Greek Cotton Production Set for Strong Yields

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Greek cotton production is shaping up for a particularly strong 2026, with early indications pointing to improved yields and quality, according to Efthymis Fotinos, president of the Interprofessional Organisation of Cotton.

Producers in several parts of Greece have already started harvesting, with the first figures showing an encouraging picture for this year’s crop.

However, Fotinos said the key issue now is the price producers will receive for their cotton, particularly after absorbing significantly higher production costs this year.

Cotton prices remain below producers’ expectations

Fotinos said the current producer price stands at €0.48 to €0.50 per kilogram, stressing that this represents the producer price rather than the final price, which includes additional payments and subsidies.

Despite that distinction, he said the current level remains low compared with producers’ needs.

Earlier this year, the price reached €0.54 per kilogram, allowing producers who had entered into forward sales agreements at the right time to benefit from the higher price.

“Some took advantage of it and some did not,” Fotinos said, highlighting the importance of forward-selling tools now available to cotton growers.

These tools allow producers to lock in a selling price for their crop at any point, based on the prevailing daily market price, rather than waiting until the end of the marketing season.

Asked whether the current price was satisfactory, Fotinos said it was not. He called for greater confidence in risk-management and forward-selling tools so producers can secure better prices for their crops.

Market conditions over the coming weeks will determine how cotton prices develop, he said.

Macedonia records strong yields

The production outlook varies considerably between regions.

Macedonia stands out among the stronger-performing areas this year, with initial data indicating particularly high yields. Some production zones have recorded increases of around 60% compared with last year.

Other areas have also reported improvements, although local cultivation conditions continue to determine the scale of the increase from one region to another.

At national level, Fotinos remained more cautious because the industry does not yet have enough data for a firm estimate.

He nevertheless expects 2026 production to exceed 2025 levels by around 10%.

According to data from the Interprofessional Organisation of Cotton, Greece produced approximately 650,000 to 700,000 tonnes of seed cotton during the previous growing season.

If Fotinos’ estimate of a 10% increase materialises, this year’s production could exceed 700,000 tonnes of seed cotton.

OSDE delays create uncertainty

Fotinos also highlighted delays in the launch of the Unified Agricultural Exploitation Declaration (OSDE), describing the issue as a significant concern for the sector.

The delay creates uncertainty because the completion of the declaration process determines producers’ eligibility for the programme monitoring the environmental footprint of cotton cultivation.

The programme has operated for four years and has now reached its final stage.

“At the moment, everything is up in the air,” Fotinos said, describing the uncertainty among producers waiting for the declarations to open so they can understand the conditions for continuing the programme.

He stressed that the outstanding issue goes beyond the administrative processing of applications. It also affects producers’ planning for the next growing season.

Environmental footprint could strengthen Greek cotton

Despite these concerns, the president of the Interprofessional Organisation of Cotton expressed optimism about the crop’s overall prospects.

He highlighted the work carried out in recent years to measure and improve the environmental footprint of Greek cotton, describing it as an important step towards strengthening the product’s competitiveness in international markets.

Fotinos expects completion of the four-year programme to give Greek cotton an additional competitive advantage over cotton from other producing countries and strengthen its position in international markets in the years ahead.

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