COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                    March 12, 1999
March 1999, ERS-CWS-0299
               Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board
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COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK is issued electronically monthly by the Economic
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20036-5831. 
Electronic release only; no printed copies available.  
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U.S. Cotton Supply and Demand Overview

The 1998/99 U.S. cotton crop remains estimated at 13.8 million bales, compared
with 18.8 million in 1997/98. Final production will be released by the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on May 12. Based on the production
estimate, beginning stocks of 3.9 million bales, and projected raw cotton
imports of 350,000 bales, all unchanged from February, U.S. cotton supplies for
1998/99 are expected to total only 18 million bales, the lowest since 1985/86.

However, total demand for U.S. cotton is also projected to decline this season
to only 14.6 million bales, also unchanged from last month and the lowest in 10
years. The decrease from last season is the result of the reduced U.S. crop, a
competitive export market, a decline in world demand, and a rise in cotton
textile imports. Based on this supply and demand outlook, U.S. ending stocks
for 1998/99 are projected at 3.4 million bales. Although below last season, the
stocks-to-use ratio has risen from 21 percent in 1997/98 to over 23 percent.

Historical Revisions Increase 1998/99 Foreign Ending Stocks Estimate

Foreign 1998/99 production is forecast 2 percent lower than the year before, at
71.5 million bales, while foreign 1998/99 consumption is forecast 3 percent
lower, at 74.6 million. Ending stocks outside the United States are forecast to
rise 3 percent in 1998/99, to 38.8 million bales. As a share of consumption,
foreign ending stocks are expected to climb to 52 percent this season, compared
with 49 percent in 1997/98.

Compared with February, USDA's March estimate for 1998/99 foreign production is
about 400,000 bales higher, largely because of an increase for China.
Similarly, USDA's foreign consumption estimate is also about 400,000 bales
higher, while the ending stocks estimate is about 550,000 bales higher than in
February.

March's upward revision in the estimate for 1998/99 foreign ending stocks
reflects historical revisions in USDA's database for Brazil and a larger
estimate by China's government of its 1998/99 crop. Historical information
supplied by USDA's Brazilian attache led to lower estimates for Brazilian
cotton consumption in 1991/92 and 1992/93, adding about 300,000 bales to
Brazil's estimated stocks. Revised 1997/98 data for Mexico added an additional
124,000 bales to stocks. Excluding the historical revisions for Brazil and
Mexico, and the 250,000-bale increase in China's 1998/99 ending stocks, USDA's
foreign stock estimate is smaller compared with its estimate in February.

Foreign imports in 1998/99 are forecast this month at 24.3 million bales,
slightly higher than the forecast in February, but down 9 percent from the year
before. Compared with February, 1998/99 import forecasts are lower for China,
Germany, and Poland, and higher for Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan. In
most cases these adjustments reflect recent trends in import purchases or trade
volumes by the respective countries.

Foreign exports in 1998/99 are forecast this month at 19.7 million bales, about
what was forecast in February, but up 3.6 percent from 1997/98. Compared with
February, 1998/99 export forecasts are lower for China, but higher for Syria
and Uzbekistan. China's export forecast was reduced as its recent trade data
continues to show only a very small export surplus in China's raw cotton trade
rather than the large surplus implied by previous USDA forecasts. The
relatively low level of exports corroborates widespread reports that China's
Government remains unwilling to accommodate the financial losses associated
with exporting its old-crop cotton under current world market conditions.

U.S. 1998/99 exports are forecast unchanged compared with February, at 4.2
million bales. Shipment data recently reported by USDA's Export Sales reports
remain below the levels necessary to reach this forecast, but the sales rate
has accelerated to a level more than sufficient to accommodate the forecasted
volume of exports and a reasonable amount of unshipped commitments to rollover
for shipment in 1999/2000. Following USDA's standard forecasting assumptions,
this analysis assumes a continuation of current policy, with no funding for
Step 2 of the Marketing Loan Program for either 1998/99 or 1999/2000.

U.S. Mill Use Remains Unchanged

U.S. cotton mill use during 1998/99 remains estimated at 10.4 million bales, 8
percent below 1997/98. Actual consumption through the first half of the
marketing year indicates that cotton mill use totaled 5.2 million bales,
compared with nearly 5.8 million a year ago. Despite the decline in cotton
consumption, manmade fiber use has fallen further this season, resulting in
increased cotton share. For the first 6 months of 1998/99, cotton's share of
fiber use on the cotton spinning system has averaged 79.6 percent, modestly
above the 78.5-percent share recorded for the entire 1997/98 season.

