COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                        May 13, 1997
            Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board
==============================================================================
COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK is issued electronically 11 months a year (no January
issue) by the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Washington, DC 20005-4788.  No printed copies available.  CWS-0497.
==============================================================================

Smaller U.S. Crop Projected in 1997/98; Stocks To Rise Slightly

The first official USDA forecast based on the Prospective Plantings report
projects 1997/98 U.S. cotton production at 18.5 million bales.  Planting
intentions indicated cotton area at about 14.5 million acres, while
assumptions about harvested acreage and yield were made in reaching the
production forecast.  Projected harvested area is based on 1992-96 average
acreage abandonment by State, and the projected yield of 670 pounds per
harvested acre is based on 1967-96 State trends weighted by area.  If
realized, the 1997 U.S. cotton crop would decline 2 percent from the final
1996 production of 18.94 million bales.

As of May 11, cotton planting progress was running behind both a year ago and
the 5-year average.  Only 44 percent of the crop was planted as of May 11,
compared with 51 percent for both 1996 and the average.  Cool wet weather has
caused planting delays this season in numerous States.  However, California,
Arizona, and Missouri cotton plantings are ahead of their respective 5-year
averages.

With 1997 acreage planted to cotton expected lower than a year ago, the
percentage of the upland area forward contracted is also below 1996.  As of
May 1, 15 percent of the acreage had been contracted by growers, compared with
16 percent in 1996 and 32 percent in 1995.  By region, the Southeast had
contracted 26 percent of its acreage; the Delta, 16 percent; the West, 12
percent; and the Southwest, 10 percent.

With cotton stocks projected about 4 million bales by the start of 1997/98 and
production expected to exceed total demand, stocks may increase next season. 
In 1997/98, domestic mill use is projected to expand slightly, with the
initial forecast at 11 million bales.  Meanwhile, U.S. exports are expected to
rise for the first time in 4 years as the initial projection of 7.3 million
bales is 4 percent above 1996/97.  With world cotton trade expected to expand
in 1997/98, the United States is likely to benefit, capturing more than a 
26-percent share of world trade.  Based on these initial U.S. cotton supply and
demand projections, stocks would rise 5 percent during 1997/98.  Ending stocks
on July 31, 1998 are projected at 4.25 million bales, a stocks-to-use ratio of
23 percent.

Foreign Cotton Consumption Up in 1997/98; Stocks Down

Foreign cotton production in 1997/98 is forecast unchanged from a year
earlier, while consumption is forecast to rise, and ending stocks to fall. 
Production is expected to remain at 69 million bales in 1997/98, while
consumption rises 2 million bales to 77.5 million, and ending stocks drop 1.2
million bales to 32.3 million.

Production overseas is expected to be steady as lower average prices during
the first three-quarters of 1996/97, compared with a year earlier, lead to
smaller crops in some countries, while more normal weather patterns in others
lead to larger crops.  Production is widely expected to decline in China in
1997/98 due to larger supplies and lower world prices, while Uzbekistan is
unlikely to see a repetition of 1996/97's extremely cool spring and summer. 
India's monsoon will be critical to the level of production there.

Consumption overseas is expected to rise for the third consecutive year in
1997/98, reflecting the lagged impact of lower world cotton prices during the
first three-quarters of 1996/97 and an expanding world economy.  Continued
robust gains in India are likely, China's consumption could continue the
rebound that began in 1996/97, and Russia's consumption has at least
stabilized.  Consumption worldwide is expected to benefit from a slightly
accelerated pace of world economic growth in 1997 and 1998.

With foreign consumption outpacing production for the second consecutive year
in 1997/98, foreign ending stocks are expected to fall slightly.  With
consumption up and stocks down, the foreign stocks to use ratio is projected
to drop by 2 percentage points to 42 percent, its lowest since 1994/95.

U.S. exports are expected to rise slightly in 1997/98, up 300,000 bales to 7.3
million.  With U.S. cotton supplies rising faster than foreign supplies, and
foreign stocks tightening while U.S. stocks rise, prospects are good for
larger U.S. exports compared with a year earlier.  Improvement is expected to
be particularly notable for the first few months of the 1997/98 marketing
year, with exports well above the extraordinarily low levels seen during the
first 3 months of 1996/97.

