COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                        July 14, 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-06f7.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smaller 1997 Area and Production

According to USDA's June Acreage report, U.S. producers have planted or
intended to plant 14.0 million acres of cotton this season.  The revised area
is nearly 500,000 acres (3 percent) below March intentions and more than
600,000 below 1996/97.  The decline is attributable to a cool, wet spring
which limited plantings and generally favorable net return prospects for
several competing crops.

Upland area fell 4 percent from 1996 to 13.75 million acres, while extra-long
staple (ELS) cotton is expected to fall 3 percent to 250,000 acres.  Each
region, except the Southeast, indicated smaller area devoted to cotton in
1997.  Based on the Acreage report, the Delta experienced the largest decline,
14 percent below 1996.  Indications also include a 7-percent reduction in
cotton area in the West, while the Southwest is expected to experience only a
1 percent decline from a year ago.  In contrast, the Southeast showed a
2-percent gain, as the recent buildup in the cotton infrastructure of the
region has supported acreage there and some area planted to corn last year has
returned to cotton.

Overall crop conditions have generally improved over the last several weeks
and are slightly better than a year ago.  As of July 6, 60 percent of the crop
was rated in "good" or "excellent" condition, compared with 56 percent a year
ago.  While the condition of the U.S. cotton crop is similar to 1996, the
development of the crop remains behind schedule.  By July 6, 67 percent of the
crop was squaring, compared with 77 percent last year and a 5-year average of
70 percent.  In addition, only 14 percent of the cotton crop was setting
bolls, compared with 24 percent in 1996 and a 5-year average of 20 percent.

With planted acreage smaller than earlier indicated, the U.S. cotton
production estimate was also lowered.  The July projection for U.S. production
is 18 million bales, 500,000 below a month earlier.  With many uncertainties
still surrounding the crop, the national average yield was left unchanged at
the trend level of 670 pounds per harvested acre.  Harvested area was lowered
to 12.9 million acres.  On August 12, the National Agricultural Statistics
Service (NASS) will provide initial survey estimates of cotton harvested area,
yield, and production, as well as an update on planted area.

With the lower production projection and 1997/98 carryin stocks near 4 million
bales, total cotton supply is estimated similar to 1996/97 at 22.1 million
bales.  Meanwhile, total demand is expected to rise slightly to 18.1 million
bales, with most of the increase anticipated attributable to domestic mill
consumption.  Mill use is expected to improve to 11 million bales in 1997/98. 
The export forecast for 1997/98 was lowered 200,000 bales from June to 7.1
million, as a smaller U.S. crop and increased competition from foreign exports
is anticipated.  However, the U.S. export forecast is similar to 1996/97. 
With the outlook for U.S. cotton production offset by total demand, 1997/98
ending stocks are projected to remain near the 4-million-bale level, a
stocks-to-use ratio of about 22 percent which is slightly lower than in
1996/97.

Foreign Production and Consumption

Foreign cotton production in 1997/98 is expected to be about unchanged from a
year earlier at 68.9 million bales, while consumption is expected to rise 2
percent from 1996/97 to 77.1 million.  Foreign trade is expected to be
slightly higher than the year before, and foreign ending stocks are expected
to decline.  Foreign ending stocks in 1997/98 are expected to fall 1.2 million
bales from the year before to 31.3 million, or 32 percent of use.

A 32-percent stocks-to-use ratio would be down from an estimated 34 percent
for 1996/97.  However, most of the world's stocks outside of the United States
are in China, and most of the forecasted foreign stock change is in China. 
Excluding China--where stocks have not been accessible to the world
market--foreign ending stocks are expected to fall only 360,000 bales.  Foreign
cotton stocks, excluding China, as a share of use are expected to fall from
22.5 percent in 1996/97 to 21.4 percent in 1997/98.

As with stocks, the largest expected annual change in production in 1997/98 is
China's, a 2.3-million-bale decline, to 17 million bales.  China's planted
area is expected to fall almost 5 percent from 1996/97, following procurement
difficulties during the 1996/97 harvest that may have discouraged some farmers
from planting this spring.  Slightly lower yields are also expected due to
reduced input use, and the possibility of bollworm problems following a warm
winter.

India's crop is also expected to fall in 1997/98, but rebounding yields are
expected to increase production in Uzbekistan and Pakistan.  Higher production
than the year before is also expected for Argentina, Greece, Brazil, and
Paraguay.  With higher production expected in a number of countries, once
Chinas production is excluded, foreign production is expected to rise 2.1
million bales.