The Department of Commerce's Census Bureau today released its 1998 summary for
consumption on the cotton system and stocks. Unlike previous years, no
revisions to previously reported monthly data were made. Therefore, no
adjustments to the 1997/98 or 1998/99 data are necessary, and calendar 1998
data are considered final.

Textile Trade Deficit Widens in 1998

U.S. textile imports totaled 838 million pounds (raw-fiber equivalent) last
December, 1 percent above a month earlier and 10 percent above a year earlier.
Increases in cotton and silk textile imports more than offset slight declines
in linen, wool, and manmade shipments. Imports of apparel and floor coverings
were higher than a month ago, while yarn, thread, and fabric and home
furnishings declined in December. Apparel imports, at 546 million pounds, were
13 percent above December 1997.

December textile exports declined from a month earlier, totaling 324 million
pounds. Although 9 percent below a month earlier, exports were 4 percent above
a year ago. Total exports declined in each major end-use category and for all
fiber types. Cotton textile exports declined to 141 million pounds, the lowest
since January 1998. Manmade fiber exports fell to 159 million pounds, the
smallest since December 1997.

Total 1998 textile imports reached 10.9 billion pounds, nearly 1.3 billion
pounds (14 percent) above 1997. Similarly, textile exports totaled 4.5 billion
pounds, a gain of 244 million pounds (6 percent) from a year ago. Both textile
imports and exports were records in 1998.

The total textile trade deficit reached 6.4 billion pounds in 1998, compared
with 5.3 billion in 1997 and 4.5 billion in 1996. Cotton accounted for 63
percent (4.0 billion pounds) of the deficit. Twenty-six percent of the deficit
was attributed to manmade fibers, while 3 percent came from wool textiles. The
remaining 8 percent came from silk and linen textiles, with the latter
accounting for 6 percent. 

U.S. Fiber Consumption Rises in 1998

U.S. total fiber mill use and domestic consumption both rose to new heights in
calendar 1998. Mill use of all fibers was up slightly at 16.9 billion pounds,
largely attributable to the rise in manmade fiber use as mill use of cotton and
wool declined in 1998 from a year earlier. Manmade fibers now account for 67
percent of U.S. mill use, while cotton contributes another 31 percent of the
total. Use of wool, flax, and silk account for the remaining 2 percent.

While U.S. mill use was up marginally, total domestic consumption of fibers,
which includes trade in textile products, rose 5 percent from 1997 to nearly
23.4 billion pounds. Fueling the jump were textile imports which increased 14
percent in 1998. Manmade fibers continue to account for 56 percent of total
domestic consumption, cotton contributes another 40 percent, while the
remaining 4 percent is associated with wool, flax, and silk.

In addition, per capita fiber consumption rose again in 1998. After jumping an
impressive 5.3 pounds in 1997, per capita fiber consumption increased another
3.5 pounds in 1998 to 86.4 pounds, a record. In 1998, U.S. consumers purchased
the equivalent of 48.5 pounds of manmade fibers in the form of textile and
apparel products, up nearly 2 pounds from 1997. Similarly, per capita use of
cotton products rose to more than 34 pounds, the highest in 55 years.

Sheep and Goat Inventories Continue To Decline

The U.S. sheep and lamb inventory on January 1, 1999, totaled 7.24 million
head, down 8 percent from 1998 and 10 percent below 2 years ago. Breeding sheep
inventory, at 5.31 million head, declined 5 percent since January 1, 1998. Ewes
one year and older declined 5 percent to 4.34 million head. Similarly the
inventory of Angora goats declined 25 percent to 631,000 head on January 1,
1999. This inventory level was the lowest since statistics have been collected.
The Angora inventory in Texas declined 200,000 head (27 percent) in 1998 to
550,000.

The number of operations with sheep during 1998 totaled 68,810, down 5 percent
from 1997 and 10 percent below 1996. States with a decline of 300 or more sheep
operations included California, Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Three States, Colorado, Connecticut, and Oregon, had more sheep operations in
1998 than in 1997. Operators with less than 100 head of sheep accounted for
90.6 percent of all farms, compared with 90.8 percent in 1997. Sheep operators
with over 5,000 head accounted for 14.7 percent of the inventory in 1998, 2
percent above a year earlier.

Wool production in 1998 is currently estimated at 27 million pounds, clean.
Final 1998 wool production will be released by USDA later this month. Actual
1998 production will likely be the lowest on record and about half the level of
the early 1980's. Despite lower production, raw wool imports decreased nearly 8
percent to 70.5 million pounds, clean.

