COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                    December 13, 1996
            Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board
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COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK is published monthly (except January) by the Economic
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20005-4788. 
CWS-1196. 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cotton Crop Forecast Higher

The U.S. cotton production forecast totaled 18.7 million bales in December, up
less than 1 percent from November but 5 percent above 1995/96.  Upland
production is forecast at 18.2 million bales, while the extra-long staple
(ELS) crop is projected at 541,000 bales.  The U.S. yield rose 7 pounds per
harvested acre from a month earlier to 704 pounds, 167 pounds above 1995/96. 
Both U.S. production and yield are the third highest on record.

The largest gains in upland production occurred in Texas and Mississippi. 
Texas' production rose 150,000 bales from November as late August rainfall and
favorable harvest weather resulted in the highest large boll count and the
second highest boll weight in the last 10 years.  In addition, Texas' upland
yield of 517 pounds per harvested acre is a record high.  In Mississippi, the
crop forecast increased 50,000 bales from last month due to favorable weather
and light insect pressure during the season.  Meanwhile, a 50,000-bale decline
in California is the result of objective yield counts which show boll weights
are the third lowest since 1986.

Although ELS production is down nearly 5 percent from November, the 1996 crop
is still 173,000 bales (47 percent) above last season.  The ELS yield is
forecast at 992 pounds per harvested acre.  Both production and yield declined
in three of the four ELS-producing States this month.  Only Arizona showed an
increase from November.

Foreign Production Lower, U.S. Exports Higher

Expected foreign production and consumption both fell for 1996/97, with
production 1.2 million bales lower this month at 67.2 million and consumption
400,000 bales lower at 74.3 million.

Countries in the former Soviet Union (FSU) accounted for most of this month's
reduced production forecast.  With seed cotton deliveries now largely
completed for the season, the impact of cool weather during 1996/97 in
Uzbekistan is clear.  Production was revised downward 300,000 bales to 4.8
million.  Turkmenistan's crop was revised down 400,000 bales, a 40-percent
revision that represents economic problems there in addition to weather
difficulties.  Tajikistan's crop was cut 90,000 bales and Kazakhstan's 60,000.

Pakistan's crop was cut 300,000 bales to 6.8 million, while Brazil and Greece
were each cut 200,000 bales in December.

All of the 400,000-bale decline in foreign consumption is attributable to a
revised outlook for China.  China's 1995/96 consumption was revised downward,
and 1996/97 consumption is now expected to fall 2.6 percent rather than remain
steady.  The forecast for 1996/97 cotton consumption in China fell to 19
million bales, an 800,000-bale decline from last month's forecast, by far the
largest of all of December's consumption, production, or trade changes.

Foreign 1996/97 ending stocks were revised upward by about 400,000 bales. 
However, as with consumption, all of the change is attributable to lower
consumption in China.  China's expected ending stocks were raised 1.1 million
bales, and if China's ending stocks are excluded, foreign ending stocks are
actually forecast tighter in December.  The ratio of foreign ending stocks to
consumption (excluding China) fell from 32.6 percent in November, to 31
percent in December.

Pakistan's expected 1996/97 consumption was raised 400,000 bales, in part due
to the stimulus package enacted by the new government.  With reduced
production and increased consumption, Pakistan's net exports were reduced by
more than 300,000 bales.  Similarly, Uzbekistan's exports were lowered 300,000
bales, and Turkmenistan's by nearly as much.

Generally, the December outlook for competitors' exports during 1996/97
weakened, with the exception of Syria, where expected exports were raised
200,000 bales to a record 850,000.  Tighter competitors' supplies and exports
suggest that the recent anemic pace of U.S. export sales will accelerate in
future months, and the U.S. export forecast was raised 400,000 bales to 6.2
million.  As of December 5, U.S. export commitments were 4.1 million bales,
compared with 6.8 million a year ago.  Meanwhile, 1.3 million bales of cotton
had been shipped out of the United States, compared with nearly 1.8 million
last season.