For consumption in 1997/98, China is again the largest single expected
year-to-year change, but accounts for a much smaller share of expected global
change than is the case for either stocks or production.  China's consumption
is expected to rise 300,000 bales to 20.5 million.  India is forecast to be
both the second largest consumer of cotton in the world--at 12.4 million
bales--and tied with Pakistan for the second largest expected year-to-year
change in consumption, a 200,000-bale increase.   This would represent a
rebound for Pakistan, but would be the slowest rate of growth in India's
consumption since 1991.

U.S. Mill Use and Exports Lowered Slightly

Based on the latest U.S. Commerce Department data, U.S. cotton mill
consumption averaged a seasonally adjusted 41,500 480-pound bales per day in
May, compared with 42,000 bales in April.  During May 1996, the rate equaled
41,400 bales.  On a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) basis, May cotton
mill use totaled 10.8 million bales, down from April's 11-million-bale rate. 
So far this season, the SAAR has averaged 10.85 million bales.

Cotton mill consumption for the first 10 months of 1996/97 approached 9.1
million bales, compared with 8.9 million a year earlier when 10.65 million
bales were used.  With cotton mill use expected to continue near its recent
levels, the cotton consumption estimate for the 1996/97 season was lowered
slightly to 10.85 million bales.

Meanwhile, manmade fiber usage on the cotton system increased slightly from
April to nearly 134 million pounds in May.  Since August, manmade fiber use
has exceeded 1.25 billion pounds, 5 percent above a year ago.  Cotton's share
of fiber use during the first 10 month's of 1996/97 remains at 77.7 percent,
below 1995/96's 78.1 percent.

Like mill consumption, U.S. exports for 1996/97 were lowered slightly this
month, reflecting the shipment pace reported in recent U.S. Export Sales
reports.  Exports are currently estimated at 7.05 million bales; shipments
similar to the June average of 140,000 bales are necessary during each of the
remaining 4 weeks.

Cotton Prices Move Higher

U.S. cotton prices increased in June, with the exception of the ELS spot
price.  The average price received by upland producers during the first half
of June was 69.8 cents per pound, up from 68.1 cents in May and the highest
since October 1996.  Spot prices for base quality upland cotton also rose
slightly to a June average of 71 cents.  For ELS, the spot price fell nearly 7
cents per pound from May to $1.08 in June.

Mill-delivered upland prices continued higher, rising from the 2-1/2 year low
reported in April.  For June, the mill price averaged 77 cents per pound, 1.5
cents above May.  Unlike cotton, however, rayon and polyester staple prices
have held constant.  Rayon prices in June averaged $1.15 per pound while
polyester prices were 68 cents.  Cotton prices have become somewhat less
competitive and this may help explain the recent decline in cotton's share of
fiber use.

New-crop prices also moved higher in June with the December 1997 futures
averaging near 76 cents per pound.  However, during the first part of July,
this contract has averaged closer to 75 cents.  Similarly, A Index prices have
declined slightly in early July, averaging near the 81-cent level, with the
U.S. quotes 2 cents above the A Index.

"Step 2" Triggered

On July 10, the upland cotton user marketing certificate program, known as
"Step 2," triggered for the first time since November 24, 1994.  The "Step 2"
program is designed to keep U.S. cotton competitive on the world market. 
Payments are made to U.S. manufacturers and exporters of U.S. upland cotton
during the week subsequent to announcement.  Depending on cotton prices, the
current payment rate of 0.57 cents per pound will either be recomputed or
eliminated as determined by formula each Thursday.

Textile Trade Deficit Rises in April

Preliminary April textile trade data indicate imports rose 4 percent from a
month earlier to 688 million (raw-fiber equivalent) pounds.  April shipments
were the largest since October 1996 and were 23 percent above a year ago. 
Imports of all fibers, except linen, were above March levels.  Imports of all
end-use categories were also above a month earlier.  Cotton textile imports,
at 369 million pounds, accounted for 54 percent of all textile shipments, up
nearly 2 percent from March's share.

Total U.S. textile exports increased 1 percent above the previous month but
were nearly 16 percent above a year earlier.  Shipments of all fibers, except
cotton, rose above month-earlier levels.  Larger shipments of apparel and
yarn, thread, and fabric more than offset declines in home furnishings and
floor coverings.  Apparel exports, at 142 million pounds, accounted for 47
percent of total April shipments and were 24 percent above year-ago exports.

