COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                      June 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.  CWS-0597. No printed copies 
available.  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Slow Start for U.S. Cotton Crop

The 1997 U.S. cotton crop is off to a slow start, although planting progress
is ahead of normal.  As of June 8, the crop was 92 percent planted, compared
with 85 percent in 1996 and a 1992-1996 average of 90 percent.  Most States
had completed or nearly completed planting with the exception of Texas and
Oklahoma, where each State's crop was only 83 percent planted.

Although a larger percentage of the cotton crop has been planted, cool, wet
conditions across much of the Cotton Belt have slowed the heat unit
accumulations and consequently the cotton plant's development.  As of early
June, 11 percent of the U.S. cotton crop was squaring, compared with 17
percent a year ago and an average of 15 percent.  Although the national
average is lagging, development in California and Arizona has been exceptional
and well above their respective averages.  Overall, crop conditions as of
early June are similar to those of a year ago.  Ten percent of the crop is
rated "poor" or "very poor," compared with 13 percent in 1996, and 59 percent
is rated "good" or "excellent," compared with 57 percent last year.  Arizona
has 32 percent of its crop rated excellent; New Mexico has 22 percent; and
Texas has 15 percent.

Despite the difficulties surrounding the Delta and Southeast crop and the
uncertainties about actual cotton plantings this season, the USDA cotton
production projection for 1997 remains at 18.5 million bales.  As for cotton
area, a clearer picture should emerge with the June 30 release of USDA's
Acreage report.  Meanwhile, total demand projections for 1997/98 are unchanged
this month at 18.3 million.  U.S. mill use is estimated at 11 million bales,
while exports account for 7.3 million.  With projected production higher than
total demand, ending stocks are expected to rise slightly to 4.15 million
bales, for a stocks-to-use ratio of 22.7 percent, up from 21.9 percent in
1996/97.

Foreign Stock Estimates Lower; Chinese Consumption and Imports Higher

Foreign 1997/98 production, consumption, and trade projections are unchanged
this month.  Foreign production is expected to total 69 million bales in
1997/98--about the same as in 1996/97--while foreign consumption is expected
to total 77.5 million bales--almost 2 million bales higher.  If realized, this
would be the largest annual increase in foreign consumption since 1988/89, and
the highest foreign consumption achieved during the 1990s.   Finally, foreign
exports in 1997/98 are forecast at 19.9 million bales, slightly higher than in
1996/97, and unchanged from last month.

Foreign stocks were significantly revised this month.  Expected 1997/98 and
1996/97 ending stocks shrank by 1.2 million bales, but virtually all the
changes stemmed from historical revisions to estimated Chinese cotton
consumption.

China Consumption Estimates Revised

This month USDA revised its estimates of China's cotton consumption during
1994/95-1996/97 based on revised official Chinese data.  The foundation of
USDA's estimates for China's cotton consumption is the yarn production data
from China's State Statistical Bureau (SSB).  The SSB publishes estimates of
monthly Chinese yarn production during the course of the year, and later
publishes updated annual totals for January-December.  When the SSB revises
its yarn production data, USDA generally revises its estimates of China's
consumption of cotton, and the SSB recently released a summary of updated
data.

The SSB does not publish revisions to its monthly figures, nor does it
differentiate between cotton and other fibers in its yarn data, so estimates
for cotton use on a marketing year basis incorporate several assumptions.  The
most basic assumption is that revisions to the January-December totals apply
equally to each month of the year.  This means that each revision to a given
calendar year by the SSB can affect 2 marketing years. 

The difference between SSB's most recent annual figure for 1995 and the sum of
its original monthly estimates is unusually large, 434,000 tons or 9 percent
of the monthly total.  This is by far the largest such difference since USDA
began accumulating these data in 1982.  The average revisions for the
preceding 10 years was 2 percent, with all the revisions positive and ranging
from 1 to 5 percent.  One possible reason for the increase to 5 percent in
1994 and 9 percent in 1995 is the growing role in China's textile industry of
township-village enterprises and joint-ventures between state-owned mills and
foreign partners.  The SSB probably gets data from state-owned mills more
quickly than from others, and its initial total yarn estimates would in that
case rely on some assumptions about production by joint-venture mills and
township-village enterprises.

