2026 Xinjiang Aksu Cotton Harvest Nears: Cotton Areas Enter Boll-Opening Stage as Smart Agriculture Boosts High Yields

The Aksu Prefecture is a core hub of Xinjiang's cotton industry, boasting both scale and quality advantages. It is one of China's largest upland cotton producing regions and the nation's only core production area for extra-long staple (ELS) cotton.

📊 Overview

Planting Scale: Approximately 7.5 million mu of cotton, yielding about 1.2 million tons of ginned cotton annually — accounting for 1/6 of China's total cotton output.

Shaya County (under Aksu): With 1.85 million mu of cotton, it ranks first in planting area among all counties in both Xinjiang and the entire country. One in every ten bolls of cotton in China comes from Shaya.

Mechanization Rate: Shaya County has maintained a comprehensive mechanization rate of over 95% for five consecutive years, with a machine-harvesting rate of 96%. The county operates 54,700 units of various agricultural machinery and 112 agricultural machinery service cooperatives.

🌿 Natural Advantages: Why Aksu Produces Superior Cotton

Abundant Sunshine: Over 2,800 hours of annual sunshine provide ample energy for photosynthesis and fiber development.

Sandy Loam Soil: Excellent permeability and aeration allow deep root growth and optimal nutrient absorption.

Large Diurnal Temperature Range: Promotes dry matter accumulation, resulting in high-strength, premium-quality fibers.

Arid Climate: Combined with mulch-drip irrigation, effectively suppresses pests and diseases, reducing pesticide use.

👑 Extra-Long Staple Cotton: Aksu's Crown Jewel

Aksu is China's only core ELS cotton production region, with Awat County alone accounting for 90% of the nation's top-grade ELS cotton — often called the "Hermès of cotton."

Fiber Length: 33–39 mm, with a maximum of 64 mm — far exceeding standard upland cotton

Fineness: 7,000–8,500 m/g

Applications: Specifically used for 80-count, 100-count and above high-count yarns, producing premium dress shirts and luxury bedding

Representative Varieties: "Zhongmian No. 45" and other elite cultivars

🤖 Technology-Driven Smart Cotton Fields

Smart Planting

BeiDou Navigation Precision Seeding: Error within 5 cm, one seed per hole, seeding depth 1.5–2 cm

Mulch-Drip Irrigation + Fertigation: 40%–50% water savings, 30%–50% improvement in water and fertilizer use efficiency

IoT Field Monitoring: Automatic detection, reporting, and early warning of water, nutrient, and pest conditions

Smart Crop Management

As reported in August 2026, Aksu City's cotton was in its critical boll-forming stage. Plant-protection drones carried out automated pest-control operations along preset flight paths, while water and fertilizer were precisely delivered via drip irrigation. Overall crop growth was notably better than in previous years.

Smart Harvesting

A single six-row cotton picker can harvest 300–500 mu per day — equivalent to the work of 1,000 manual pickers

Domestically produced cotton pickers achieve a harvest-clean rate exceeding 93% and a trash content below 10%, outperforming comparable imported models

🌱 Seed Innovation

Yuanmian No. 8: Integrates early maturity, high yield, disease resistance, premium quality, and machine-harvestability — setting a national record for simultaneous improvement in cotton yield and quality

Zhongmiansuo 1813: A salt-alkali tolerant variety; in 2025, trial demonstrations across 50,000+ mu in Aksu and other areas achieved an emergence rate exceeding 75%, an average seed cotton yield of 430 kg/mu (40–50 kg/mu higher than local varieties), and a 30%+ reduction in pesticide use

Tahe No. 2, Xinluzhong No. 87: Key varieties promoted in Shaya County for stress tolerance, high yield, and quality; Verticillium wilt incidence reduced to below 1%, fiber length improved by 1.2 mm

County-wide improved seed coverage rate: over 98%

🏭 Industrial Chain Extension: From "One Boll" to "One Bolt of Fine Fabric"

Aksu is driving the cotton industry's transformation from "primary production" to "three-sector integration":

Spinning: Shaya County has reached 1.3 million spindles

Weaving: Weaving capacity of 200 million meters; Runjiang Home Textiles and Meiqiman have deployed 1,100 air-jet looms

Cottonseed Oil: With an oil content of 18%–22%, refined cottonseed oil has become a staple cooking oil in Xinjiang households

Cotton Linters: Used in viscose fiber, pharmaceutical capsules, banknote paper, and more

Cotton Stalks: Processed into straw boards and biomass fuel

📈 Yield Achievements

In 2024, Aksu City's high-yield demonstration field set a new record with a seed cotton yield of 648.8 kg/mu

Shaya County's cotton yield per mu rose from 285 kg in 2017 to 442 kg in 2025, increasing per-mu income by 1,000 yuan

In November 2024, the prefecture's notarized cotton inspection volume reached 420,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 28.3%

📌 Summary

With its exceptional natural conditions, leading-edge smart farming systems, and a fully integrated industrial chain, Aksu cotton has become the benchmark of China's cotton industry. From the "Hermès of cotton" — its extra-long staple variety — to the tech-savvy smart fields, Aksu is writing a high-quality development story for Chinese cotton through innovation and craftsmanship.