U.S. Mill Use Unchanged, Stocks Lowered

The U.S. cotton mill consumption estimate remains unchanged this month at 11
million bales, nearly 4 percent above 1995/96.  Abundant supplies, coupled
with an improved retail consumer demand outlook for cotton products, should
provide for the gain this season.  Early holiday sales data confirm this as
apparel and soft goods are reported doing well.

Based on data for the first 3 months of 1996/97, cotton mill use averaged a
seasonally adjusted 41,300 480-pound bales per day, compared with 40,500 bales
a year ago.  While mill use is expected to improve further over the coming
months, actual cotton consumption for August through October 1996 reached 2.84
million bales, compared with 2.79 million a year earlier.

Based on the latest projections of U.S. cotton supply and demand, 1996/97
ending stocks were lowered this month to 4.6 million bales.  Despite an
increase in the U.S. crop this month, a reduction in imports to 450,000 bales
and higher exports reduced ending stocks 300,000 bales.  Based on these
estimates, the implied stocks-to-use ratio equals 26.7 percent, well above
last season's 14.3 percent.

U.S. Prices Move Lower; World Prices Turn Higher

The average price received by upland producers through mid-November was 70.9
cents per pound, down from 71.5 cents in October and the lowest since November
1994.  The upland and ELS spot prices were also lower in November.  Base
quality upland declined to 70.1 cents per pound from 72.2 cents, while the ELS
price fell to 98 cents from 99.4 cents in October.

Likewise, mill-delivered fiber prices decreased in November.  Cotton prices
fell slightly to about 77 cents per pound, the lowest in 2 years.  Meanwhile,
prices for polyester staple continued to decline to 72 cents per pound in
November, the lowest in 2-1/2 years.  While prices of both fibers are falling
slightly, cotton is at its most price-competitive since August.  The
cotton/polyester price ratio for November was near 1.14, compared with 1.13 in
August and 1.05 during November 1995.

While U.S. cotton prices have moved lower, world prices have risen over the
past 2 months.  After averaging 75.5 cents per pound during September and
October, the A Index climbed in November as quotes from Pakistan, Tanzania,
and Mexico were no longer offered.  More importantly, however, the remaining
quotes used to calculate the A Index have risen.  In addition, the
California/Arizona quote has been included in the calculation since mid-
November.  While the A Index averaged over 76 cents per pound in November, it
has already advanced to over 79 cents during the first 2 weeks of December. 
Although the U.S. quotes are 8 to 10 cents above the Central Asian quote,
higher world prices have historically benefited U.S. cotton exports.

Record Textile Exports Projected in 1996

Textile imports declined for the second consecutive month in September to 734
million pounds, 9 percent below August, but 8 percent above September 1995. 
Lower imports of cotton textiles, primarily apparel, accounted for 73 percent
of the decline.  Imports of all other major fiber types fell in September
compared with a month earlier.  Lower shipments of yarn, thread, fabric and
apparel more than offset slightly larger imports of floor coverings and home
furnishings.  Cotton textile imports, at 375 million pounds, were down 7
percent from August, but were 8 percent above September 1995 shipments.  On a
regional basis, most of the decline in cotton imports occurred from Asian
countries.  Lower shipments from major suppliers such as Bangladesh, China,
and the Phillipines accounted for the majority of the drop.  Also, cotton
textile shipments from Mexico dropped 2.5 million pounds compared with a month
earlier.

While textile imports declined over the past 2 months, textile exports rose
for the second consecutive month to the second highest level of 1996.  Only
May's shipments were slightly larger.  In September, total exports rose to 297
million pounds, nearly 10 percent above year-earlier shipments.  Overall,
increases in cotton, linen, and silk imports more than offset slight declines
in house furnishings and floor covering.  Cotton textile exports, at 131
million pounds, were 2 percent above a month ago and 15 percent above
September 1995.  U.S. cotton textile exports to North America rose to 100
million pounds, representing 87 percent of total textile shipments.  Despite
lower shipments to Mexico, cotton exports rose in Canada, Costa Rica, and
Jamaica.

