India's cotton production is projected to grow by two percent to 5.9 million tons while production in China could reach 4.8 million tons in 2017/18 as area expands by three percent to 3 million hectares after five seasons of contraction. After declining by three percent to 5.1 million tons in 2016/17 due to high domestic and international cotton prices, India's mill use is projected to recover by one per cent to 5.2 million tons in 2017/18. India's exports are projected to decline by 23 percent