(Business in Cameroon) - Cotton imports in China, the country holding 70% of the world market, have declined by 35% over the first two months of 2014, states Commodafrica. This downward turn has affected all cotton producers, including Cameroon which exported only 325 tonnes of cotton in January and February which represents a 26% decrease compared to the same period last year.

But, according to statistics released by Commodafrica, the countries most affected by the decline in Chinese cotton imports are Zambia (-90%), Zimbabwe (-90%), Mozambique (-81%), Cote d’Ivoire (-66%) and Tanzania (-48%).

While shunning cotton produced by other countries, China has doubled its focus on Sudanese cotton, which has increased in exports by 862% in 2,111 tonnes in the above-mentioned period. Mali is the second country to benefit from Chinese imports in the two first months of 2014, with 62% growth in exports to 2,029 tonnes.