Spinning mills are not the only consumers of cotton in China, and cotton is
not the only fiber used for yarn production.  USDA's estimates of China's
cotton consumption also incorporate assumptions about cotton's non-mill use 
and about cotton' share of fiber use by spinning mills.  This month's
revisions in China's cotton consumption also include some minor revisions for
these variables, but are largely derived from changes in the yarn production
data.

While several years of higher estimated Chinese consumption meant lower
estimates for Chinese stocks this month, prospects for larger than previously
expected imports in 1996/97 were partly offsetting.  The forecast for China's
1996/97 cotton imports was raised 700,000 bales from 2.5 million bales to 3.2
million.  Recently released official import data from China indicate that as
of April 1997 imports for the 1996/97 marketing year already totaled 2.5
million bales.  China's reported imports to date from the United States are at
expected levels, and the adjustment in expected trade is entirely accounted
for by non-U.S. cotton.  Between changes in expected beginning stocks,
consumption, and imports, the forecast for China's ending stocks in 1996/97
fell 1.7 million bales from last month's forecast, to 15.4 million bales.

Other, smaller, adjustments were also made to the foreign 1996/97 outlook this
month.  Foreign production in 1996/97 was raised 300,000 bales to 69.3 million
bales.  The crops in India and Pakistan were revised upward based on late-
season ginning arrivals.  Australia's crop was revised upward due to good
harvest weather, while the crops in Argentina and Turkey were revised
downward.

U.S. Mill Use Estimate Unchanged; Exports Raised

April cotton mill consumption recovered from March's decline.  Based on the
latest U.S. Commerce Department data, U.S. cotton mill use averaged a
seasonally adjusted 42,100 480-pound bales per day in April, compared with
40,700 bales in March.  During April 1996, the rate equaled 41,200 bales.  On
a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) basis, April mill use reached 11
million bales, up from 10.6 million in March.  So far this season, the SAAR
has averaged close to 10.9 million bales.

Cotton mill consumption during the first 9 months of 1996/97 reached 8.1
million bales, compared with 7.9 million for the corresponding period a year
ago when 10.65 million bales were used.  With 3 months of data yet to be
reported for 1996/97, cotton mill use is on track to reach the 10.9-million-
bale estimate.

Manmade fiber consumption also increased in April to 134 million pounds,
nearly 14 percent above March.  Since August, manmade fiber use on the cotton
system surpassed 1.1 billion pounds, 6 percent above a year ago.  With manmade
fiber use rising faster than that for cotton, cotton's share of fiber use has
fallen slightly from 1995/96's 78.1 percent to 77.7 percent for this season
through April.

Estimated U.S. exports for 1996/97 were raised 100,000 bales to 7.1 million
based on continued strong sales and shipments.  China, Turkey, Mexico, and
Indonesia remain consistent buyers of U.S. cotton; export shipments averaged
nearly 150,000 bales per week in May.

Cotton Prices Mixed

U.S. cotton prices were mixed in May.  The average price received by upland
producers for the first half of May was 66.6 cents per pound, down from 67.3
cents in April and the lowest since October 1994.  Likewise, the ELS spot
price declined slightly in May, unlike the upland spot price which increased
marginally.

The mill-delivered upland price averaged 75.5 cents per pound, up from 75.2
cents in April but well below the 90.2 cents recorded in May 1996.  Meanwhile,
polyester staple prices were unchanged in May at 68 cents per pound, also well
below a year ago.  These lower fiber prices may help explain the increase in
fiber consumption this season.

New-crop cotton prices declined about 2 cents per pound over the last 2
months.  In March, the December 1997 futures averaged about 77 cents before
dropping below 75 cents in May.  However, so far in June, the price has
rebounded to average 75.5 cents per pound as concerns are mounting over the
1997 cotton crop's potential.


U.S. Textile Trade Deficit Increases Despite Larger Exports

Preliminary textile trade data indicate U.S. exports increased for the third
consecutive month in March, totaling 323 million pounds (raw-fiber
equivalent), 13 percent above a year earlier.  Textile exports were higher in
all major fibers and all end-use categories.  Apparel exports, at 150 million
pounds, accounted for 46 percent of total shipments and were 21 percent above
March 1996.  Manmade textiles represented 48 percent of total shipments and
cotton, 44 percent. 

