COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                    March 13, 1998
March 1998, CWS-0198
               Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board
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COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK is issued five times a year by the Economic 
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20036-
5831.  Electronic release only; no printed copies available.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Cotton Supply and Demand Overview

The 1997 U.S. cotton crop remains estimated at 18.98 million bales
(upland--18.4 million and ELS--537,000), similar to last year's production.
And with beginning stocks at nearly 4 million bales, total U.S. cotton
supplies for the 1997/98 season are estimated at 23 million bales, the
highest in 3 years. However, total use is currently projected at 19
million bales, also the highest since 1994. Based on these estimates,
U.S. ending stocks are forecast at 4 million bales, nearly identical to
the beginning level and a stocks-to-use ratio of 21 percent.

India's Production and Consumption Down

Foreign consumption in 1997/98 is expected to be smaller than a year earlier
following revisions to Indian production and consumption this month. Foreign
consumption is expected to decline 400,000 bales from a year ago to 77.1
million. Foreign production in 1997/98 is expected to rise 800,000 bales
from a year earlier to 71.1 million. Much smaller foreign imports compared
with last season are forecast for 1997/98, and foreign ending stocks are
forecast to rise compared with a year earlier. Foreign imports are projected
at 26.8 million bales in 1997/98, 1.6 million lower than in 1996/97. Foreign
ending stocks are forecast at 34 million bales in 1997/98, 1.6 million
higher than in 1996/97.

With India's production now forecast 2.1 million bales lower in 1997/98
compared with a year earlier, tighter stocks are expected to compound the
difficulty Indian textile producers have begun to face due to reduced yarn
exports to Southeast Asia. Cotton consumption in India surged upwards at an
8-percent annual rate during 1992-96 as economic reforms spurred exports and
domestic economic growth. This year, untimely rains in northern and central
India are now believed to have reduced Indias crop substantially, and
USDA's forecast for India's 1997/98 crop was reduced by 1.1 million bales
this month to 11.7 million. With tighter supplies, India's forecast
consumption, exports, and stocks were also reduced, while imports were
raised. India's consumption in 1997/98 is now projected at 12.8 million
bales, down 200,000 from a year earlier. At 800,000 bales, India's 1997/98
imports are now forecast to be the nation's highest since 1960/61.

About 20 percent of India's cotton yarn production has been exported in
recent years, and Southeast Asia has been a major market. The economic
difficulties Southeast Asia has faced during 1997/98 continued to be a
factor in March, and expected raw cotton imports and consumption by
Indonesia and Thailand were reduced by about 100,000 bales each from
February's estimates. Southeast Asia's consumption in 1997/98 is now
forecast at 3.7 million bales, about 800,000 bales lower than a year
earlier. Similarly, Southeast Asia's imports in 1997/98 are now forecast at
3.6 million bales, about 1 million lower than a year ago.

China's Production and Stocks Higher

In China, consumption in 1997/98 is forecast slightly higher than the year
before, at 21.5 million bales, and imports are forecast substantially lower,
at 2.2 million bales. Neither of these forecasts changed in March: the
consumption forecast has been unchanged since October and the import
forecast since November. On the one hand, government pronouncements from
China have indicated policies that suggest prospects for China's consumption
and imports could weaken during the rest of calendar 1998. On the other
hand, data through January 1998 for both yarn production and raw cotton
imports suggest a level of activity to date consistent with both USDA's
current forecasts for the entire year and an assumption of reduced activity
during the remaining months of the year.

The forecast for China's ending stocks increased slightly as estimated
1997/98 cotton production was raised 200,000 bales to 19.7 million. China's
State Statistical Bureau (SSB) recently published a confirmation of its
earlier production estimate of about 19.75 million bales. Since the SSB's
published estimate is actually rounded to the nearest 100,000 metric tons,
USDA adopted the nearest bale-equivalent rounded to 100,000 bales. With the
increase in estimated production, China's 1997/98 cotton yield is now
estimated to be a record. While insect pressure drove China's yields down in
the early 1990's, production has shifted to higher yielding regions and
efforts to combat insect pests have helped yields rebound in other regions.

