COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                        March 12, 1997
            Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK is published monthly (except January) by the Economic
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20005-4788.  
CWS-0397.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Cotton Supply and Demand

The 1996 U.S. cotton crop remains estimated at 18.95 million bales (upland--
18.4 million and ELS--533,000), compared with 1995's 17.9 million.  And with
imports at 400,000 bales, U.S. cotton supplies in 1996/97 are estimated at 22
million bales, 1 million above last season.  Total use is currently projected
at 17.8 million bales, 500,000 below last season.  Thus, U.S. ending stocks
are forecast at 4.15 million bales, 1.5 million above the beginning level and
at a stocks-to-use ratio of 23 percent.

Foreign Production, Consumption, and Stocks

The latest projections for 1996/97 foreign production and consumption have
increased from February.  While total foreign output is up less than 150,000
bales this month to 67.4 million, 200,000-bale gains each in Pakistan and
India were partially offset by decreases in Greece and Australia.  Despite the
rise, foreign production remains 9 percent below 1995/96.

Foreign consumption, on the other hand, is projected to exceed the 1995/96
level and is currently estimated at 75.2 million bales.  In particular,
China's consumption estimate for 1996/97 was raised 300,000 bales to 19.5
million.  Although equal to the 1995/96 level, improvement in the textile
industry suggests that consumption prospects there are better than earlier
anticipated.  Likewise, a 200,000-bale increase in India's consumption pushed
the estimate there to 12 million bales for 1996/97, only 2 percent below last
season's record.

Based on some offsetting changes in several individual countries, foreign
ending stocks are currently projected at 31.9 million bales, down slightly
from February and 1.1 million bales below 1995/96's revised ending stock
level.  With rising consumption and declining stocks, the foreign stocks-
to-use ratio has tightened nearly 2 percentage points from 1995/96 to 42.4
percent this season.  Excluding China, however, the foreign stocks-to-use
ratio is 29.3 percent, compared with 32.4 percent in 1995/96.

1995/96 Supply/Demand Revisions

Due to a change by the Government of India in the cotton marketing year (from
September-August to October-September), the 1995/96 production estimate for
India was revised to reflect a 13-month period (September 1995-September
1996). Similarly, India's cotton consumption estimate also was revised to 12.3
million bales to account for the 13 months.  As a result of these changes,
1995/96 ending stocks are 700,000 bales below last month's estimate.  For
1996/97, USDA cotton supply and demand estimates for India cover a 12-month
period.

A slight upward revision was also made in U.S. cotton mill consumption for
1995/96.  Summary data for calendar year 1996 was recently released by the
U.S. Commerce Department.  Based on the Consumption on the Cotton System and
Stocks report, 1995/96 U.S. cotton consumption was revised to 10.647 million
bales, up from 10.604 million.  Upland consumption totaled 10.538 million
bales, while ELS mill use reached 109,000 bales.  Ending stocks of all cotton
remain at 2.609 million bales, however, upland and ELS stocks were altered
slightly.

China's Imports Raised, U.S. Export Prospects Higher

Growing Chinese purchases of U.S. cotton through February, accelerating
Chinese imports from all sources through January, and relatively favorable
U.S. prices are behind supply and use revisions for China in March.  China
recently reported importing over 400,000 bales of cotton from all sources
during January 1997, and large shipments from the United States during January
are likely to appear in China's import figures for later months.  China's
purchases from the United States continue, raising the expected volume of U.S.
exports to China.  Similarly, the strong performance of China's imports from
all sources during the two most recently reported months (December 1996 and
January 1997) suggest substantial shipments of non-U.S. cotton to China as
well.

Import purchases during the fall were sometimes linked to concerns that 
joint-venture mills' imports might be restricted in the future.  However, the
purchases and shipments have continued to such an extent that it no longer
seems probable that import activity has merely been shifted to the early part
of the marketing year.  Despite large stocks, China's imports are now expected
to reach 2.5 million bales in 1996/97, 600,000 above the February estimate and
only 550,000 bales below 1995/96 imports.

