not in raw cotton production but in industrial processing and fashion.
Source: AMNA