Foreign ending stocks in 1997/98 are expected to reach their highest since
1985/86, in large part due to China. China's 1997/98 ending stocks are
forecast about 400,000 bales higher than the year before, the largest gain
forecast for any country. However, comparable, albeit slightly smaller,
gains are forecast for Argentina, Australia, and Uzbekistan. Even excluding
China's growing stocks, foreign ending stocks are forecast to rise
substantially, reaching their highest levels since 1992/93. Excluding China,
foreign stocks as a share of consumption are expected to rise from 31
percent to 33 percent.

U.S. Exports and Mill Use Remain Strong

U.S. cotton export sales and shipments have continued their strong pace
through early March. As a result, the 1997/98 U.S. export forecast was
increased 200,000 bales to 7.5 million this month, 9 percent above 1996/97. 
As of March 5, export commitments had already reached the 7.5-million-bale
estimate, while shipments totaled 4.3 million. And with 21 weeks remaining
in 1997/98, U.S. cotton exports will need to average roughly 150,000
statistical bales per week to reach the latest forecast.

And despite the economic difficulties in Southeast Asia, U.S. cotton sales
and shipments to the global market are expected to remain relatively strong
during the remaining 5 months of the marketing year as a result of the
GSM-102 credit program and the "Step 2" competitiveness program. Because of
these programs, the United States is expected to capture a larger than
normal share of the global export market. Currently, the U.S. export share
is projected to reach 28.5 percent in 1997/98, compared with a solid 25.9
percent last season.

Following the strength of the economy, U.S. cotton mill use is forecast to
reach 11.5 million bales in 1997/98, 3 percent above 1996/97 and similar to
the record levels of the early 1940's. Abundant supplies of cotton at lower
prices this season, as well as the strong retail demand for cotton products
in the United States and abroad, has provided the positive outlook for
cotton mill demand.

Based on the first half of 1997/98, data from the Department of Commerce
indicate that cotton mill use totaled 5.76 million bales, compared with 5.56
million during the first 6 months of 1996/97. While cotton mill use has
risen 3.5 percent from last season, manmade fiber use has held stable,
enabling cotton to capture a larger share on the cotton spinning system.
Based on the first half of 1997/98, cotton's share has improved to 78.8
percent, compared with 78.2 percent recorded for the entire 1996/97 season
and the highest in 30 years.

U.S. Fiber Consumption Jumps in 1997

Total fiber mill use and domestic consumption increased in calendar 1997
after 2 years of decline. Mill use of all fibers approached 16.7 billion
pounds, with manmade fibers and cotton accounting for roughly two-thirds and
one-third, respectively. Mill use of wool, flax, and silk, which actually
declined in 1997, totaled less than 2 percent. However, each fiber showed an
increase when textile trade was included. U.S. domestic consumption (mill
use plus net textile trade) expanded in 1997 to nearly 22 billion pounds.
Manmade fibers contributed 56 percent, while cotton rose to nearly 40
percent of the total. Wool, flax, and silk accounted for the remaining 4
percent.

In addition, per capita fiber consumption rebounded in 1997. U.S. domestic
consumption of all fibers reached a new record in 1997 of 82 pounds per
person, nearly 5 pounds above 1996 and 2 pounds higher than the previous
record set in 1994. Once again, manmade fiber accounts for the largest
share. In 1997, per capita consumption of manmade fiber approached 46
pounds. On the other hand, per capita consumption of cotton rose nearly 3
pounds in 1997 to 32.5 pounds, the highest in over 50 years.

Textile Trade Deficit Widens in 1997

U.S. textile imports totaled 761 million pounds (raw-fiber equivalent) last
December, 7 percent above a month earlier and 21 percent above a year
earlier. Total imports of all major fibers except wool were higher than a
month earlier. Similarly imports of major end-uses except home furnishings
were higher in December. Yarn, thread, and fabric imports rose 15 percent to
203 million pounds and apparel imports, at 482 million, were 4 percent above
November.