Overall, the April textile trade deficit was 362 million pounds, with cotton
accounting for 63 percent of the total (227 million pounds).  The April
deficit increased 30 percent from a year earlier when it totaled 278 million
pounds.  In addition, the deficit for the first 4 months of 1997 was 1.5
billion pounds, compared with 1.25 billion a year ago.  Despite larger textile
exports of all fibers, except manmade, from a year earlier, stronger growth of
textile imports has increased the trade deficit this year.

                                    * * * 

The next issue of COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK (CWS-0797) will be released August
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     May         Jun        Jul
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                      16.72     14.38      14.38       14.38
  Harvested                    15.80     12.61      12.61       12.61
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           533       701        701         701

                                        Million 480-lb. bales 
  Beginning stocks              2.59      2.54       2.54        2.54
  Production                   17.53     18.41      18.41       18.41
    Total supply 1/            20.52     21.36      21.36       21.36
  Mill use                     10.54     10.79      10.79       10.75
  Exports                       7.38      6.55       6.64        6.59
   Total use                   17.91     17.34      17.43       17.34
  Ending stocks                 2.54      4.01       3.91        4.01
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           14.2      23.1       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       991        991         991

                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                62        66         66          66
  Production                     368       529        529         529
    Total supply 1/              438       600        600         595
  Mill use                       109       110        110         105
  Exports                        300       450        460         460
    Total use                    409       560        570         565
  Ending stocks                   66        40         40          40
                                               Percent  
  Stocks-to-use ratio           16.1       7.1        7.0         7.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.  1/ Includes imports.


WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1996/97
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1995/96     May        Jun          Jul
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        28.15     35.42      33.47       33.61
  Foreign                      25.50     32.81      30.86       31.00
Production
  World                        92.41     87.95      88.27       88.05
  Foreign                      74.51     69.00      69.32       69.11
Imports
  World                        27.50     27.54      28.10       28.21
  Foreign                      27.10     27.13      27.70       27.80
Use:
Mill use
  World                        86.64     86.44      86.67       86.36
  Foreign                      75.99     75.54      75.77       75.51
Exports
  World                        27.48     26.73      26.66       26.66
  Foreign                      19.80     19.73      19.56       19.61
Ending stocks
  World                        33.61     37.54      36.31       36.55
  Foreign                      31.00     33.49      32.36       32.50

Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         38.8      43.4       41.9        42.3
  Foreign                       40.8      44.3       42.7        43.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.


FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                              ---------------------------
Item                             Mar      Apr        May          May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                         0         0          0           0
Imports since August 1         401.1     401.6         NA        90.2
  Stocks, beginning           12,088    10,353      8,689       5,778
    At mills                     683       695        698         662
    Public storage             9,397     7,876      6,409       4,519
    CCC stocks                 2,231     1,834      1,495       1,103

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   864.4     913.2      824.5       811.3
    Noncellulosic              818.6     867.3      780.4       769.3
    Cellulosic                  45.8      45.9       44.1        42.0
    Total since January 1    2,573.2   3,486.4    4,310.9     3,968.2

                                         1997                    1996
                             -----------------------------
                                 Feb       Mar        Apr         Apr
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
  Raw fiber imports            105.5     113.0      107.5        91.1
   Noncellulosic                97.9     105.2      100.0        85.9
    Cellulosic                   7.6       7.8        7.5         5.2
    Total since January 1      228.5     341.5      449.0       347.1

Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      5,767     6,112      6,633       5,574
    48's-and-finer             2,144     3,331      4,608       3,824
    Not-finer-than-46's        3,623     2,781      2,026       1,750
    Total since January 1     15,469    21,581     28,215      33,152

  Wool top imports                79       249        167         402
    Total since January 1        152       401        568       1,304
  Mohair imports, clean            9         3          0           2
    Total since January 1          9         3          3           5
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.


COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                              ---------------------------
Item                             Mar       Apr       May          May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         888       955        950         991
  Total since August 1 1/      7,180     8,135      9,085       8,919
  SA annual rate 2/           10,644    10,956     10,822      10,840
  SA daily rate 2/              40.8      42.0       41.5        41.4
  Daily rate                    42.3      43.4       43.2        43.1

Upland consumed by mills 1/      878       945        940         982
  Total since August 1 1/      7,111     8,056      8,996       8,828
  SA annual rate 2/           10,522    10,840     10,712      10,733
  SA daily rate 2/              40.3      41.5       41.0        41.0
  Daily rate                    41.8      43.0       42.7        42.7

Spindles in place              5,763     5,699      5,621       6,237
  Active spindles              5,437     5,373      5,329       5,702
    100 percent cotton         2,584     2,546      2,561       2,634
    100 percent manmade          934       935        892         980
    Blends                     1,919     1,892      1,876       2,088
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        78.3      77.5       77.3        78.0

Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/   118,401   132,934    133,639     134,498
  Total since August 1 1/    985,614 1,118,548  1,252,187   1,188,436
  Daily rate                   5,638     6,042      6,075       5,848
    Noncellulosic staple       4,988     5,377      5,460       5,015
    Cellulosic staple            650       665        615         833
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month.  2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.



FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                  1996
                               --------------------------
Item                             Feb       Mar        Apr         Apr
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 673       772        676         552
    Total since August 1       3,287     4,059      4,735       6,633
  Sales for next season           99       161        166          36
    Total since August 1         295       456        622         413
     
ELS exports                     55.8      75.7       35.0        24.5
    Total since August 1       283.3     359.0      394.0       253.5
  Sales for next season          4.7      30.8       18.6        12.1
    Total since August 1        23.1      53.9       72.5       151.7

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports             93.0     104.5       96.3        88.7
    Noncellulosic               85.1      90.4       83.5        83.0
    Cellulosic                   7.9      14.1       12.8         5.7
    Total since January 1      197.0     301.5      397.8       358.1

Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean      139.9     481.9      385.1       404.9
   Total since January 1       440.0     921.9    1,307.0     1,365.2
  Wool top exports             522.3     845.1      444.4       659.6
    Total since January 1      967.4   1,812.4    2,256.8     3,471.7
  Mohair exports, clean        222.8     223.6      146.4       214.2
    Total since January 1      222.8     446.3      592.7     1,981.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------


FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                               --------------------------
Item                             Apr       May       Jun          Jun
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted World Price         64.68     65.92      66.66       68.55
  Oct'97 futures               74.68     73.96      75.23       78.00
  Dec'97 futures               75.64     74.84      75.92       77.22
  Upland spot 41-34            69.09     69.30      71.03       80.23
  Pima spot 03-46             116.50    114.83     108.07      140.00
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           67.30     68.10      69.80       76.90

  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   75.18     75.54      77.09       85.99
      Raw fiber equivalent     83.53     83.93      85.66       95.54
    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                   68.00     68.00      68.00       78.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     70.83     70.83      70.83       81.25

    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              69.7      70.1       71.5        79.8
      Cotton/polyester         117.9     118.5      120.9       117.6

Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      78.85     79.38      80.84       82.80
  Memphis Territory            80.50     80.75      82.50       93.25
  California/Arizona           82.13     82.15      84.63       93.25
  B Index                      73.19     75.64      79.54       77.25
  Orleans/Texas                76.25     76.65      78.25       85.75

Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      1.34      1.47       1.50        1.35
  Australian 56's 1/            1.95      1.95       2.05        1.81
 U.S. 60's                      1.80      1.89       1.85        1.55
  Australian 60's 1/            2.02      2.09       2.18        1.99
 U.S. 64's                      2.28      2.48       2.55        1.92
  Australian 64's 1/            2.61      2.79       2.87        2.45
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.


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

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   207,523   200,932     209,167    171,897
    Cotton                    72,335    71,723      89,822     70,895
    Linen                     46,138    34,713      20,995     26,278
    Wool                       3,584     4,503       5,295      3,740
    Silk                         692       687         649        680
    Manmade                   84,773    89,307      92,406     70,303

  Apparel                    413,651   398,442     413,179    333,652
    Cotton                   246,315   242,258     245,923    197,358
    Linen                     10,535     8,237       8,435      6,798
    Wool                      11,348    10,797      12,898     11,582
    Silk                      11,677    10,163      11,810      9,232
    Manmade                  133,777   126,988     134,113    108,682

  House furnishings           31,746    30,912      34,168     26,803
    Cotton                    23,453    23,490      25,146     19,798
    Linen                         95       120         131        106
    Wool                          66       105         144         67
    Silk                          12        43          33         37
    Manmade                    8,120     7,153       8,714      6,794

  Floor covering              23,108    23,551      24,451     21,979
    Cotton                     4,277     4,876       4,108      4,449
    Linen                      2,644     2,826       2,916      2,410
    Wool                       5,730     5,657       6,720      5,911
    Silk                         434       413         348        236
    Manmade                   10,023     9,779      10,358      8,972