As a result, U.S. exports this month were increased 300,000 bales to 6.8
million, with over 20 percent of the total expected to go to China.  With U.S.
export commitments to China already exceeding 1.3 million bales, the United
States is again looking to capture a large share of cotton shipments there. 
During the first 7 months of the marketing year, Export Sales indicate total
U.S. shipments of 3.4 million bales.  To reach the 6.8-million-bale
projection, U.S. shipments must average approximately 150,000 statistical
bales per week for the remainder of the season.  If realized, the U.S. share
of world trade would total 25 percent, down from 28 percent in 1995/96.

Mill Use Remains Strong

U.S. cotton mill consumption remains relatively stable, according to the
latest U.S. Commerce Department data.  In January, cotton mill demand reached
a seasonally adjusted daily average of nearly 41,000 running bales, the second
highest of the season and 8 percent above January 1996.

Cotton mill use during the first half of 1996/97 surpassed 5.4 million
statistical bales, compared with 5.2 million a year earlier.  Based on 
seasonally adjusted annual rates for the first 6 months of the season, cotton
mill consumption averaged 10.9 million bales.  While cotton use has risen 4
percent this season through January, manmade fiber usage increased 7 percent. 
Manmade fiber use totaled nearly 746 million pounds since August, while cotton
use reached 2.6 billion pounds.  The larger increases in manmade fibers this
season has lowered cotton's share from last season's 78 percent.

Cotton Prices Vary

The average price received by upland producers during the first half of
February was 66.7 cents per pound, down a penny from January's revised price
and the lowest since October 1994.  Meanwhile, the upland spot price for base
quality cotton was unchanged in February at 70.5 cents per pound.  A year
earlier, the upland spot price averaged 81.6 cents.  On the other hand, the
ELS spot price rose to nearly $1.14 per pound, the highest since last August.

Mill-delivered upland remained stable in February at 77.7 cents per pound.  So
far this season, this price has averaged 79.5 cents per pound, compared with
the 1995/96 average of nearly 90 cents.  Despite this decline, price
competition from polyester remains intense as the February average mill-
delivered polyester price was unchanged from January at 70 cents per pound.

Meanwhile, U.S. prices on the world market continue to be very competitive. 
In February, the A Index averaged 80.5 cents per pound, up from 80 cents in
January.  At the same time, the U.S. Memphis Territory (MT) price declined
about a penny to 82.5 cents in February.  A year ago, the difference between
the MT quote and the A Index was 10 cents.

U.S. Cotton Fiber Consumption Lower in 1996

During calendar year 1996, both cotton mill use and total domestic consumption
(mill use plus net textile trade) fell slightly.  While both fell less than 1
percent from a year ago, 1996 marked the second consecutive decline for
cotton.  Meanwhile, an increase in manmade fiber use pushed U.S. mill use of
all fibers 1 percent higher to 16.2 billion pounds.  Mill use of cotton
totaled nearly 5.2 billion pounds, or 32 percent of all fibers, the lowest
share in 5 years.

Like U.S. mill use, total domestic consumption of all fibers rose slightly to
20.7 billion pounds.  Domestic consumption of cotton totaled 7.8 billion
pounds, or 37.9 percent of the total.  On a U.S. per capita basis, however,
1996 domestic consumption of all fibers declined for the second consecutive
year to 78 pounds per person, with 60.9 pounds of the total consumed in U.S.
mills.  For cotton, domestic consumption fell below 30 pounds per person, with
19.5 pounds coming from U.S. mills.

Textile Trade Deficit Declines in 1996

U.S. textile imports totaled 630 million (raw-fiber equivalent) pounds last
December, near that of November, but almost 30 percent above a year earlier. 
Total imports of cotton, linen, and manmade fiber were slightly higher than a
month earlier, while wool and silk shipments were below November.  Overall,
imports of yarn, thread, and fabric increased 7 percent above a month earlier,
while shipments of all other end-use categories declined in December.