December textile exports declined from a month earlier, totaling 313 million
pounds. Although 17 percent below November, exports were 22 percent above a
year ago. Total exports declined in each major end-use category and for all
fiber types. Cotton textile exports declined to 128 million pounds, the
lowest since January 1997. Manmade fiber exports fell to 158 million pounds,
also the smallest shipment since January 1997.

Total 1997 textile imports reached 9.6 billion pounds, nearly 1.6 billion
pounds (21 percent) above 1996. Similarly, textile exports totaled 4.3
billion pounds, a gain of 893 million pounds (26 percent) from a year ago. 
Both textile imports and exports were records in 1997.

The total textile trade deficit reached 5.3 billion pounds in 1997, compared
with 4.5 billion in 1996 and 4.7 billion in 1995. Cotton accounted for 62
percent (3.3 billion pounds) of the deficit. Twenty-five 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 textiles, with
the former accounting for 8 percent.

Sheep and Goat Inventories Continue To Decline

The sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1, 1998,
totaled 7.6 million head, down 4 percent from 1997 and 10 percent below 2
years ago. Breeding sheep inventory, at 5.5 million head, declined 5 percent
since January 1, 1997. Ewes 1 year and older declined 6 percent to 4.5
million head. Similarly, the inventory of Angora goats declined 24 percent
to 855,000 head on January 1, 1998. This inventory level was the lowest
since statistics have been collected. The Angora inventory in Texas declined
250,000 head (25 percent) in 1997 to 750,000.

The number of operations with sheep during 1997 totaled 74,710, down 4
percent from 1996 and 8 percent below 1995. States with a drop of 300 or
more sheep operations included Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. Six States,
Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina, had more
sheep operations in 1997 than in 1996. Operators with less than 100 head of
sheep accounted for 91 percent of all farms, compared with 92 percent in
1996. Operations with 500-4,999 head accounted for nearly 43 percent of the
inventory, compared with 40 percent a year earlier.

Wool production in 1997 is currently estimated at 28 million pounds, clean. 
Final 1997 wool production will be released by USDA on March 26. Actual 1997
production will likely be the lowest on record and about half the level of
the early 1980's. Despite lower production, raw wool imports increased only
1 percent (1 million pounds) to 76.4 million pounds, clean.

Stagnant import demand was due to continued weakness in wool mill
consumption. Preliminary estimates of 1997 mill use indicated consumption
declined 1 percent below a year earlier to 121.9 million pounds, clean. This
was the lowest mill use since 1985. Raw wool exports, at 4.7 million pounds,
were 21 percent below 1996 shipments. As a result of lower offtake, ending
stocks are forecast at 45.8 million pounds, clean, nearly 8 percent above
the beginning level.

                              *     *    *

The next Cotton and Wool Outlook (CWS-0298) will be released on May 13.

For further information, contact Leslie Meyer at (202) 694-5307 (U.S.
Cotton); Steve MacDonald at (202) 694-5305 (Foreign Cotton); or Robert
Skinner at (202) 694-5313 (Textiles and Wool).

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  N O T I C E  *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   

Because of resource constraints, ERS will publish only 5 issues of this
report in 1998. Reports will be released in March, May, July, August, and
November. We will continue to publish the Cotton and Wool Yearbook, which
will be released in late November. During the months when the Cotton and
Wool Outlook are not published, selected tables from the report will be
updated and posted on the ERS web site (http://www.econ.ag.gov) with Cotton
and Wool Outlook and other publications relating to cotton. If you have
questions or comments about this change in our schedule, please contact Joy
Harwood, Chief, Field Crops Branch (202-694-5310;jharwood@econ.ag.gov) or
Fred Surls, Outlook Program Coordinator (202-694-5320; fsurls@econ.ag.gov).