Declining import demand was due to the continued weakness in domestic wool mill
consumption. Preliminary 1998 mill use suggests consumption declined 21 percent
from a year earlier to 113 million pounds, clean. This was the lowest mill use
since 1977. Raw wool exports, at 1.7 million pounds, were 64 percent below 1997
shipments. Despite lower production and imports, ending stocks are forecast at
43.1 million pounds, clean, nearly 42 percent above the beginning level.

                                    * * * 

Copies of the 1998 Cotton and Wool Yearbook (CWS-1998) are available for
purchase. For information, call 1-800-999-6770.

The next Cotton and Wool Outlook (CWS-0399) will be released on April 12, 1999.

******************************************************************************
Information Contacts:
Leslie Meyer (U.S. Cotton)              LMEYER@ECON.AG.GOV   (202) 694-5307
Stephen MacDonald (Foreign Cotton) STEPHENM@ECON.AG.GOV (202) 694-5305 
Robert Skinner (Textiles and Wool) RSKINNER@ECON.AG.GOV (202) 694-5313 
******************************************************************************
U.S. COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
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                                                   1998/99
                                         ----------------------------
Item                          1997/98     Jan        Feb         Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                     13.648    13.088      13.088     13.088    
  Harvested                   13.157    10.486      10.486     10.486
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           666       612         612        612

                                        Million 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks             3.920     3.822       3.822      3.822
  Production                  18.245    13.366      13.366     13.366
    Total supply 1/           22.178    17.537      17.537     17.528
  Mill use                    11.234    10.290      10.290     10.290
  Exports                      7.060     3.970       3.900      3.900
    Total use                 18.294    14.370      14.190     14.190
  Ending stocks                3.822     3.130       3.309      3.300
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           20.9      21.8        23.3       23.3

Extra-long staple:                           1,000 acres
  Planted                        250       330         330        330
  Harvested                      249       237         237        237
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre         1,056       873         873        873

                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                51        65          65         65
  Production                     548       430         430        430
    Total supply 1/              599       495         496        505
  Mill use                       115       100         110        110
  Exports                        440       300         300        300
    Total use                    555       430         410        410
  Ending stocks                   65        70          91        100
                                               Percent  
  Stocks-to-use ratio           11.7      16.3        22.2       24.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates. 1/ Includes imports.

WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1998/99
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1997/98     Jan        Feb         Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        38.25     41.10      41.12       41.51
  Foreign                      34.28     37.22      37.24       37.62
Production
  World                        91.60     85.11      84.86       85.29
  Foreign                      72.80     71.32      71.07       71.49
Imports
  World                        26.68     24.75      24.50       24.64
  Foreign                      26.67     24.40      24.15       24.29
Use:
Mill use
  World                        88.21     85.65      84.61       85.01
  Foreign                      76.86     75.15      74.21       74.61
Exports
  World                        26.57     24.46      23.95       23.93
  Foreign                      19.07     20.16      19.75       19.73
Ending stocks
  World                        41.51     40.61      41.60       42.17
  Foreign                      37.62     37.41      38.20       38.77

Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         47.1      47.4       49.2        49.6
  Foreign                       48.9      49.8       51.5        52.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.

FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1998           1999        1998
                               ----------------
Item                             Nov       Dec        Jan        Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                     4,014     1,843        408         559
Imports since August 1           3.2      23.2         NA         2.6
  Stocks, beginning            7,694    10,109     10,223      14,919
    At mills                     584       559        568         588
    Public storage             6,700     8,536      9,127      12,356
    CCC stocks                 1,251     1,946      3,530       2,092

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   779.1     760.9      825.4       901.5
    Noncellulosic              751.4     735.4      800.0       867.5
    Cellulosic                  27.7      25.5       25.4        34.0
    Total since January 1    9,508.8  10,269.7      825.4       901.5

                                          1998                   1997
                               ---------------------------
                                 Oct       Nov        Dec        Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
Raw fiber imports              125.4      124.3     123.7       122.8
    Noncellulosic              119.5      118.2     117.5       114.7
    Cellulosic                   5.9        6.1       6.2         8.1
    Total since January 1    1,252.2    1,376.5   1,500.2     1,359.3

Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      7,266      4,933     4,343       8,584
    48's-and-finer             4,834      3,362     2,676       7,069
    Not-finer-than-46's        2,432      1,571     1,666       1,515
    Total since January 1     61,232     66,165    70,508      76,446

  Wool top imports               103        179       217         199
    Total since January 1      1,982      2,161     2,378       2,530
  Mohair imports, clean            9          0         0           0
    Total since January 1         11         11        11          21
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.

COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1998            1999       1998
                              ------------------
Item                             Nov       Dec        Jan        Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         806        722       876         979
  Total since August 1 1/      3,611      4,333     5,208       5,756
  SA annual rate 2/           10,226     10,247    10,420      11,397
  SA daily rate 2/              39.3       39.4      40.1        43.7
  Daily rate                    38.4       31.4      41.7        44.5

Upland consumed by mills 1/      794        711       863         969
  Total since August 1 1/      3,564      4,275     5,138       5,701
  SA daily rate 2/              38.9       38.8
  Daily rate                    37.8       30.9      41.1        44.0

Spindles in place              5,363      5,337     5,322       5,518
  Active spindles              5,038      5,017     4,978       5,209
    100 percent cotton         2,671      2,665     2,619       2,605
    100 percent manmade          776        753       744         823
    Blends                     1,591      1,599     1,615       1,781
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        80.1       80.3      79.1        78.4

Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/    95,957     85,093   110,966     129,451
  Total since August 1 1/    445,874    530,967   641,933     744,064
  Daily rate                   4,569      3,700     5,284       5,884
    Noncellulosic staple       4,220      3,469     4,947       5,371
    Cellulosic staple            349        231       337         513
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month. 2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.

FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1998                    1997
                               --------------------------
Item                             Oct       Nov       Dec           Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 256       781      1,007         721      
    Total since August 1         922     1,703      2,710       2,383
  Sales for next season           47        15         22         147
    Total since August 1         134       149        171         236

  ELS exports                    9.0      13.7       19.9        53.2
    Total since August 1        25.8      39.5       59.4       129.5
  Sales for next season          3.6       5.3        4.4         2.4
    Total since August 1         4.1       9.4       13.7        11.1

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports             90.4      76.3       69.3        80.9     
    Noncellulosic               86.4      73.3       67.4        75.6
    Cellulosic                   4.0       3.0        1.9         5.3
    Total since January 1      868.9     945.2    1,014.5     1,052.8

Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean       81.8       7.0       55.0       167.9  
   Total since January 1     1,658.5   1,665.5    1,720.6     4,732.9

 Wool top exports              180.0     415.6      222.9       808.0
    Total since January 1    4,918.2   5,333.8    5,556.7     8,241.7
  Mohair exports, clean        337.0     316.1      404.7       393.5
    Total since January 1    1,553.0   1,869.1    2,273.7     1,888.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------

FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                               1998             1999            1998
                                        ------------------     
Item                            Dec       Jan        Feb         Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted World Price         41.96     41.71      42.11       54.69
  Mar '99 futures              61.95     59.28      59.95       73.21
  Dec '99 futures              65.98     63.35      60.32       72.71
  Upland spot 41-34            59.88     56.20      55.46       63.66
  Pima spot 03-46              99.07     97.66      94.50       99.47
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           60.70     58.30      57.10       62.50

  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   67.16     64.47      63.39       69.48
      Raw fiber equivalent     74.62     71.63      70.43       77.20
    Rayon staple
      Actual                  101.00    101.00     101.00      115.00
      Raw fiber equivalent    105.21    105.21     105.21      119.79
    Polyester staple
      Actual                   53.00     51.00      51.00       65.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     55.21     53.13      53.13       67.71

    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              70.9      68.1       66.9        64.4
      Cotton/polyester         135.2     134.8      132.6       114.0

Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      56.02     55.78      56.26       68.68
  Memphis Territory            71.25        NQ         NQ       74.50
  California/Arizona           70.67     69.31      69.25       76.25
  B Index                      54.83     54.00      53.30       66.96
  Orleans/Texas                66.50     63.75      61.38       69.25

Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      0.80      0.70       0.70        1.08     
  Australian 56's 1/            1.22      1.42       1.33        1.71
 U.S. 60's                      0.95      0.95       0.95        1.54
  Australian 60's 1/            1.39      1.49       1.42        1.87
 U.S. 64's                      1.15      1.15       1.15        1.95
  Australian 64's 1/            1.47      1.58       1.50        2.25
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.