December textile exports declined from a month earlier, totaling 256 million
pounds.  Although 14 percent below November, exports were 10 percent above a
year ago.  Total exports declined in each major end-use category and for all
fiber types.  Cotton textile exports declined to 112 million pounds, the
lowest since January 1996.  Manmade fiber exports fell to 123 million pounds,
the smallest since February 1995.

Despite smaller shipments earlier last year, total textile imports during 1996
reached 7.9 billion pounds, an increase of 133 million pounds (1.7 percent)
over 1995.  Similarly, textile exports totaled 3.4 billion pounds, a gain of
296 million pounds (9.6 percent) from a year ago.  Both textile exports and
imports were records in 1996.

For the first time since 1990, the total textile deficit declined.  In 1996,
the deficit declined to 4.5 billion pounds, compared with 4.7 billion in 1995,
and 4.6 billion in 1994.  Cotton accounted for 59 percent (2.7 billion pounds)
of the deficit.  Twenty-eight percent of the deficit was attributable to
manmade fibers, while 4 percent came from wool textiles.  The remaining 9
percent came from linen and silk, with the former accounting for 7 percent.

Sheep and Goat Inventories Decline

The sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 1997, totaled
7.94 million head, down 6 percent from 1996 and 11 percent below 2 years ago. 
Inventories have slowly declined since 1942 when sheep and lambs reached a
high of 56.21 million head. Breeding sheep inventory, at 5.85 million head,
also declined 6 percent since January 1, 1996.  Similarly, the inventory of
Angora goats declined 19 percent to 1.1 million head on January 1, 1997.  This
inventory level was the lowest since 1977.  The Angora goat inventory in Texas
declined 250,000 head (20 percent) in 1996 to 1 million.

The number of operations with sheep during 1996 totaled 77,010, down 5 percent
from 1995 and 12 percent below 1994.  States with a drop of 300 or more sheep
operations included Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. 
Only three States, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and New York, had more sheep
operations in 1996 than in 1995.  Operations with less than 100 head of sheep
accounted for nearly 92 percent of all farms, compared with 91 percent in
1995.  The percentage of operations in the Western States with sheep numbers
between 100 and 999 head represented 13 percent of all farms in 1996, compared
with 17 percent a year earlier.

Wool production in 1996 is currently estimated at 30 million pounds, clean. 
Final 1996 wool production will be released by USDA on March 26.  If the
estimate is realized, 1996 production would be the lowest on record and about
half the level of the early 1980's.  Despite lower production, raw wool
imports declined to 75.4 million pounds, clean, 15 percent below 1995.

Lower import demand was due to a weakness in wool mill consumption. Mill use
during 1996 totaled 123.6 million pounds, clean, 13 percent below 1995 and the
lowest consumption since 1985.  Raw wool exports, at 5.7 million pounds, were
also down slightly from 1995.  As a result of lower offtake, ending stocks are
forecast at 47.2 million pounds, clean, 2 percent above the beginning level.

                                                  * * * 

The next Cotton and Wool Outlook (CWS-0397) will be released on April 14.

For further information, contact Leslie Meyer at (202) 501-8528 (U.S. Cotton),
Steve MacDonald at (202) 219-1179 (Foreign Cotton), or Robert Skinner at (202)
219-0767 (Textiles and Wool).


U.S. COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1996/97
                                         ----------------------------
Item                          1995/96     Jan        Feb         Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                      16.72     14.41       14.41      14.41
  Harvested                    15.80     12.58       12.58      12.58
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           533       703         703        703

                                        Million 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks              2.59      2.54        2.54       2.54
  Production                   17.53     18.42       18.42      18.42
    Total supply 1/            20.52     21.40       21.35      21.35
  Mill use                     10.54     10.90       10.90      10.89
  Exports                       7.38      5.88        6.07       6.37
    Total use                  17.91     16.77       16.96      17.26
  Ending stocks                 2.54      4.62        4.38       4.09
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           14.2      27.6        25.8       23.7
  
Extra-long staple:                           1,000 acres
  Planted                        215       258         258        258
  Harvested                      211       256         256        256
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           836       998         998        998

                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                62        68         68          66
  Production                     368       533        533         533
    Total supply 1/              438       606        606         604
  Mill use                       109       105        105         110
  Exports                        300       425        435         435
    Total use                    409       530        540         545
  Ending stocks                   66        76         66          59
                                               Percent  
  Stocks-to-use ratio           16.1      14.3       12.2        10.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.  1/ Includes imports.








WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1996/97
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1995/96     Jan        Feb          Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        29.27     36.17      36.33       35.62
  Foreign                      26.62     33.56      33.72       33.01
Production
  World                        92.17     86.37      86.21       86.34
  Foreign                      74.27     67.42      67.26       67.39
Imports
  World                        27.07     26.72      27.07       27.57
  Foreign                      26.67     26.27      26.67       27.17
Use:
Mill use
  World                        85.31     85.35      85.75       86.22
  Foreign                      74.67     74.35      74.75       75.22
Exports
  World                        27.36     26.89      26.91       27.11
  Foreign                      19.68     20.59      20.41       20.31
Ending stocks
  World                        35.62     36.82      36.75       36.00
  Foreign                      33.01     32.12      32.30       31.85

Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         41.8      43.1       42.9        41.8
  Foreign                       44.2      43.2       43.2        42.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.


FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1996            1997        1996
                               ---------------
Item                             Nov       Dec       Jan         Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                     5,923     3,098        651         411
Imports since August 1         393.7     396.0         NA         5.2
  Stocks, beginning            8,530    13,016     14,472      12,821
    At mills                     591       577        577         569
    Public storage             6,822    10,392     11,652      10,074
    CCC stocks                 1,323     2,098      2,497       2,054

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   809.0     862.8      920.0       799.3
    Noncellulosic              771.2     823.7      877.3       761.4
    Cellulosic                  37.8      39.1       42.7        37.9
    Total since January 1    9,118.8   9,981.6      920.0       799.3

                                          1996                   1995
                               ---------------------------
                                 Oct       Nov        Dec         Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
  Raw fiber imports            114.4     100.7      105.3       82.2
    Noncellulosic              107.8      94.7       98.2       77.3
    Cellulosic                   6.6       6.0        7.1        4.9
    Total since January 1      958.3   1,059.0    1,164.3    1,093.5

Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      4,596     4,558      5,112      4,084
    48's-and-finer             3,702     3,432      3,497      2,536
    Not-finer-than-46's          894     1,126      1,615      1,548
    Total since January 1     65,700    70,258     75,370     88,820

  Wool top imports               272       351        163        298
    Total since January 1      3,084     3,435      3,597      4,530
  Mohair imports, clean            0         0          0          0
    Total since January 1         43        43         43        143
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.


COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1996           1997         1996
                              ------------------
Item                             Nov       Dec       Jan         Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         883       746        979         894
  Total since August 1 1/      3,721     4,467      5,446       5,218
  SA annual rate 2/           11,089    10,964     11,063      10,279
  SA daily rate 2/              42.5      42.0       42.4        39.2
  Daily rate                    42.0      33.9       42.6        38.8

Upland consumed by mills 1/      874       739        970         883
  Total since August 1 1/      3,686     4,425      5,395       5,165
  SA annual rate 2/           10,987    10,881     10,964      10,162
  SA daily rate 2/              42.1      41.7       42.0        38.8
  Daily rate                    41.6      33.6       42.2        38.4

Spindles in place              5,978     5,879      5,738       6,520
  Active spindles              5,461     5,401      5,410       6,054
    100 percent cotton         2,589     2,556      2,569       2,768
    100 percent manmade          973       920        915       1,008
    Blends                     1,899     1,925      1,926       2,278
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        78.1      77.6       77.5        78.6

Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/   118,750   103,140    136,242     116,727
  Total since August 1 1/    506,403   609,542    745,784     695,012
  Daily rate                   5,655     4,688      5,924       5,075
    Noncellulosic staple       4,918     4,292      5,407       4,369
    Cellulosic staple            737       396        517         706
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month.  2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.

FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996                    1995
                               --------------------------
Item                             Oct       Nov        Dec          Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 262       535        838       1,198
    Total since August 1         655     1,190      2,027       2,881
  Sales for next season           -2        45         14         119
    Total since August 1          60       105        119         166

  ELS exports                   15.3      37.8       60.9        32.0
    Total since August 1        50.3      88.1      149.1        93.9
  Sales for next season          0.0       7.1        8.1        32.2
    Total since August 1         1.9       9.0       17.1        78.0

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports            116.4     110.8      114.6        86.1
    Noncellulosic              108.1     102.7      104.7        79.4
    Cellulosic                   8.3       8.1        9.9         6.7
    Total since January 1      930.1   1,040.9    1,155.5     1,048.0

Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean    1,011.8     509.8      295.8       113.2
   Total since January 1     4,909.7   5,419.5    5,715.3     6,041.7
  Wool top exports           1,709.4   1,254.9      795.7       940.0
    Total since January 1   10,068.2  11,323.1   12,118.9    13,842.1
  Mohair exports, clean         74.7         0          0       687.2
    Total since January 1    3,539.2   3,539.2    3,539.2     4,853.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------


FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                               1996            1997             1996
                                        -----------------
Item                            Dec        Jan       Feb         Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted World Price         64.60     65.23      65.96       70.42
  Mar'97 futures               75.74     74.32      73.77       79.35
  Dec'97 futures               76.99     76.78      76.82       76.52
  Upland spot 41-34            71.98     70.53      70.53       81.56
  Pima spot 03-46             109.25    111.82     113.50      162.63
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           69.40     67.80      66.70       75.70

  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   79.14     77.97      77.68       89.76
      Raw fiber equivalent     87.93     86.63      86.31       99.73
    Rayon staple
      Actual                  115.00    115.00     115.00      125.00
      Raw fiber equivalent    119.79    119.79     119.79      130.21
    Polyester staple
      Actual                   72.00     70.00      70.00       88.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     75.00     72.92      72.92       91.67

    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              73.4      72.3       72.1        76.6
      Cotton/polyester         117.2     118.8      118.4       108.8

Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      79.15     80.01      80.45       84.99
  Memphis Territory            83.92     83.30      82.50       94.70
  California/Arizona           83.58     83.45      83.88      100.20
  B Index                      74.73     75.23      74.34       78.98
  Orleans/Texas                79.83     78.95      77.94       90.40

Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      1.28      1.30       1.30        1.35
  Australian 56's 1/            1.86      1.78       1.87        1.92
 U.S. 60's                      1.50      1.52       1.52        1.56
  Australian 60's 1/            1.97      1.89       1.95        2.05
 U.S. 64's                      1.90      1.90       1.90        1.92
  Australian 64's 1/            2.32      2.34       2.41        2.37
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.


TEXTILE TRADE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                    1995
                            -----------------------------
Item                            Oct       Nov        Dec          Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Imports:                                   1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   191,670   166,289    177,415     145,724
    Cotton                    79,731    72,154     77,459      58,969
    Linen                     21,583    14,446     20,811      26,438
    Wool                       3,672     3,065      3,224       2,465
    Silk                       1,107       845        772         542
    Manmade                   85,577    75,775     75,149      57,311

  Apparel                    537,601   404,024    392,029     296,216
    Cotton                   295,705   234,270    231,237     172,364
    Linen                     17,196    11,207     10,477       7,780
    Wool                      26,050    15,050     11,076       8,636
    Silk                      12,627    10,635     10,091       8,018
    Manmade                  186,023   132,861    129,148      99,418

  House furnishings           40,163    31,536     30,877      23,938
    Cotton                    27,634    21,421     21,480      16,434
    Linen                        149       207        223         167
    Wool                         132       102        139         122
    Silk                          23        19         25          34
    Manmade                   12,224     9,786      9,009       7,181