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   

U.S. COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1997/98
                                         ----------------------------
Item                          1996/97     Jan        Feb         Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                      14.38     13.57      13.57       13.57
  Harvested                    12.61     13.03      13.03       13.03
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           701       679        679         679

                                        Million 480-lb. bales 
  Beginning stocks              2.54      3.92       3.92        3.92
  Production                   18.41     18.44      18.44       18.44
    Total supply 1/            21.36     22.38      22.38       22.38
  Mill use                     11.02     11.29      11.39       11.39
  Exports                       6.40      6.88       6.88        7.08
   Total use                   17.42     18.17      18.27       18.47
  Ending stocks                 3.92      4.24       4.14        3.94
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           22.5      23.3       22.6        21.3
  
Extra-long staple:                           1,000 acres
  Planted                        258       252        252         252
  Harvested                      256       251        251         251
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           991     1,027      1,027       1,027

                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                66        51         51          51
  Production                     529       537        537         537
    Total supply 1/              595       588        588         588
  Mill use                       106       110        110         110
  Exports                        466       425        425         425
    Total use                    572       535        535         535
  Ending stocks                   51        63         63          63
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio            8.9      11.8       11.8        11.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.  1/ Includes imports.


WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1997/98
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1996/97     Jan         Feb        Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        33.81     36.40       36.35      36.32
  Foreign                      31.20     32.43       32.38      32.35
Production
  World                        89.25     90.88       91.00      90.08
  Foreign                      70.31     71.90       72.02      71.11
Imports
  World                        28.79     26.89       26.83      26.82
  Foreign                      28.38     26.87       26.82      26.81
Use:
Mill use
  World                        88.63     89.18       89.30      88.62
  Foreign                      77.51     77.78       77.80      77.12
Exports
  World                        26.53     26.43       26.25      26.34
  Foreign                      19.67     19.13       18.95      18.84
Ending stocks
  World                        36.32     38.29       38.34      37.98
  Foreign                      32.35     33.99       34.14      33.98

Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         41.0      42.9        42.9       42.9
  Foreign                       41.7      43.7        43.9       44.1
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.


FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1997            1998        1997
                              -----------------
Item                             Nov      Dec         Jan         Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                     6,808     3,095        601         651
Imports since August 1           2.4       2.6         NA       396.0
  Stocks, beginning            8,133    13,479     14,919      14,372
    At mills                     589       589        588         577
    Public storage             6,723    11,113     12,356      11,652
    CCC stocks                   461     1,024      2,092       2,497

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   787.9     858.9      874.4       928.8
    Noncellulosic              757.6     829.6      840.4       886.1
    Cellulosic                  30.3      29.3       34.0        42.7
    Total since January 1    9,490.4  10,349.3      874.4       928.8

                                         1997                    1996
                             -----------------------------
                                Oct       Nov        Dec          Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
  Raw fiber imports            129.5     113.6      122.8       105.3
   Noncellulosic               121.3     105.5      114.7        98.2
    Cellulosic                   8.2       8.1        8.1         7.1
    Total since January 1    1,122.9   1,236.5    1,359.3     1,164.3

Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      8,529     7,255      8,584       5,112
    48's-and-finer             6,341     5,438      7,069       3,497
    Not-finer-than-46's        2,188     1,818      1,515       1,615
    Total since January 1     60,606    67,862     76,446      75,370

  Wool top imports               517       191        199         163
    Total since January 1      2,139     2,331      2,530       3,597
  Mohair imports, clean            1         0          0           0
    Total since January 1          1         1          1          43
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.


COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1997            1998        1997
                              -----------------
Item                             Nov       Dec        Jan         Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         881       882        978         996
  Total since August 1 1/      3,895     4,777      5,755       5,562
  SA annual rate 2/           11,572    11,972     11,535      11,238
  SA daily rate 2/              44.3      45.9       44.2        43.1
  Daily rate                    44.0      38.3       44.5        43.3

Upland consumed by mills 1/      872       873        968         987
  Total since August 1 1/      3,859     4,732      5,701       5,511
  SA annual rate 2/           11,464    11,871     11,419      11,136
  SA daily rate 2/              43.9      45.5       43.7        42.7
  Daily rate                    43.6      38.0       44.0        42.9
                                          1,000 Spindles
Spindles in place              5,555     5,558      5,512       5,779
  Active spindles              5,271     5,246      5,204       5,441
    100 percent cotton         2,625     2,609      2,606       2,587
    100 percent manmade          849       828        819         934
    Blends                     1,797     1,809      1,779       1,920
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        78.8      79.6       78.4        77.9

Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/   113,673   108,592    129,628     135,721
  Total since August 1 1/    506,021   614,613    744,242     745,263
  Daily rate                   5,684     4,721      5,892       5,901
    Noncellulosic staple       5,085     4,341      5,403       5,394
    Cellulosic staple            599       380        489         507
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month.  2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.


FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                               --------------------------
Item                             Oct       Nov        Dec         Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 382       549        721         838
    Total since August 1       1,113     1,662      2,383       2,028
  Sales for next season            8         8        147          14
    Total since August 1          82        89        236         118
ELS exports                     18.6      32.3       53.2        60.3
    Total since August 1        43.9      76.2      129.5       147.7
  Sales for next season          4.5       2.4        2.4         8.0
    Total since August 1         6.3       8.7       11.1        17.0

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports            100.6      93.3       80.9       105.3
    Noncellulosic               95.6      83.9       75.6        98.2
    Cellulosic                   5.0       9.4        5.3         7.1
    Total since January 1      878.6     971.9    1,052.8     1,164.3

Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean      225.5     102.8      167.9       295.8
   Total since January 1     4,461.2   4,564.0    4,731.9     5,715.3
  Wool top exports           1,096.0     681.3      808.0       795.7
    Total since January 1    6,337.8   7,433.8    8,241.8    12,118.9
  Mohair exports, clean        115.3     106.5      393.5           0
    Total since January 1    1,388.7   1,495.2    1,888.7     3,539.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------


FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                               1997            1998              1997
                                          ---------------
Item                            Dec        Jan       Feb          Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted world price         60.41     57.49      54.69       65.96
  Mar'98 futures               67.84     66.21      65.69       77.66
  Oct'98 futures               72.35     70.96      70.79       77.37
Upland spot 41-34              64.57     62.75      63.66       70.53
  Pima spot 03-46             101.79    101.70      99.47      113.50
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           63.80     60.80      61.10       68.20

  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   71.57     69.45      69.48       77.68
      Raw fiber equivalent     79.52     77.17      77.20       86.31
    Rayon staple
      Actual                  115.00    115.00     115.00      115.00
      Raw fiber equivalent    119.79    119.79     119.79      119.79
    Polyester staple
      Actual                   71.00     71.00      71.00       70.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     73.96     73.96      73.96       72.92

    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              66.4      64.4       64.4        72.1
      Cotton/polyester         107.5     104.3      104.4       118.4

Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      74.68     71.04      68.68        80.45
  Memphis Territory            77.33     75.19      74.50        82.50
  California/Arizona           79.08     76.94      76.25        83.88
  B Index                      71.42     69.03      66.96        74.34
  Orleans/Texas                72.50     70.13      69.25        77.94

Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      1.50      1.42       1.25        1.30
  Australian 56's 1/            1.87      1.81       1.71        1.87
 U.S. 60's                      1.85      1.79       1.54        1.52
  Australian 60's 1/            2.01      1.87       1.87        1.95
 U.S. 64's                      2.60      2.36       1.95        1.90
  Australian 64's 1/            2.40      2.18       2.25        2.61
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.


U.S. TEXTILE TRADE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1997                    1996
                            -------------------------------
Item                             Oct        Nov        Dec        Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Imports:                                   1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   225,191     176,923    202,649   177,415
    Cotton                    91,928      76,425     86,988    77,459
    Linen                     33,609      17,188     25,089    20,811
    Wool                       5,340       3,868      4,157     3,224
    Silk                         914         842        911       772
    Manmade                   93,400      78,600     85,504    75,149

  Apparel                    632,280     462,710    482,140   392,029
    Cotton                   349,638     270,236    288,843   231,237
    Linen                     16,754      12,025     12,816    10,477
    Wool                      28,746      16,161     12,308    11,076
    Silk                      12,962       9,204     11,680    10,091
    Manmade                  224,182     155,085    156,493   129,148

