The cotton market, which plays an important role in the world economy, has been experiencing growth since 2002/03, as per a report on the global cotton market in 2004-05, by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The largest cotton producer, China is expected to increase its output by 7.2 million bales during 2004/05. The world cotton production is dominated by China, the US, India, and Pakistan, which together accounted for more than two-third of the global output. From the year 2000, the world cotton consumption is increasing at a rate of 2.8% annually, except a slight drop in 2003/04. Despite the anticipated price reduction in 2004/05, USDA reports that the world cotton export will remain strong till 2006. The US, Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Australia, the four dominant cotton exporters, together are expected to assume more than two-thirds of global exports in the 2004/05. ; Institute of Textiles and Clothing