Textile imports declined for the third consecutive month to 659 million
pounds, down 3 percent from February.  Lower shipments of cotton, silk, linen,
and manmade fiber textiles more than offset a slight increase in wool imports. 
A drop in apparel shipments accounted for most of the decline in March
imports.  Cotton imports, at 345 million pounds, accounted for 52 percent of
all textile shipments.

Overall, the March textile trade deficit was 337 million pounds, with cotton
accounting for 60 percent of the total (202 million pounds).  Despite larger
textile exports, the total trade deficit was more than 27 percent above March
1996.  In addition, the deficit for the first 3 months of 1997 was 1.17
billion pounds, compared to 975 million a year ago.  Gains in textile imports
for all fibers have outpaced increases in textile exports during the January-
March period.  Total cotton exports are 42 million pounds above 1996 shipments
while imports are 140 million higher.  Similarly, manmade fiber shipments
increased 49 million pounds from a year earlier, but manmade imports rose over
119 million pounds.

                                       * * * 

The next Cotton and Wool Outlook (CWS-0697) will be released on July 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     Apr        May          Jun
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                      16.72     14.41       14.38      14.38
  Harvested                    15.80     12.58       12.61      12.61
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           533       703         701        701

                                        Million 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks              2.59      2.54        2.54       2.54
  Production                   17.53     18.42       18.41      18.41
    Total supply 1/            20.52     21.36       21.36      21.36
  Mill use                     10.54     10.89       10.79      10.79
  Exports                       7.38      6.55        6.55       6.64
   Total use                   17.91     17.44       17.34      17.43
  Ending stocks                 2.54      3.91        4.01       3.91
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           14.2      22.4        23.1       22.5
  
Extra-long staple:                           1,000 acres
  Planted                        215       258         258        258
  Harvested                      211       256         256        256
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           836       998         991        991

                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                62        66         66          66
  Production                     368       533        529         529
    Total supply 1/              438       604        600         600
  Mill use                       109       110        110         110
  Exports                        300       450        450         460
    Total use                    409       560        560         570
  Ending stocks                   66        44         40          30
                                               Percent  
  Stocks-to-use ratio           16.1       7.9        7.1         5.3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.  1/ Includes imports.




WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1996/97
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1995/96     Apr        May          Jun
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        28.23     35.68      35.42       33.47
  Foreign                      25.58     33.07      32.81       30.86
Production
  World                        92.25     88.12      87.95       88.27
  Foreign                      74.35     69.17      69.00       69.32
Imports
  World                        27.20     27.57      27.54       28.10
  Foreign                      26.79     27.17      27.13       27.70
Use:
Mill use
  World                        86.49     86.55      86.44       86.67
  Foreign                      75.84     75.55      75.54       75.77
Exports
  World                        27.48     26.77      26.73       26.66
  Foreign                      19.81     19.77      19.73       19.56
Ending stocks
  World                        33.47     37.85      37.54       36.31
  Foreign                      30.86     33.90      33.49       32.36

Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         38.7      43.7       43.4        41.9
  Foreign                       40.7      44.9       44.3        42.7
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.


FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                              ---------------------------
Item                             Feb       Mar       Apr          Apr
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                       190         0          0           0
Imports since August 1         399.1     401.1         NA        41.8
  Stocks, beginning           13,482    12,088     10,353       7,271
    At mills                     658       683        695         641
    Public storage            10,806     9,397      7,876       5,575
    CCC stocks                 2,500     2,231      1,834       1,501

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   798.9     868.1      917.7       797.2
    Noncellulosic              749.0     822.3      871.8       757.1
    Cellulosic                  49.9      45.8       45.9        40.1
    Total since January 1    1,705.0   2,573.2    3,490.9     3,021.5

                                         1997                    1996
                             ---------------------------
                                Jan       Feb        Mar          Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
  Raw fiber imports            123.0     105.5      113.0        93.3
   Noncellulosic               114.0      97.9      105.2        86.3
    Cellulosic                   9.0       7.6        7.8         7.0
    Total since January 1      123.0     228.5      341.5       239.2

Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      9,701     5,767      6,112       8,763
    48's-and-finer             7,203     2,144      3,331       6,162
    Not-finer-than-46's        2,498     3,623      2,781       2,601
    Total since January 1      9,701    15,469     21,581      27,577

  Wool top imports                73        79        249         103
    Total since January 1         73       152        401         902
  Mohair imports, clean            0         9          3           0
    Total since January 1          0         9          3           3
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.


COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                              ---------------------------
Item                             Feb       Mar        Apr         Apr
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         850       888        960         930
  Total since August 1 1/      6,292     7,180      8,140       7,929
  SA annual rate 2/           10,767    10,618     11,001      10,790
  SA daily rate 2/              41.3      40.7       42.1        41.2
  Daily rate                    42.5      42.3       43.6        42.3

Upland consumed by mills 1/      841       878        950         921
  Total since August 1 1/      6,232     7,111      8,061       7,847
  SA annual rate 2/           10,662    10,496     10,883      10,675
  SA daily rate 2/              40.8      40.2       41.7        40.7
  Daily rate                    42.1      41.8       43.2        41.8

Spindles in place              5,774     5,763      5,701       6,344
  Active spindles              5,431     5,437      5,375       5,777
    100 percent cotton         2,583     2,584      2,549       2,645
    100 percent manmade          939       934        936       1,016
    Blends                     1,909     1,919      1,890       2,116
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        77.0      78.3       77.4        78.7

Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/   121,949   118,401    134,429     120,670
  Total since August 1 1/    867,212   985,614  1,120,043   1,053,938
  Daily rate                   6,097     5,638      6,110       5,485
    Noncellulosic staple       5,412     4,988      5,401       4,676
    Cellulosic staple            685       650        709         809
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month.  2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.


FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                  1996
                               --------------------------
Item                             Jan       Feb        Mar         Mar  
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 587       673        772         739
    Total since August 1       2,614     3,287      4,059       6,310
  Sales for next season           76        99        161          96
    Total since August 1         196       295        456         377

  ELS exports                   78.4      55.8       75.7        38.7
    Total since August 1       227.5     283.3      359.0       229.0
  Sales for next season          1.4       4.7       30.8        25.7
    Total since August 1        18.5      23.1       53.9       139.7

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports            104.0      93.0      104.5        96.9
    Noncellulosic               95.0      85.1       90.4        90.8
    Cellulosic                   9.0       7.9       14.1         6.1
    Total since January 1      104.0     197.0      301.5       266.9

Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean      300.1     139.9      481.9       440.5
   Total since January 1       300.1     440.0      921.9       960.4
  Wool top exports             445.1     522.3      845.1       842.0
    Total since January 1      445.1     967.4    1,812.4     2,812.1
  Mohair exports, clean            0     222.8      223.6       323.9
    Total since January 1          0     222.8      446.3     1,767.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------


FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                               --------------------------
Item                             Mar       Apr        May         May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted World Price         66.24      64.68     65.92       69.87
  Jul'97 futures               76.05      73.40     72.48       83.48
  Dec'97 futures               76.93      75.64     74.84       79.45
  Upland spot 41-34            71.12      69.09     69.30       83.22
  Pima spot 03-46             116.20     116.50    114.83      154.35
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           69.40      67.30     66.60       76.70

  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   77.95      75.18     75.54       90.20
      Raw fiber equivalent     86.61      83.53     83.93      100.22
    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                   70.00      68.00     68.00       80.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     72.92      70.83     70.83       83.33

    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              72.3       69.7      70.1        83.7
      Cotton/polyester         118.8      117.9     118.5       120.3

Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      80.26      78.85     79.38       83.23
  Memphis Territory            82.63      80.50     80.75       95.60
  California/Arizona           84.63      82.13     82.15       98.50
  B Index                      74.55      73.19     75.64       77.71
  Orleans/Texas                78.25      76.25     76.65       89.00

Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      1.27       1.34      1.47        1.35
  Australian 56's 1/            1.96       1.95      1.95        1.84
 U.S. 60's                      1.64       1.80      1.89        1.56
  Australian 60's 1/            2.04       2.02      2.09        1.95
 U.S. 64's                      2.08       2.28      2.48        1.95
  Australian 64's 1/            2.54       2.61      2.79        2.42
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.