  Home furnishings            52,950      44,047     43,978    30,877
    Cotton                    37,917      32,937     32,932    21,480
    Linen                         95         118        291       223
    Wool                         212         214        172       139
    Silk                          44          22         54        25
    Manmade                   14,683      10,756     10,530     9,009

  Floor coverings             29,406      22,892     25,461    23,175
    Cotton                     4,463       2,897      3,927     4,067
    Linen                      3,570       2,875      3,239     2,785
    Wool                       7,690       6,913      7,825     7,117
    Silk                         404         306        389       402
    Manmade                   13,278       9,900     10,082     8,804

  Total imports 2/           946,655     712,095    760,892   630,080
    Cotton                   487,061     385,091    416,075   337,909
    Linen                     54,079      32,228     41,458    34,324
    Wool                      42,236      27,279     24,587    21,640
    Silk                      14,326      10,375     13,034    11,291
    Manmade                  348,953     257,123    265,739   224,916

Exports:                                 1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   180,048     169,655    146,680   110,126
    Cotton                    57,201      55,064     48,916    37,416
    Linen                      4,714       4,334      4,227     3,196
    Wool                       4,664       4,802      3,783     3,235
    Silk                       2,081       1,761      1,552     1,229
    Manmade                  111,388     103,694     88,202    65,050

  Apparel                    164,293     159,298    122,612   112,896
    Cotton                    98,852      94,379     72,146    68,667
    Linen                      2,081       1,835      1,363     2,078
    Wool                       7,661       8,608      5,947     5,771
    Silk                       3,663       4,557      3,444     2,045
    Manmade                   52,037      49,918     39,712    34,336

  Home furnishings             9,410       9,038      6,477     5,764
    Cotton                     5,370       5,183      3,783     3,347
    Linen                        327         488        308       268
    Wool                         146         206        146        95
    Silk                         183         232        150       162
    Manmade                    3,384       2,929      2,090     1,893

  Floor coverings             42,204      39,150     36,882    26,683
    Cotton                     4,076       3,871      3,522     2,779
    Linen                      2,253       2,215      2,029     1,091
    Wool                       3,776       3,479      3,199     1,213
    Silk                         160         151        148       ---
    Manmade                   31,938      29,434     27,983    21,600

  Total exports 2/           396,271     377,506    312,892   255,777
    Cotton                   165,577     158,590    128,433   112,254
    Linen                      9,383       8,883      7,934     6,642
    Wool                      16,263      17,112     13,088    10,330
    Silk                       6,087       6,702      5,294     3,435
    Manmade                  198,961     186,221    158,142   123,115
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--- = An absence of trade.  1/ Raw fiber equivalent. 
2/ Includes headgear.



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

North America                189,542    161,530   171,049     118,421
  Canada                      14,540     14,807    11,985       8,173
  Costa Rica                  10,635      9,014     8,555       7,288
  Dominican Republic          19,345     14,980    20,560      12,996
  El Salvador                 13,383     10,359    12,725       9,637
  Guatemala                    8,366      6,578     7,486       6,858
  Haiti                        2,354      1,975     2,419       1,150
  Honduras                    26,008     23,141    26,383      17,931
  Jamaica                      8,393      6,203     7,361       7,319
  Mexico                      83,411     71,915    70,993      44,898
  Nicaragua                    2,678      2,202     2,200       1,674

South America                  7,646      6,459     8,863       8,509
  Argentina                      350         28       123           7
  Brazil                       2,720      2,395     3,947       3,375
  Chile                          142        125        97         257
  Columbia                     2,013      1,861     2,227       2,836
  Peru                         2,033      1,775     1,996       1,745
  
Europe                        30,165     22,008    21,382      21,241
  Estonia                        841        752       818         925
  France                         729        528       704         639
  Germany                        765        579       673         728
  Italy                        2,688      2,783     3,218       3,245
  Portugal                     5,481      4,071     2,281       1,713
  Russia                         934      1,089       675       1,129
  Spain                          807        551     1,151         967
  Turkey                      13,293      7,451     7,643       7,895
  United Kingdom               1,055      1,073       911         946
  