Mill Use Estimate Reduced for 1996/97

U.S. cotton mill consumption was lowered slightly this month based on the
latest data from the U.S. Commerce Department.  March consumption averaged
41,800 statistical bales per day, down from the revised daily use in February
of 42,500 bales.  On a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) basis, March
mill use fell 200,000 bales from February's rate to 10.5 million bales.  The
March SAAR was the lowest of the season.

Cotton mill consumption during the first 8 months of 1996/97 totaled nearly
7.2 million bales.  This compares with 7 million bales a year ago when the
season's use equaled 10.6 million bales.  With the SAAR for August 1996
through March 1997 averaging 10.8 million bales, this month's USDA estimate
for 1996/97 was lowered 100,000 bales to 10.9 million.

Cotton Import Quota Suspended

On May 8, USDA announced the suspension of the special import (Step 3) quotas
which had triggered for 80 consecutive weeks, dating back to October 1995. 
The Step 3 quota is triggered when the average weekly price quotation for the
lowest priced U.S. cotton delivered to Northern Europe exceeds the A Index by
1.25 cents per pound for 10 consecutive weeks.  Upland cotton must be imported
no later than 180 days from the opening of the quota.  Imports of about
765,000 bales were recorded under the 43 quotas which have expired to date. 
The final date on which upland cotton may be imported under the last of these
quotas is December 12, 1997.

Cotton Prices Move Lower

U.S. cotton prices generally declined in April, however, the average price
received by upland producers during the first half of the month was 69.4 cents
per pound, equal to the March average.  This price was nearly 79 cents a year
earlier.
The upland spot price for base quality cotton fell 2 cents in April
to average 69.1 cents per pound, the lowest since October 1994.  Meanwhile,
the extra-long staple spot price advanced to nearly $1.17 per pound, however,
this is well below the April 1996 price of $1.63.

Mill-delivered upland prices averaged 75 cents per pound in April, down 3
cents from March and 17 cents below April 1996.  At the same time, polyester
staple prices slipped to a reported 68 cents in April, the lowest in nearly 10
years and keeping polyester in a very competitive position with cotton.

Meanwhile, new crop cotton prices also declined in April.  The December 1997
futures averaged 75.6 cents per pound, compared with a stable 77-cent average
for December through March.  Cotton's decline, along with attractive prices
for several competing crops, may keep cotton area from reaching the
Prospective Plantings indication.  The first survey of actual acreage planted
to cotton will be published in the Acreage report released June 30.

Despite Larger Textile Exports, Trade Deficit Increases in 1997

February textile exports, at 291 million pounds (raw-fiber equivalent),
increased 9 percent from January and were 15 percent above February 1996.  
Textile exports were higher for all major fibers and all end-use categories,
except home furnishings.  Lower cotton and manmade fiber home furnishing
exports more than offset slight increases in all other home furnishing
shipments.  Cotton textile exports, at 125 million pounds, were 8 percent
above January and 14 percent above a year ago.  Shipments of cotton textiles
to North American countries accounted for 81 percent of shipments, compared
with 71 percent in February 1996.  Mexico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and
Honduras remain the largest buyers of U.S. cotton textiles and apparel. 
Cotton exports declined to other regions except South America, where shipments
were slightly above year-ago levels.

Textile imports totaled 682 million pounds, down 4 percent from January, but
21 percent above a year earlier.  Overall, imports decreased in all major
fibers, except linen, compared with a month earlier.  Cotton imports, at 350
million pounds, accounted for 51 percent of total imports in February and were
6 percent below January.  However, textile imports during the first 2 months
of 1997 were 16 percent above the corresponding period of 1996, and cotton
textile imports were up 13 percent.  Asian textile producing countries remain
the most important source of cotton textile imports, accounting for 53 percent
in February 1997.  However, North American countries continue to increase
market share of cotton textiles, accounting for 36 percent of all cotton
shipments compared with 31 percent in February 1996.

For all fibers, the textile trade deficit during January and February totaled
836 million pounds, nearly 18 percent above a year earlier.  The trade deficit
increased for all major fibers.  The cumulative cotton trade deficit was 13
percent higher than the first 2 months of 1996.  However, cotton's share of
the trade deficit declined from 59.8 to 57.4 percent.  Larger trade deficits,
primarily in linen and manmade fiber textiles, resulted in a decrease in
cotton's share of the overall trade deficit.