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

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   212,037    207,523   200,932     156,244
    Cotton                    86,624     72,335    71,723      59,251
    Linen                     32,938     46,138    34,713      26,665
    Wool                       3,610      3,584     4,503       3,372
    Silk                         750        692       687         644
    Manmade                   88,110     84,773    89,307      66,312

  Apparel                    432,746    413,651   398,442     340,372
    Cotton                   251,160    246,315   242,258     204,013
    Linen                     12,596     10,535     8,237       7,587
    Wool                      11,913     11,348    10,797      10,242
    Silk                      14,100     11,677    10,163       8,796
    Manmade                  142,976    133,777   126,988     109,734

  House furnishings           33,451     31,746    30,912      28,427
    Cotton                    24,876     23,453    23,490      20,966
    Linen                        127         95       120         135
    Wool                          83         66       105          86
    Silk                          63         12        43          28
    Manmade                    8,302      8,120     7,153       7,213

  Floor covering              24,426     23,108    23,551      19,147
    Cotton                     4,218      4,277     4,876       3,191
    Linen                      3,378      2,644     2,826       2,281
    Wool                       6,749      5,730     5,657       4,887
    Silk                         355        434       413         230
    Manmade                    9,726     10,023     9,779       8,558

  Total imports 2/           710,470    682,203   659,455     549,585
    Cotton                   370,834    349,750   345,311     290,319
    Linen                     49,061     59,440    45,942      36,703
    Wool                      22,454     20,771    21,105      18,637
    Silk                      15,269     12,814    11,306       9,702
    Manmade                  252,853    239,428   235,791     194,224

Exports:                                 1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   114,594    119,966   130,603     123,971
    Cotton                    36,156     35,447    42,232      45,675
    Linen                      3,137      3,520     3,857       3,166
    Wool                       3,661      3,557     4,379       3,169
    Silk                       1,532      1,649     1,787       1,319
    Manmade                   70,108     75,792    78,347      70,642

  Apparel                    116,152    135,412   149,728     123,585
    Cotton                    72,975     83,319    92,337      72,932
    Linen                      2,054      2,060     2,668       2,618
    Wool                       4,380      5,954     6,576       6,168
    Silk                       1,408      2,125     2,525       2,014
    Manmade                   35,334     41,954    45,622      39,852

  House furnishings            5,472      5,315     7,594       6,140
    Cotton                     3,439      3,130     4,491       3,965
    Linen                        179        293       404         257
    Wool                          49         74       150          56
    Silk                         134        210       251          59
    Manmade                    1,671      1,607     2,298       1,802

  Floor covering              29,529     30,014    34,229      30,657
    Cotton                     2,959      3,154     3,700       3,138
    Linen                      1,276      1,419     1,450       1,273
    Wool                       1,541      1,467     1,918       1,727
    Silk 3/                      ---       ---        ---         ---
    Manmade                   23,753     23,975    27,161      24,519

  Total exports 2/           266,107    291,037   322,575     284,847
    Cotton                   115,562    125,093   142,833     125,791
    Linen                      6,653      7,302     8,394       7,331
    Wool                       9,642     11,067    13,052      11,156
    Silk                       3,074      7,058    11,621       3,392
    Manmade                  131,175    143,592   153,733     137,178
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  Data for 1997 will be revised.
2/ Includes headgear.  3/ Absence of trade.




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

North America                101,737   127,646    140,939     100,256
  Canada                       9,479     9,789     11,681       8,217
  Costa Rica                   5,710     7,651      7,780       6,028
  Dominican Republic           8,017    13,823     15,160      11,623
  El Salvador                  8,864    10,032     11,741       7,658
  Guatemala                    5,279     7,223      7,518       5,937
  Haiti                          698     1,110      1,243         768
  Honduras                    12,800    17,844     19,915      13,454
  Jamaica                      4,840     6,157      6,800       7,981
  Mexico                      43,827    51,214     56,048      35,941
  Nicaragua                    1,817     2,437      2,527       1,840

South America                  6,636     6,881      7,398       9,170
  Argentina                        5        13         11         197
  Brazil                       2,431     2,358      2,773       4,232
  Chile                          317       192        132         603
  Colombia                     1,731     2,352      2,239       2,489
  Peru                         1,907     1,639      1,822       1,415
  