Asia                         236,098    176,688   195,148     179,742
  Bahrain                      1,058        758       810         779
  Bangladesh                  18,232     11,691    12,250       9,821
  China                       30,962     21,496    21,876      26,677
  Hong Kong                   29,872     26,612    26,178      25,046
  India                       29,873     19,528    23,633      26,911
  Indonesia                   18,711     13,070    12,141      11,646
  Israel                       2,135      1,539     1,999       2,031
  Japan                        1,062        786       856       1,104
  Macao                        5,316      3,704     4,563       3,774
  Malaysia                     5,334      4,070     4,546       3,880
  Nepal                          692        655     1,209         850
  Oman                         1,384      1,482     1,564       1,663
  Pakistan                    30,881     25,672    30,950      18,473
  Philippines                  9,851      7,898     8,529       7,789
  Qatar                        1,192        792     1,209       1,228
  Singapore                    2,406      1,660     2,276       1,518
  South Korea                  7,073      5,111     5,589       5,604
  Sri Lanka                    7,630      4,808     6,433       7,049
  Taiwan                      13,107      9,351     9,652      10,954
  Thailand                    10,807      9,234    11,203       8,578
  U Arab Em                    2,310      1,398     2,018       2,001

Oceania                        1,931      1,470     1,794       1,025
  Australia                      908        724     1,063         347
  Fiji                           791        610       499         483
 
Africa                        14,921     11,278    13,085       7,997
  Egypt                        6,561      5,577     6,461       3,718
  Lesotho                      1,492      1,405     1,826       1,140
  Mauritius                    2,100      1,522     1,510       1,043
  Morocco                        829        892     1,011         609
  South Africa                 1,628        808       671         801
  Tunisia                        148         65        44         104

World  2/                    487,061    385,091   416,075     337,909
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent. Totals may not add due to rounding.


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

North America                135,492    128,133     100,293    86,096
  Canada                      28,163     26,194      20,388    15,186
  Costa Rica                   9,085      8,978       7,323     5,829
  Dominican Republic          14,319     17,135       9,882     9,115
  El Salvador                  5,337      5,726       3,532     2,990
  Guatemala                    3,718      4,174       2,997     4,349
  Haiti                        1,745      2,133       2,178       823
  Honduras                    15,054     16,316      12,292    12,614
  Jamaica                      6,518      5,807       4,111     6,018
  Mexico                      49,932     39,974      36,283    28,041

South America                  5,996      5,341       4,194     3,833
  Argentina                      321        354         284       173
  Brazil                         959        677         361       671
  Chile                          925        914         626       480
  Columbia                     1,688      1,515       1,147     1,507
  Peru                           191        127         153       205
  Venezuela                    1,275      1,337         939       306

Europe                        10,556     13,229      10,928     9,395
  Belgium                      1,847      4,246       3,319     2,126
  France                         661        752         645       685
  Germany                      1,293      1,067       1,382       967
  Ireland                        979      1,171         628        81
  Italy                          214        190         343       247
  Netherlands                    813        866         706       520
  United Kingdom               2,654      3,222       2,486     3,018

Asia                          10,896      9,586      10,818    11,335
  China                          205        266         542       243
  Hong Kong                    1,586      1,419       1,212     1,260
  Israel                         934        826       1 647     1,834
  Japan                        4,359      3,356       3,537     4,538
  Philippines                    443        500         582       310
  Saudi Arabia                   686        637         772       594
  Singapore                      421        371         565       382
  South Korea                    573        298         294       425
  Taiwan                         302        396         308       285
  U Arab Em                      397        310         479       555

Oceania                        1,379      1,170       1,040       745
  Australia                    1,124        867         783       566
  New Zealand                    187        175         110       116

Africa                           916        776         957       656
  Egypt                           11          5          31         7
  Ghana                           67         22          19         8
  Ivory Coast                     46         35          22        79
  Nigeria                        139        151         193       146
  South Africa                   182        157         146        71

World  2/                    165,577    158,590     128,433   112,254
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent. Totals may not add due to rounding.

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