Global retail sales of organic cotton apparel and home textile products reached an estimated $3.2 billion in 2008, according to the Organic Cotton Market Report 2007-2008 released by the Organic Exchange. This represents a 63% increase from the $1.9 billion market in 2007.
The top ten organic cotton-using brands and retailers globally were Wal-Mart (USA), C&A (Belgium), Nike (USA), H&M (SE), Zara (Spain), Anvil (USA), Coop Switzerland, Pottery Barn (USA), Greensource (USA) and Hess Natur (Germany).
Despite the global retail outlook, most brands and retailers selling organic cotton products remain committed to their sustainability plans and upbeat about market growth with plans to expand their product lines 24% and 33% in 2009 and 2010, respectively, to result in an estimated $4 billion market in 2009 and a $5.3 billion market in 2010.
The amount of organic cotton farmers grew worldwide in 2007/08 increased 152%, according to OEs Organic Cotton Farm and Fiber Report 2008. The report notes that during 2008, certified organic cotton fiber supplies grew by 95%, significantly higher than annual growth rates of 45% in 2006 and 53% in 2007.