Sheep and Wool Promotion Program Disapproved in Referendum

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in early April that a proposed
national sheep and wool promotion, research, and information program has been
disapproved in an industry-wide referendum.  USDA held a second referendum
last October because the results of an earlier referendum were invalidated due
to inconsistent application of voting procedures.

Of the 11,880 valid ballots cast, 5,603 (47 percent) favored and 6,277 (53
percent) opposed implementation of the Sheep and Wool Promotion, Research,
Education, and Information Order.  Of persons voting in the referendum who
cast a valid ballot, those who favored the order accounted for 33 percent of
the total production voted and those who opposed it accounted for 67 percent
of the production voted.

The Sheep Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1994, that would have
authorized the program, provides that the order may be approved by either a
simple majority of producers, feeders, and importers voting in the referendum
or by those persons voting in the referendum who account for at least
two-thirds of the production represented.  Based on the results of the
referendum, the order and previously published regulations associated with the
implementation of the program will be terminated on a date to be announced by
USDA.

HIGHLIGHT:

Export Commitments, Shipments, and "Rollover" in 1996/97

USDA's forecast for 1996/97 U.S. exports is 7.0 million bales, reflecting
assumptions about shipments of cotton as well as cotton sales.  During the
first half of the 1990's, export "rollover"--the volume of cotton committed to
export for a given marketing year, but neither shipped nor canceled by July
31--varied between 340,000 bales (1990) and 1.1 million bales (1994),
according to Exports Sales.  The amount of cotton "rolled over" into the next
marketing year is highly variable, and as forecasts of commitments become more
precise towards the end of the year, differences in export forecasts often
hinge on the forecasted split between export shipments and rollover.

Rollover volume hit lows during the transition years before the 1985 and 1990
farm legislation took effect, reaching 190,000 bales in 1985/86 and 340,000
bales in 1990/91.  Expected changes in loan rates and marketing loan programs
created incentives to delay export sales until the following year, which was
reflected in low levels of commitments, exports, and rollover.  Generally
speaking, rollover has been higher when commitments are higher, and both the
highest (1994) and lowest (1985) rollover years since 1978 were also the years
of highest and lowest exports.

Adjusting rollover by commitments yields a striking correlation: the rollover
share of commitments during the 1990's has been highly correlated (88 percent)
with the U.S. share of world ending stocks (excluding China).  The same simple
correlation works for both the 1990's and the late 1970's, but grossly over
estimates the rollover share of commitments during the 1980's.  Adjusting by
accounting for the extraordinarily high real interest rates of the 1980's
yields a relationship that holds for much of the last 20 years.

During 1995/96, the rollover share of commitments totaled 8.3 percent. 
Neither real interest rates nor U.S. farm policy are likely to shift the
rollover share of commitments in 1996/97, since changes in each compared with
the year before are slight compared with shifts in earlier years.  However,
the U.S. share of world (excluding China) ending stocks in 1996/97 is forecast
higher than in 1995/96, 19 percent compared with 12 percent.  This suggests a
higher rollover share in 1996/97.  Similarly, a larger share of sales and
shipment activity is occurring later in the marketing year than was the case
in 1995/96, something also associated with a higher rollover share.

USDA's current export forecast of 7.0 million bales is consistent with a
rollover volume of slightly more than 600,000 bales if the share stays at 8.3
percent.  If the share rises to 9.3 percent, then rollover volume reaching
about 700,000 bales would be necessary with exports of 7.0 million, and if the
share reaches 10.3 percent then implied rollover volume reaches 
750,000-800,000 bales.  A combination of exports and rollover at these higher
levels implies a strong pace of commitments through the rest of the marketing
year.

                                                  * * * 

The next Cotton and Wool Outlook (CWS-0597) will be released on June 13.

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     Mar         Apr        May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                      16.72     14.41       14.41      14.38
  Harvested                    15.80     12.58       12.58      12.61
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           533       703         703        701

                                        Million 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks              2.59      2.54        2.54       2.54
  Production                   17.53     18.42       18.42      18.41
    Total supply 1/            20.52     21.36       21.36      21.36
  Mill use                     10.54     10.89       10.89      10.79
  Exports                       7.38      6.37        6.55       6.55
   Total use                   17.91     17.26       17.44      17.34
  Ending stocks                 2.54      4.09        3.91       4.01
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           14.2      23.7        22.4       23.1
  
Extra-long staple:                           1,000 acres
  Planted                        215       258         258        258
  Harvested                      211       256         256        256
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           836       998         998        991

                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                62        66         66          66
  Production                     368       533        533         529
    Total supply 1/              438       604        604         600
  Mill use                       109       110        110         110
  Exports                        300       435        450         450
    Total use                    409       545        560         560
  Ending stocks                   66        59         44          40
                                               Percent  
  Stocks-to-use ratio           16.1      10.8        7.9         7.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.  1/ Includes imports.


WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1996/97
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1995/96     Mar         Apr        May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        28.98     35.62      35.68       35.42
  Foreign                      26.33     33.01      33.07       32.81
Production
  World                        92.17     86.34      88.12       87.95
  Foreign                      74.27     67.39      69.17       69.00
Imports
  World                        27.32     27.57      27.57       27.54
  Foreign                      26.91     27.17      27.17       27.13
Use:
Mill use
  World                        85.44     86.22      86.55       86.44
  Foreign                      74.80     75.22      75.55       75.54
Exports
  World                        27.36     27.11      26.77       26.73
  Foreign                      19.68     20.31      19.77       19.73
Ending stocks
  World                        35.42     36.00      37.85       37.54
  Foreign                      32.81     31.85      33.90       33.49

Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         41.5      41.8       43.7        43.4
  Foreign                       43.9      42.3       44.9        44.3
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.

FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                              ---------------------------
Item                             Jan       Feb        Mar         Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                       651       190          0           0
Imports since August 1         396.0     399.1         NA        28.3
  Stocks, beginning           14,472    13,482     12,097       8,944
    At mills                     577       658        683         650
    Public storage            11,652    10,806      9,397       6,916
    CCC stocks                 2,497     2,500      2,231       1,899

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   906.1     798.9      850.8       804.4
    Noncellulosic              863.4     749.0      805.0       762.5
    Cellulosic                  42.7      49.9       45.8        41.9
    Total since January 1      906.1   1,705.0    2,555.8     2,363.3

                                1996            1997             1996
                                         ---------------
                                Dec       Jan        Feb          Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
  Raw fiber imports            105.3     123.0      105.4        80.5
   Noncellulosic                98.2     114.0       97.9        75.3
    Cellulosic                   7.1       9.0        7.5         5.2
    Total since January 1    1,164.3     123.0      228.4       163.7

Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      5,112     9,701      5,767       9,114
    48's-and-finer             3,497     7,203      2,144       5,891
    Not-finer-than-46's        1,615     2,498      3,623       3,223
    Total since January 1     75,370     9,701     15,469      18,737

  Wool top imports               163        73         79         170
    Total since January 1      3,597        73        152         799
  Mohair imports, clean            0         0          9           1
    Total since January 1         43         0          9           3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.


COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                              ---------------------------
Item                             Jan       Feb        Mar         Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         976       850        877         911
  Total since August 1 1/      5,442     6,292      7,169       6,998
  SA annual rate 2/           10,946    10,744     10,521      10,829
  SA daily rate 2/              41.9      41.2       40.3        41.3
  Daily rate                    42.4      42.5       41.8        43.4

Upland consumed by mills 1/      966       841        867         901
  Total since August 1 1/      5,391     6,232      7,099       6,926
  SA annual rate 2/           10,844    10,639     10,400      10,711
  SA daily rate 2/              41.5      40.8       39.8        40.9
  Daily rate                    42.0      42.1       41.3        42.9

Spindles in place              5,779     5,774      5,769       6,417
  Active spindles              5,441     5,431      5,443       5,947
    100 percent cotton         2,587     2,583      2,584       2,677
    100 percent manmade          934       939        934       1,039
    Blends                     1,920     1,909      1,925       2,231
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        77.5      77.0       78.0        78.2

Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/   135,721   121,949    119,014     121,817
  Total since August 1 1/    745,263   867,212    986,226     933,268
  Daily rate                   5,900     6,097      5,667       5,801
    Noncellulosic staple       5,393     5,412      5,016       4,876
    Cellulosic staple            507       685        651         925
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month.  2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.

FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                1996            1997             1996
                                        -----------------
Item                             Dec       Jan        Feb         Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 838       587        673       1,257
    Total since August 1       2,027     2,614      3,287       5,342
  Sales for next season           14        76         99          28
    Total since August 1         119       196        295         281

  ELS exports                   60.9      78.4       55.8        37.9
    Total since August 1       149.1     227.5      283.3       190.3
  Sales for next season          8.1       1.4        4.7        18.4
    Total since August 1        17.1      18.5       23.1       113.9

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports            114.6     103.9       93.0        96.7
    Noncellulosic              104.7      95.0       85.1        92.8
    Cellulosic                   9.9       8.9        7.9         3.9
    Total since January 1    1,155.5     103.9      196.9       171.9

Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean      295.8     300.1      139.9       183.4
   Total since January 1     5,715.3     300.1      440.0       519.9
  Wool top exports             795.7     445.1      522.3     1,147.9
    Total since January 1   12,118.9     445.1      967.4     1,970.1
  Mohair exports, clean            0         0      222.8       206.8
    Total since January 1    3,539.2         0      222.8     1,443.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------


FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                               --------------------------
Item                            Feb       Mar         Apr        Apr
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted World Price         65.96     66.24      64.68       68.53
  May'97 futures               75.39     74.78      71.66       82.46
  Dec'97 futures               76.82     76.93      75.64       78.27
  Upland spot 41-34            70.53     71.12      69.09       84.69
  Pima spot 03-46             113.50    116.20     116.50      163.46
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           68.20     69.40      69.40       78.90

  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   77.68     77.95      75.18       92.10
      Raw fiber equivalent     86.31     86.61      83.53      102.33
    Rayon staple
      Actual                  115.00    115.00     115.00      120.00
      Raw fiber equivalent    119.79    119.79     119.79      125.00
    Polyester staple
      Actual                   70.00     70.00      68.00       84.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     72.92     72.92      70.83       87.50

    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              72.1      72.3       69.7        81.9
      Cotton/polyester         118.4     118.8      117.9       117.0

Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      80.45     80.26      78.85       82.90
  Memphis Territory            82.50     82.63      80.50       96.69
  California/Arizona           83.88     84.63      82.13      100.13
  B Index                      74.34     74.55      73.19       77.53
  Orleans/Texas                77.94     78.25      76.25       91.06

Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      1.30      1.27       1.34        1.35
  Australian 56's 1/            1.87      1.96       1.95        1.83
 U.S. 60's                      1.52      1.64       1.80        1.57
  Australian 60's 1/            1.95      2.04       2.02        1.97
 U.S. 64's                      1.90      2.08       2.28        1.97
  Australian 64's 1/            2.41      2.54       2.61        2.34
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.

TEXTILE TRADE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                1996           1997             1996
                                        ----------------
Item                            Dec       Jan        Feb         Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Imports:                                   1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   177,415   212,037    207,523     139,967
    Cotton                    77,459    86,624     72,335      61,012
    Linen                     20,811    32,938     46,138      22,606
    Wool                       3,224     3,610      3,584       3,000
    Silk                         772       750        692         556
    Manmade                   75,149    88,110     84,773      52,792

  Apparel                    392,029   432,746    413,651     372,675
    Cotton                   231,237   251,160    246,315     221,484
    Linen                     10,477    12,596     10,535       9,925
    Wool                      11,076    11,913     11,348      11,058
    Silk                      10,091    14,100     11,677       9,888
    Manmade                  129,148   142,976    133,777     120,320

  House furnishings           30,877    33,451     31,746      27,596
    Cotton                    21,480    24,876     23,453      20,749
    Linen                        223       127         95         178
    Wool                         139        83         66          99
    Silk                          25        63         12          29
    Manmade                    9,009     8,302      8,120       6,541

  Floor covering              23,175    24,426     23,108      15,041
    Cotton                     4,067     4,218      4,277       3,518
    Linen                      2,785     3,378      2,644       2,228
    Wool                       7,117     6,749      5,730       3,791
    Silk                         402       355        434         335
    Manmade                    8,804     9,726     10,023       5,169

  Total imports 2/           630,080   710,470    682,203     562,291
    Cotton                   337,909   370,834    349,750     310,967
    Linen                     34,324    49,061     59,440      34,957
    Wool                      21,640    22,454     20,771      17,983
    Silk                      11,291    15,269     12,814      10,812
    Manmade                  224,916   252,853    239,428     187,571

