China is expected to sustain a short supply of 3 million tons of cotton this year, as the 10-percent cut in cotton fields may lead to an 8.9-percent drop in cotton production, according to sources Wednesday.

The latest statistics of the China Cotton Association shows China's total acreage sown to cotton dropped to 5.12 million hectares this year, 570,000 hectares less than last year, and the total cotton production is predicted at 5.76 million tons, 560,000tons less.

According to industry specialists, the continued growth of China's textile industry over the past few years has fuelled the strong demand for cotton, but the reduction in cotton fields will expand the shortage in domestic cotton supply.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2005)