  Total imports 2/           682,203   659,455     687,867    559,613
    Cotton                   349,750   345,311     368,579    295,252
    Linen                     59,440    45,942      32,504     35,616
    Wool                      20,771    21,105      25,130     21,395
    Silk                      12,814    11,306      12,840     10,190
    Manmade                  239,428   235,791     248,815    197,159

Exports:                                 1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   119,966   130,603     133,208    121,258
    Cotton                    35,447    42,232      41,560     45,911
    Linen                      3,520     3,857       4,261      3,372
    Wool                       3,557     4,379       4,111      3,445
    Silk                       1,649     1,787       1,753      1,230
    Manmade                   75,792    78,347      81,524     67,300

  Apparel                    135,412   149,728     153,478    124,238
    Cotton                    83,319    92,337      93,872     76,011
    Linen                      2,060     2,668       2,556      2,056
    Wool                       5,954     6,576       7,878      4,445
    Silk                       2,125     2,525       3,197      1,794
    Manmade                   41,954    45,622      45,976     38,932

  House furnishings            5,315     7,594       5,913      5,851
    Cotton                     3,130     4,491       3,464      3,484
    Linen                        293       404         248        180
    Wool                          74       150         121         68
    Silk                         210       251         205         87
    Manmade                    1,607     2,298       1,876      2,031

  Floor covering              30,014    34,229      33,076     29,929
    Cotton                     3,154     3,700       3,065      2,805
    Linen                      1,419     1,450       1,384      1,256
    Wool                       1,467     1,918       1,656      1,512
    Silk 3/                      ---       ---        ---         ---
    Manmade                   23,975    27,161      26,970     24,356

  Total exports 2/           291,037   322,575     326,070    281,585
    Cotton                   125,093   142,833     142,021    128,269
    Linen                      7,302     8,394       8,462      6,877
    Wool                      11,067    13,052      13,791     10,492
    Silk                       7,058    11,621      16,775      3,111
    Manmade                  143,592   153,733     156,641    132,835
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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                          Feb       Mar       Apr         Apr
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1,000 pounds 1/

North America                127,646    140,939   141,400      99,147
  Canada                       9,789     11,681    13,629       8,786
  Costa Rica                   7,651      7,780     6,380       6,421
  Dominican Republic          13,823     15,160    16,231      11,382
  El Salvador                 10,032     11,741    10,130       6,630
  Guatemala                    7,223      7,518     6,339       5,477
  Haiti                        1,110      1,243     1,310         744
  Honduras                    17,844     19,915    15,964      11,960
  Jamaica                      6,157      6,800     6,546       6,296
  Mexico                      51,214     56,048    62,769      38,876
  Nicaragua                    2,437      2,527     1,540       1,949

South America                  6,881      7,398     7,702       9,637
  Argentina                       13         11        13         123
  Brazil                       2,358      2,773     2,738       4,233
  Chile                          192        132       133         550
  Columbia                     2,352      2,239     2,294       2,354
  Peru                         1,639      1,822     2,082       1,705
  
Europe                        19,258     20,882    24,089      20,420
  Estonia                        625        751       818       1,014
  France                         605        648       599         549
  Germany                        391        467       466         391
  Italy                        3,139      3,034     2,849       2,657
  Portugal                       765      1,267     2,849       1,985
  Russia                         856        782       988         965
  Spain                        1,154        807     1,162       1,196
  Turkey                       8,179      8,880    10,726       8,492
  United Kingdom                 862        969       732         670
  
Asia                         185,076    164,002   182,327     153,323
  Bahrain                        778        642       680         498
  Bangladesh                  14,364     11,727    11,177       5,464
  China                       28,548     22,473    28,357      17,522
  Hong Kong                   18,747     12,791    18,881      19,872
  India                       29,679     30,397    28,950      26,551
  Indonesia                   12,021     10,114    12,329       8,081
  Israel                       1,851      1,970     1,886       2,311
  Japan                        1,190      1,222     1,407       1,222
  Macao                        3,877     2,620      3,243       2,634
  Malaysia                     3,355      2,969     3,527       3,466
  Nepal                        1,440      1,480     1,295       1,197
  Oman                         1,468      1,627     1,534       1,171
  Pakistan                    24,606     19,278    24,033      18,693
  Philippines                  7,380      8,662     7,926       7,885
  Quator                       1,220      1,025       777         608
  Singapore                    1,630      1,215     1,246       1,754
  South Korea                  4,190      5,004     5,330       5,448
  Sri Lanka                    6,543      7,114     7,188       6,219
  Taiwan                      10,493      9,145     9,825      11,141
  Thailand                     7,133      7,297     7,637       6,248
  U Arab 0m                    2,297      2,541     2,567       2,904