Exports:                                 1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   110,126   114,594    119,966     116,595
    Cotton                    37,416    36,156     35,447      41,978
    Linen                      3,196     3,137      3,520       3,321
    Wool                       3,235     3,661      3,557       2,777
    Silk                       1,229     1,532      1,649       1,314
    Manmade                   65,050    70,108     75,792      67,205

  Apparel                    112,896   116,152    135,412     104,565
    Cotton                    68,667    72,975     83,319      62,252
    Linen                      2,078     2,054      2,060       2,117
    Wool                       5,771     4,380      5,954       4,597
    Silk                       2,045     1,408      2,125       1,757
    Manmade                   34,336    35,334     41,954      33,842

  House furnishings            5,764     5,472      5,315       5,327
    Cotton                     3,347     3,439      3,130       3,172
    Linen                        268       179        293         270
    Wool                          95        49         74         105
    Silk                         162       134        210         151
    Manmade                    1,893     1,671      1,607       1,629

  Floor covering              26,683    29,529     30,014      25,649
    Cotton                     2,779     2,959      3,154       2,754
    Linen                      1,091     1,276      1,419       1,072
    Wool                       1,213     1,541      1,467       1,793
    Silk 3/                      ---       ---        ---         ---
    Manmade                   21,600    23,753     23,975      20,030

  Total exports 2/           255,777   266,107    291,037     252,615
    Cotton                   112,254   115,562    125,093     110,214
    Linen                      6,642     6,653      7,302       6,793
    Wool                      10,330     9,642     11,067       9,296
    Silk                       3,435     3,074      7,058       3,222
    Manmade                  123,115   131,175    143,592     123,090
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  Data for 1997 will be revised.
2/ Includes headgear.  3/ Absence of trade.

U.S. COTTON TEXTILE IMPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                               1996            1997             1996
                                      --------------------
Country                         Dec       Jan        Feb         Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1,000 pounds 1/

North America                118,421    101,737   127,646      96,841
  Canada                       8,173      9,479     9,789       7,278
  Costa Rica                   7,288      5,710     7,651       6,518
  Dominican Republic          12,996      8,017    13,823      10,997
  El Salvador                  9,637      8,864    10,032       7,541
  Guatemala                    6,858      5,279     7,223       5,773
  Haiti                        1,150        698     1,110         608
  Honduras                    17,931     12,800    17,844      12,648
  Jamaica                      7,319      4,840     6,157       6,876
  Mexico                      44,898     43,827    51,214      36,483
  Nicaragua                    1,674      1,817     2,437       1,408

South America                  8,509      6,636     6,881       8,804
  Argentina                        7          5        13         128
  Brazil                       3,375      2,431     2,358       4,048
  Chile                          257        317       192         638
  Columbia                     2,836      1,731     2,352       2,222
  Peru                         1,745      1,907     1,639       1,364
  
Europe                        21,241     22,639    19,258      18,744
  Estonia                        925        848       625         583
  France                         639        684       605         532
  Germany                        728        393       391         452
  Italy                        3,245      3,035     3,139       2,749
  Portugal                     1,713        882       765       1,054
  Russia                       1,129        801       856       1,058
  Spain                          967      1,495     1,154       1,289
  Turkey                       7,895     10,367     8,179       7,273
  United Kingdom                 946        916       862         866
  
Asia                         179,742    226,602   185,076     177,032
  Bahrain                        779        962       778         908
  Bangladesh                   9,821     15,332    14,364      15,159
  China                       26,677     40,704    28,548      21,772
  Hong Kong                   25,046     31,527    18,747      23,180
  India                       26,911     28,569    29,679      23,693
  Indonesia                   11,646     15,713    12,021      10,604
  Israel                       2,031      2,208     1,851       2,343
  Japan                        1,104      1,331     1,190       1,054
  Macao                        3,774      5,273     3,877       3,225
  Malaysia                     3,880      5,130     3,355       5,120
  Nepal                          850      1,315     1,440       1,467
  Oman                         1,663      1,725     1,468       1,529
  Pakistan                    18,473     21,299    24,606      21,009
  Philippines                  7,789      9,290     7,380       8,746
  Quator                       1,228      1,383     1,220         989
  Singapore                    1,518      2,416     1,630       1,897
  South Korea                  5,604      6,353     4,190       4,490
  Sri Lanka                    7,049      8,776     6,543       6,599
  Taiwan                      10,954     10,863    10,493      10,250
  Thailand                     8,578     11,085     7,133       7,316
  U Arab 0m                    2,001      2,701     2,297       2,989