TEXTILE TRADE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1998                    1997
                            -----------------------------
Item                            Oct       Nov        Dec          Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Imports:                                   1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   218,505    205,990   203,819     202,649  
    Cotton                    92,789     84,462    86,020      86,988
    Linen                     21,063     27,351    22,902      25,089
    Wool                       3,907      3,659     3,333       4,157
    Silk                         846        781       798         911
    Manmade                   99,900     89,737    90,765      85,504

  Apparel                    684,163    540,093   545,979     482,140
    Cotton                   401,740    332,027   342,541     288,843
    Linen                     17,526     14,864    14,661      12,816
    Wool                      29,106     15,286    12,432      12,308
    Silk                      12,368      9,860    12,037      11,680
    Manmade                  223,423    168,056   164,309     156,493

  House furnishings           60,986     49,228    48,220      43,978
    Cotton                    43,517     34,142    34,913      32,932
    Linen                        242        140       151         291
    Wool                         149         94       210         172
    Silk                          47        100        23          54
    Manmade                   17,031     14,752    12,923      10,530

  Floor covering              32,135     29,124    32,483      25,461
    Cotton                     4,742      3,411     4,934       3,927 
    Linen                      3,978      3,801     4,966       3,239
    Wool                       9,458      8,942    10,080       7,825
    Silk                         492        545       572         389
    Manmade                   13,465     12,424    11,931      10,082

  Total imports 2/         1,003,763    830,876   837,867     760,892
    Cotton                   546,859    457,288   472,756     416,075
    Linen                     42,861     46,237    42,704      41,458
    Wool                      42,826     28,117    26,121      24,587
    Silk                      13,753     11,287    13,431      13,034
    Manmade                  357,465    287,946   282,854     265,739

Exports:                                  1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   179,016    166,282   138,136     146,680
    Cotton                    65,707     62,082    47,875      48,916
    Linen                      5,435      5,364     3,759       4,227
    Wool                       4,126      4,456     3,597       3,783
    Silk                       1,885      1,702     1,514       1,552
    Manmade                  101,862     92,678    81,391      88,202

  Apparel                    191,311    160,395   142,779     122,612
    Cotton                   113,786     94,881    85,027      72,146
    Linen                      1,834      1,798     1,642       1,363
    Wool                       8,642      7,595     5,861       5,947
    Silk                       3,995      3,689     3,217       3,444
    Manmade                   63,055     52,433    47,033      39,712

  House furnishings            9,382      8,375     7,591       6,477
    Cotton                     5,551      4,914     4,853       3,783
    Linen                        354        376       221         308
    Wool                          97         86        49         146
    Silk                         164        227        49         150
    Manmade                    3,215      2,773     2,418       2,090

  Floor covering              39,405     37,336    35,719      36,882
    Cotton                     3,533      3,114     2,881       3,522
    Linen                      2,227      1,754     1,538       2,029
    Wool                       3,287      3,341     2,989       3,199
    Silk                         122         96        73         148
    Manmade                   30,236     29,032    28,239      27,983

  Total exports 2/           419,387    372,627   324,441     312,892
    Cotton                   188,652    165,053   140,699     128,433
    Linen                      9,859      9,299     7,167       7,934
    Wool                      16,171     15,489    12,506      13,088
    Silk                       6,167      5,713     4,853       5,294
    Manmade                  198,539    177,073   159,215     158,142
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent. 2/ Includes headgear.

U.S. COTTON TEXTILE IMPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1998                    1997
                             ----------------------------
Country                         Oct       Nov        Dec          Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1,000 pounds 1/

North America                231,475    200,712   208,620     171,049 
  Canada                      20,148     19,127    15,004      11,985
  Costa Rica                  10,046      8,645     8,971       8,555
  Dominican Republic          21,800     20,830    23,326      20,560
  El Salvador                 15,774     11,871    15,822      12,725
  Guatemala                   10,286      8,321    10,771       7,486
  Haiti                        3,413      3,189     3,482       2,419
  Honduras                    30,963     23,952    30,958      26,383
  Jamaica                      5,678      5,586     5,137       7,361
  Mexico                     108,420     95,908    91,622      70,993
  Nicaragua                    4,380      2,783     2,988       2,200

South America                  7,857      7,715     8,375       8,863
  Argentina                       30         26         8         123
  Brazil                       1,592      1,246     2,334       3,947
  Chile                           22         12         32         97
  Colombia                     3,118      3,043     2,890       2,227
  Peru                         2,484      2,930     2,722       1,996
  