  Floor covering              26,408    23,558     23,175      18,305
    Cotton                     3,535     3,846      4,067       3,709
    Linen                      3,226     3,159      2,785       2,281
    Wool                       6,893     5,760      7,117       4,785
    Silk                         360       375        402         570
    Manmade                   12,394    10,418      8,804       6,959

  Total imports 2/           803,304   631,841    630,080     489,739
    Cotton                   410,222   335,132    337,909     254,050
    Linen                     42,186    29,037     34,324      36,688
    Wool                      36,921    24,075     21,640      16,084
    Silk                      14,119    11,874     11,291       9,165
    Manmade                  299,856   231,722    224,916     173,752

Exports:                                  1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   141,129   126,002    110,126     106,926
    Cotton                    48,773    46,889     37,416      35,297
    Linen                      3,939     3,325      3,196       2,935
    Wool                       3,756     3,389      3,235       3,231
    Silk                       1,770     1,479      1,229       1,145
    Manmade                   82,891    70,920     65,050      64,318

  Apparel                    142,310   132,153    112,896      73,141
    Cotton                    86,852    80,461     68,667      55,063
    Linen                      2,953     2,641      2,078       2,010
    Wool                       6,833     6,295      5,771       4,062
    Silk                       2,637     2,331      2,045       1,505
    Manmade                   43,034    40,425     34,336      30,502

  House furnishings            7,394     6,907      5,764       5,767
    Cotton                     4,196     4,112      3,347       3,339
    Linen                        202       214        268         289
    Wool                         106       104         95         121
    Silk                          99       112        162         125
    Manmade                    2,790     2,365      1,893       1,894

  Floor covering              34,091    32,844     26,683      27,197
    Cotton                     3,524     3,766      2,779       3,102
    Linen                      1,439     1,316      1,091       1,103
    Wool                       1,823     1,546      1,213       1,313
    Silk 3/                      ---       ---        ---         ---
    Manmade                   27,306    26,216     21,600      21,679

  Total exports 2/           325,362   298,171    255,777     233,458
    Cotton                   143,387   135,270    112,254      96,851
    Linen                      8,542     7,504      6,642       6,347
    Wool                      12,536    11,354     10,330       8,742
    Silk                       4,506     3,922      3,435       2,775
    Manmade                  156,391   140,121    123,115     118,743
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  Data for 1996 have been revised.
2/ Includes headgear.  3/ Absence of trade.


U.S. COTTON TEXTILE IMPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                    1995
                             ----------------------------
Country                         Oct       Nov        Dec          Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1,000 pounds 1/

North America                137,441   120,680    118,421      84,526
  Canada                      11,446    10,734      8,173       6,454
  Costa Rica                   9,340     7,609      7,288       5,589
  Dominican Republic          14,999    12,220     12,996      11,260
  El Salvador                  9,772     8,382      9,637       6,556
  Guatemala                    6,837     5,397      6,858       5,252
  Haiti                        1,129     1,101      1,150         616
  Honduras                    17,903    17,772     17,931      10,475
  Jamaica                      7,320     6,579      7,319       5,679
  Mexico                      55,805    48,272     44,898      30,851
  Nicaragua                    2,417     2,130      1,674       1,056

South America                  8,151     6,446      8,509       9,762
  Argentina                       29        10          7          26
  Brazil                       2,701     2,269      3,375       5,302
  Chile                          420       269        257         563
  Columbia                     2,797     2,043      2,836       2,306
  Peru                         1,934     1,494      1,745       1,263
  
Europe                        27,496    22,551     21,241      16,230
  Estonia                        765       683        925       1,176
  France                         728       637        639         417
  Germany                        666       643        728         559
  Italy                        2,812     2,909      3,245       2,180
  Portugal                     4,213     2,717      1,713       1,452
  Russia                       1,382       615      1,129         805
  Spain                        1,958     1,820        967       1,507
  Turkey                      10,299     8,600      7,895       5,135
  United Kingdom               1,091       881        946         713
  