Oceania                        1,025      1,035       701       1,784
  Australia                      347        253       267         897
  Fiji                           483        532       303         591
 
Africa                         7,997     11,076     8,852       8,789
  Egypt                        3,718      5,462     4,452       4,507
  Lesotho                      1,140      1,706     1,044       1,103
  Mauritius                    1,043      1,106     1,265       1,340
  Morocco                        609        624       456         383
  South Africa                   801        765       607         236
  Tunisia                        104        120       170         116

World  2/                    337,909    370,834   349,750     310,976
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.


U.S. COTTON TEXTILE EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                               1996            1997              1996
                                      --------------------
Country                         Dec       Jan        Feb          Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   1,000 pounds 1/

North America                 86,096     92,946   100,942      78,715
  Canada                      15,186     20,022    18,610      16,733
  Costa Rica                   5,829      6,767     8,385       5,028
  Dominican Republic           9,115     10,107    13,478       8,973
  El Salvador                  2,990      3,013     3,198       2,231
  Guatemala                    4,349      4,427     4,172       3,453
  Haiti                          823        737     1,399         639
  Honduras                    12,614     13,523    13,465       8,799
  Jamaica                      6,018      6,576     5,543       6,472
  Mexico                      28,041     26,734    31,405      45,448

South America                  3,833      3,824     4,252       4,140
  Argentina                      173        298       112         240
  Brazil                         671        524     1,028         349
  Chile                          480        640       367         864
  Columbia                     1,507      1,210     1,254       1,540
  Peru                           205         88       157         164
  Venezuela                      306        779       920         494

Europe                         9,395      6,856     7,727      12,655
  Belgium                      2,126      1,051       824       4,317
  France                         685        523       696         545
  Germany                        967        854     1,185         910
  Ireland                         81         70       138       1,019
  Italy                          247        141       208         561
  Netherlands                    520        624       581         742
  United Kingdom               3,018      1,986     2,270       2,809

Asia                          11,335     10,171    10,877      12,792
  China                          243         91        57         112
  Hong Kong                    1,260      1,020       838         933
  Israel                       1,834      1,610     1,005       1,202
  Japan                        4,538      4,309     5,990       6,782
  Philippines                    310        190       306         219
  Saudi Arabia                   594        702       421         627
  Singapore                      382        403       338         441
  South Korea                    425        387       450         409
  Taiwan                         285        168       289         253
  U Arab Em                      555        308       250         412

Oceania                          745      1,088       754       1,014
  Australia                      566        738       519         709
  New Zealand                    116        115       150         278

Africa                           656        538       385         701
  Egypt                            7         49         4           1
  Ghana                            8         12        22          22
  Ivory Coast                     79         14        82          57
  Nigeria                        146         70        41         209
  South Africa                    71         90       133         166

World  2/                    112,254    115,562   125,093     110,214
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.


FINAL 1996 U.S. COTTON AREA, YIELD, AND PRODUCTION
-------------------------------------------------------------------
State/Region     Planted     Harvested     Yield         Production
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                    1,000 acres            Pounds       1,000 bales
Upland:
 AL               520          516           734             789
 FL                99           98           637             130
 GA             1,340        1,336           747           2,079
 NC               721          710           677           1,002
 SC               284          282           774             455
 VA               103          102           748             159
  Southeast     3,067        3,044           728           4,614

 AR             1,000          990           793           1,636
 LA               890          885           697           1,286
 MS             1,120        1,100           819           1,876
 MO               390          385           737             591
 TN               540          530           611             675
  Delta         3,940        3,890           748           6,064

 KS                 5            4           492               4
 OK               290          210           306             134
 TX             5,700        4,100           509           4,345
  Southwest     5,995        4,314           499           4,483

 AZ               315          314         1,189             778
 CA             1,000          995         1,153           2,390
 NM                59           55           733              84
  West          1,374        1,364         1,144           3,252

Total Upland   14,376       12,612           701          18,413

Pima:
  AZ               42           42           852              74
  CA              165          164         1,098             375
  NM               14           14           651              19
  TX               37           36           801              60

Total Pima        258          256           991             529

Total All      14,634       12,868           707          18,942
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
END_OF_FILE