China's cotton yields in its 12 major production bases scored new record in 2006, with output hitting 85.1 kilograms per mu (15 mu equals one hectare), up 13.8 percent from a year earlier.

Experts said the rising yields were mainly supported by favorable weather, wide spread of insect-resist cotton plantation. Production value per mu surged 7.5 percent to stand at 1,207.52 yuan, while net profits increased by 6.76 yuan to reach 338.12 yuan per mu.

China's cotton-growing area totaled 79 million mu (5.27 million hectares) in 2006, an increase of 3 million mu (200,000 hectares) on a year ago.

Despite rising growing costs, cotton price in the 12 bases including Xinjiang and Shandong dropped 7.1 percent to 12.14 yuan per kilogramme thanks to the growing supply.

The rising output will help satisfy surging demand for cotton in China where textile industry takes up heavy weight in the country's export.

Source:未知