Europe                        33,541     23,589    24,174      21,382
  Estonia                        949        833       915         818
  France                         932        710       501         704
  Germany                        785        840       736         673
  Italy                        2,901      3,284     3,469       3,218
  Portugal                     5,388      2,438     1,969       2,281
  Russia                         981        845       674         675
  Spain                        2,035      1,368     1,207       1,151
  Turkey                      13,116      8,667     9,147       7,643
  United Kingdom               1,570      1,354     1,695         911
  
Asia                         252,271    209,396   215,159     195,148
  Bahrain                        955      1,055     1,143         810
  Bangladesh                  17,525     12,225    11,921      12,250
  China                       32,050     24,788    25,112      21,876
  Hong Kong                   31,381     27,959    27,821      26,178
  India                       33,052     25,158    26,605      23,633
  Indonesia                   15,397     10,875    10,460      12,141
  Israel                       2,387      2,353     2,702       1,999
  Japan                        1,117      1,145     1,476         856
  Macao                        6,250      5,471     6,464       4,563
  Malaysia                     5,990      4,768     5,942       4,546
  Nepal                          834      1,304     1,663       1,209
  Oman                         1,822      1,832     1,592       1,564
  Pakistan                    33,015     28,435    28,788      30,950
  Philippines                 10,585      9,495     9,197       8,529
  Qator                          995      1,101       977       1,209
  Singapore                    2,759      2,102     2,605       2,276
  South Korea                  9,621      7,016     7,132       5,589
  Sri Lanka                    8,403      7,190     6,389       6,433
  Taiwan                      14,627     12,237    12,335       9,652
  Thailand                    11,581     11,354    11,889      11,203
  U Arab Em                    2,573      1,600     1,631       2,018

Oceania                        1,853        836     1,394       1,794
  Australia                      788        675     1,011       1,063
  Fiji                           884         61       106         499

Africa                        16,731     12,803    14,226      13,085
  Egypt                        6,974      5,746     6,256       6,461
  Lesotho                      2,033      1,540     1,722       1,826
  Mauritius                    2,698      2,003     2,064       1,510
  Morocco                      1,393        982     1,263       1,011
  South Africa                 1,274        983       961         671
  Tunisia                         58         29        55          44

World  2/                    546,859    457,288   472,756     416,075
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent. 2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.

U.S. COTTON TEXTILE EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1998                   1997
                              ---------------------------
Country                         Oct       Nov        Dec         Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   1,000 pounds 1/

North America                165,645   143,118    123,835     100,293
  Canada                      33,614    29,491     21,851      20,388
  Costa Rica                   7,702     7,603      5,177       7,323
  Dominican Republic          18,502    15,035     12,721       9,882
  El Salvador                  6,771     5,890      5,074       3,532
  Guatemala                    4,832     3,109      2,790       2,997
  Haiti                        2,267     1,329      2,123       2,178
  Honduras                    24,082    17,256     17,097      12,292
  Jamaica                      5,197     3,188      3,984       4,111
  Mexico                      60,552    58,666     50,938      36,283

South America                  4,079     3,598      3,650       4,194
  Argentina                      131       160        182         284
  Brazil                         517       433        314         361
  Chile                          747       527      1,022         626
  Colombia                     1,554     1,345      1,197       1,147
  Peru                            99       153        133         153
  Venezuela                      569       602        417         939

Europe                         8,599     8,246      5,114      10,928
  Belgium                      2,485     3,206        586       3,319
  France                         672       551        459         645
  Germany                        904       855        806       1,382
  Ireland                         95       114        145         628
  Italy                          342       356        239         343
  Netherlands                    567       376        497         706
  United Kingdom               2,605     1,789      1,233       2,486

Asia                           8,251     8,330      6,372      10,818
  China                          504       270        271         542
  Hong Kong                    1,763     1,506        877       1,212
  Israel                         442       847        534       1,647
  Japan                        3,030     2,617      2,510       3,537
  Philippines                    263       312        121         582
  Saudi Arabia                   481       643        513         772
  Singapore                      267       303        289         565
  South Korea                    199       478        285         294
  Taiwan                         200       235        221         308
  U Arab Em                      307       310        197         479

Oceania                        1,154       700        749       1,040
  Australia                      648       501        608         783
  New Zealand                     81       123         71         110

Africa                           664       801        784         957
  Egypt                            6        52         53          31
  Ghana                           48        43         13          19
  Ivory Coast                     23        33         19          22
  Nigeria                        130       118        233         193
  South Africa                    85       131        179         146

World  2/                    188,652   165,053    140,699     128,433
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent. 2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.

END_OF_FILE