Asia                         223,258   175,640    179,742     133,119
  Bahrain                      1,243       576        779         698
  Bangladesh                  14,118     8,626      9,821       6,200
  China                       36,821    25,729     26,677      12,154
  Hong Kong                   31,316    27,431     25,046      20,632
  India                       29,234    26,319     26,911      17,966
  Indonesia                   14,246    11,454     11,646       9,465
  Israel                       2,465     1,794      2,031       2,024
  Japan                        1,150     1,295      1,104         963
  Macao                        4,490     4,340      3,774       3,063
  Malaysia                     5,484     3,927      3,880       4,092
  Nepal                          779       773        850         542
  Oman                         1,343     1,183      1,663       1,003
  Pakistan                    24,043    19,256     18,473      14,695
  Philippines                  9,530     7,353      7,789       6,883
  Quator                         867     1,206      1,228         499
  Singapore                    2,259     1,617      1,518       1,410
  South Korea                  6,845     4,990      5,604       4,696
  Sri Lanka                    7,174     5,210      7,049       5,306
  Taiwan                      14,320    10,662     10,954      10,301
  Thailand                     9,799     7,286      8,578       7,034
  U Arab 0m                    2,012     2,106      2,001       1,683

Oceania                        1,520       781      1,025       1,455
  Australia                      672       281        347         842
  Fiji                           643       365        483         436

Africa                        10,886     7,824      7,997       7,903
  Egypt                        4,916     4,134      3,718       4,251
  Lesotho                        857       733      1,140         935
  Mauritius                    1,582       985      1,043         949
  Morocco                        707       437        609         552
  South Africa                 1,103       609        801         273
  Tunisia                         89       168        104         401

World  2/                    410,222   335,132    337,909     254,050
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.


U.S. COTTON TEXTILE EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                    1995
                              ---------------------------
Country                          Oct       Nov        Dec         Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   1,000 pounds 1/

North America                113,669   106,815     86,096      67,765
  Canada                      22,258    21,308     15,186      12,955
  Costa Rica                   9,383    10,025      5,829       4,640
  Dominican Republic          13,429    12,398      9,115       6,522
  El Salvador                  3,191     2,717      2,990       2,828
  Guatemala                    4,898     5,073      4,349       3,545
  Haiti                        1,114     1,190        823         524
  Honduras                    16,722    14,740     12,614       6,848
  Jamaica                      7,023     7,177      6,018       9,066
  Mexico                      33,985    30,874     28,041      19,883

South America                  5,084     5,195      3,833       4,267
  Argentina                      290       237        173         425
  Brazil                         741       800        671         637
  Chile                          493       984        480         858
  Columbia                     1,913     1,831      1,507       1,282
  Peru                            99       150        205         125
  Venezuela                      964       753        306         456

Europe                        10,087    10,676      9,395      11,019
  Belgium                      2,295     3,023      2,126       2,484
  France                         741       578        685         563
  Germany                      1,403     1,874        967       1,355
  Ireland                         85       155         81         753
  Italy                          358       189        247         691
  Netherlands                    715       655        520         688
  United Kingdom               2,605     2,518      3,018       2,437

Asia                          12,479    10,528     11,335      11,681
  China                          213       218        243         270
  Hong Kong                    1,060     1,162      1,260       1,141
  Israel                       1,098       805      1,834       1,737
  Japan                        5,791     4,559      4,538       4,888
  Philippines                    159       198        310         371
  Saudi Arabia                   439       477        594         507
  Singapore                      613       504        382         493
  South Korea                    730       502        425         675
  Taiwan                         458       331        285         140
  U Arab Em                      552       546        555         439

Oceania                          974       787        745         937
  Australia                      585       550        566         605
  New Zealand                    166       129        116         295

Africa                           816     1,064        656       1,037
  Egypt                           32       290          7         267
  Ghana                           36        46          8          20
  Ivory Coast                     99       146         79         138
  Nigeria                         75       126        146         334
  South Africa                   317       164         71         134

World  2/                    143,387   135,270    112,254      96,851
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.

END_OF_FILE