Oceania                          701        856       823       1,673
  Australia                      267        247       395         979
  Fiji                           303        363       225         489
 
Africa                         8,852      9,995    10,590       9,395
  Egypt                        4,507      5,240     5,628       4,929
  Lesotho                      1,044      1,128     1,222         775
  Mauritius                    1,265      1,109     1,141       1,247
  Morocco                        456        407       555         408
  South Africa                   607      1,097       525         747
  Tunisia                        170        117       229         216

World  2/                    349,750    345,311   368,579     295,252
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.


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

North America                100,942    112,409   115,503      91,809
  Canada                      18,610     21,915    21,689      17,555
  Costa Rica                   8,385      7,052     7,350       5,222
  Dominican Republic          13,478     13,657    15,129      11,102
  El Salvador                  3,198      5,489     5,357       3,227
  Guatemala                    4,172      4,347     3,526       3,390
  Haiti                        1,399      1,294     1,447         687
  Honduras                    13,465     16,335    15,444       9,834
  Jamaica                      5,543      7,637     7,760      11,335
  Mexico                      31,405     33,446    36,504      28,408

South America                  4,252      5,425     4,755       3,659
  Argentina                      112        191       151         193
  Brazil                       1,028      1,165     1,083         385
  Chile                          367        675       455         633
  Columbia                     1,254      1,331     1,551       1,659
  Peru                           157        246       128         155
  Venezuela                      920      1,128       911         242

Europe                         7,727      8,633     8,091      14,722
  Belgium                        824      1,148     1,467       4,135
  France                         696        648       468         589
  Germany                      1,185      1,308       971       1,224
  Ireland                        138        190       349       2,553
  Italy                          208        289       261         720
  Netherlands                    581        562       609         876
  United Kingdom               2,270      2,332     2,179       2,979

Asia                          10,877     14,308    11,998      16,030
  China                           57         85        96         217
  Hong Kong                      838      1,428     1,453       1,329
  Israel                       1,005      1,536     1,109       1,040
  Japan                        5,990      7,015     5,414       8,799
  Philippines                    306        384       340         410
  Saudi Arabia                   421        922       539         608
  Singapore                      338        638       456         515
  South Korea                    450        393       452         763
  Taiwan                         289        231       252         372
  U Arab Em                      250        502       601         642

Oceania                          754        969       930       1,122
  Australia                      519        690       441         706
  New Zealand                    150        203       131         313

Africa                           385        838       564         780
  Egypt                            4         86         8          50
  Ghana                           22         27        93          22
  Ivory Coast                     82        108        21          53
  Nigeria                         41        116       170         102
  South Africa                   133        110        89         281

World  2/                    125,093    142,833    142,021    128,269
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.


ACTUAL AND PROJECTED COTTON ACREAGE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Projected    Projected
State/          Actual       March        June
Region           1996       1997 1/       1997 2/     1997/1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                          1,000 acres                    Percent

Upland:
  Alabama         520          550           520            100
  Florida          99           95           110            111
  Georgia       1,340        1,400         1,440            107
  N. Carolina     721          700           690             96
  S. Carolina     284          300           270             95
  Virginia        103          105           105            102
    Southeast   3,067        3,150         3,135            102

  Arkansas      1,000          970           950             95
  Louisiana       890          670           590             66
  Mississippi   1,120        1,100           980             88
  Missouri        390          420           370             95
  Tennessee       540          540           510             94
    Delta       3,940        3,214         3,400             86

  Kansas            5           13            15            300
  Oklahoma        290          180           220             76
  Texas         5,700        5,900         5,700            100
    Southwest   5,995        6,093         5,935             99

  Arizona         315          335           330            105
  California    1,000          900           880             88
  New Mexico       59           62            70            119
    West        1,374        1,297         1,280             93

Total Upland   14,376       14,240        13,750             96

Pima:
  Arizona          42           24            20             48
  California      165          175           185            112
  New Mexico       14           14            13             93
  Texas            37           32            32             86

Total Pima        258          245           250             97

Total All      14,634       14,485        14,000             96
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Planting intentions as indicated by reports from farmers.
2/ Total acres planted or intended to be planted.

END_OF_FILE