Europe                        22,639    19,258     20,882      21,249
  Estonia                        848       625        751         838
  France                         684       605        648         516
  Germany                        393       391        467         453
  Italy                        3,035     3,139      3,034       2,705
  Portugal                       882       765      1,267       2,217
  Russia                         801       856        782         747
  Spain                        1,495     1,154        807       1,304
  Turkey                      10,367     8,179      8,880       8,635
  United Kingdom                 916       862        969         906
  
Asia                         226,602   185,076    164,002     148,466
  Bahrain                        962       778        642         587
  Bangladesh                  15,332    14,364     11,727       9,061
  China                       40,704    28,548     22,473      19,707
  Hong Kong                   31,527    18,747     12,791      14,757
  India                       28,569    29,679     30,397      22,544
  Indonesia                   15,713    12,021     10,114       9,113
  Israel                       2,208     1,851      1,970       2,079
  Japan                        1,331     1,190      1,222       1,015
  Macao                        5,273     3,877      2,620       2,339
  Malaysia                     5,130     3,355      2,969       3,502
  Nepal                        1,315     1,440      1,480       1,499
  Oman                         1,725     1,468      1,627       1,157
  Pakistan                    21,299    24,606     19,278      18,539
  Philippines                  9,290     7,380      8,662       8,752
  Quator                       1,383     1,220      1,025         758
  Singapore                    2,416     1,630      1,215       1,676
  South Korea                  6,353     4,190      5,004       4,403
  Sri Lanka                    8,776     6,543      7,114       6,816
  Taiwan                      10,863    10,493      9,145       8,624
  Thailand                    11,085     7,133      7,297       5,984
  U Arab 0m                    2,701     2,297      2,541       2,563

Oceania                        1,035       701        856       1,304
  Australia                      253       267        247         540
  Fiji                           532       303        363         490
 
Africa                        11,076     8,852      9,995       8,339
  Egypt                        4,452     4,507      5,240       4,059
  Lesotho                      1,706     1,044      1,128       1,067
  Mauritius                    1,106     1,265      1,109       1,175
  Morocco                        624       456        407         342
  South Africa                   765       607      1,097         459
  Tunisia                        120       170        117         106

World  2/                    370,834   349,750    345,311     290,319
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.


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

North America                 92,946   100,942    112,409      89,743
  Canada                      20,022    18,610     21,915      17,551
  Costa Rica                   6,767     8,385      7,052       6,409
  Dominican Republic          10,107    13,478     13,657      10,308
  El Salvador                  3,013     3,198      5,489       3,477
  Guatemala                    4,427     4,172      4,347       3,401
  Haiti                          737     1,399      1,294         708
  Honduras                    13,523    13,465     16,335      10,118
  Jamaica                      6,576     5,543      7,637       8,074
  Mexico                      26,734    31,405     33,446      28,480

South America                  3,824     4,252      5,425       4,408
  Argentina                      298       112        191         223
  Brazil                         524     1,028      1,165         569
  Chile                          640       367        675         732
  Colombia                     1,210     1,254      1,331       1,716
  Peru                            88       157        246         177
  Venezuela                      779       920      1,128         556

Europe                         6,856     7,727      8,633      17,018
  Belgium                      1,051       824      1,148       4,552
  France                         523       696        648         535
  Germany                        854     1,185      1,308       1,145
  Ireland                         70       138        190       2,922
  Italy                          141       208        289       1,011
  Netherlands                    624       581        562         925
  United Kingdom               1,986     2,270      2,332       3,568

Asia                          10,171    10,877     14,308      13,006
  China                           91        57         85         232
  Hong Kong                    1,020       838      1,428       1,091
  Israel                       1,610     1,005      1,536       1,088
  Japan                        4,309     5,990      7,015       6,942
  Philippines                    190       306        384         291
  Saudi Arabia                   702       421        922         760
  Singapore                      403       338        638         418
  South Korea                    387       450        393         529
  Taiwan                         168       289        231         285
  U Arab Em                      308       250        502         280

Oceania                        1,088       754        969         547
  Australia                      738       519        690         393
  New Zealand                    115       150        203         140

Africa                           538       385        838         767
  Egypt                           49         4         86          28
  Ghana                           12        22         27          15
  Ivory Coast                     14        82        108          70
  Nigeria                         70        41        116         171
  South Africa                    90       133        110         301

World  2/                    115,562   125,093    142,833     125,791
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.

END_OF_FILE