According to Shanghai Customs statistics, in 2011, Shanghai Customs District imported a total of 959000 tons of cotton, increased by 26.4% over the previous year; worth $ 2.66 billion, an increase of 70.7%; import average price per ton $ 2772.1, up 35.1%. To industry resources, domestic and overseas cotton price upside down and sufficient import quotas are the main reasons to maintain a rapid growth in imports in Shanghai Customs District in 2011.

Increase in cotton imports, while the average price of imports in December declined for the first time in recent two years. Shanghai Customs District, the average price of cotton imports reached historical high of $ 2,186 per ton in May, and declined every month after that, till December, the average import price $ 2464 per ton, down 3.7% year on year.

From the source of the cotton import, the United States continue to maintain the largest source of imports, imports from Australia doubled. In 2011, Shanghai Customs District from the United States imported 318000 tons of cotton, an increase of 0.6%, maintaining the largest source of imports over the same period, accounting for the relevant area of total imports of cotton from 41.7% in 2010 down to 33.2% in 2011. In the same period, 302000 tons were imported from India, an increase of 9%. In addition, imports of 154000 tons from Australia, surged 1.9 times.