Cotton is a major world fiber and cellulose resource, contributing to the health, safety, and well being of all people. It is produced in more than 68 countries, the main producing areas being concentrated in North America, USSR, and Asia and Oceania. The three principal botanical groups of commercial importance are Gossypium hirsutum, G. barbadense, and G. herbaceum.
The processing of cotton into useful consumer and industrial products begins on the farm. Additional processing is carried out at gins, textile and pulp mills, and chemical plants. The use of both physical and chemical processes at these levels enhances the inherent properties of cotton and imparts new or modified properties desired by consumers and industrial users.
World cotton production and consumption has an upward trend. This trend has paralleled the continued development of technological innovations that are cost effective and at the same time provide users with better quality products.