The cumulative January through September trade deficit reached 3.36 billion
pounds.  However, the deficit for the corresponding period during 1995 was
3.73 billion pounds.  Total export shipments, at 2.5 billion pounds, are 8
percent above last year, while imports have declined 3 percent below 1995
shipments.  The 9-month cotton textile trade deficit, at 1.98 billion pounds,
is 12 percent below a year ago.  Trade deficits of all other major fibers have
also dropped in 1996.  Stronger exports through the end of this year should
result in the first decline in the textile trade deficit in 6 years.

Highlights:  Cotton Area Variability

Foreign cotton area has grown more variable during the 1990's, while the
variability of U.S. cotton area fell.  With the passage of new U.S. farm
legislation during 1996, the United States Government will no longer influence
U.S. planted area for program crops through the use of acreage bases and
acreage reduction programs, and annual non-weather variations in area will be
determined by market forces.

One measure of variation is a ratio:  the standard deviation of area during a
certain period divided by the average for area during that period.  For U.S.
cotton area during the 1990's (marketing year [MY] 1990-96), this coefficient
of variation equals 0.127, using the November 1996 USDA estimates.  This
compares with 0.182 during the 1980's, and 0.105 during the 1970's.  In
contrast, for foreign cotton area, the coefficients are smaller but growing,
from 0.029 in the 1970's to 0.035 during the 1980's, and to 0.044 during the
1990's.  Since the foreign number is an aggregation of a large number of
countries, many random shocks will be offset between countries in any given
year, and over time, variability would be smaller than for any individual
country.

One source of variability when using the measure described above is a trend
during the period in question.  Since standard deviation refers to deviation
from the mean, then, if area is constantly growing, it will differ from the
mean in virtually every year, first under, then over.  However, foreign cotton
area has not shown a trend in either direction during the 1970's, 1980's, or
1990's.  

Foreign cotton area has undergone larger, longer fluctuations during the
1990's.  The largest annual percent decline in foreign area since 1960
occurred during the 1990's, and the third largest increase.  Two-year
cumulative changes during the 1990's have been the largest in either direction
during the last 35 years:  foreign area fell 13.7 percent during 1991-93, and
then rose 12.2 percent during 1993-95.

During the beginning of the 1990's, the low cost production potential of land
in China, Central Asia, and Pakistan seemed capable of overwhelming marginal
producers around the world.  But, just as producers in many other countries
began ceding cotton markets to the three producers mentioned above, pests,
ecological damage, disease, and economic dislocation reduced their ability to
maintain cotton area.  Rising prices assured cultivation efforts would
successfully migrate to other regions, and foreign area recovered despite
continued losses in China and Central Asia.  Foreign area, excluding China and
the FSU, rose from its lowest in over 40 years to its highest ever during
1993-95.

Cotton area is generally more variable than area for foreign food crops, and
most of the other crops examined here have not grown more variable during the
1990's.  Soybeans exhibit higher variability, but virtually all of the
variability can be attributed to a strong upward trend in area.  Barley and
wheat are two other crops with growing foreign area variability in the 1990's
compared with the 1980's.  However, their variability was even greater during
the tumultuous 1970's.

Finally, U.S. cotton area was less variable over MY 1991-96 than during the
1980's.  The recent changes in U.S. agricultural policy hold the potential to
increase the relative variability of U.S. cotton area, either with respect to
earlier time periods or other crops.  Trends in foreign variability could
continue to be influenced by the progress of economic transformation in China
and the FSU, a process far from complete in each case.

Variability of Area by Crop
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Year   Cotton    Sorghum  Barley   Wheat   Rice  Soybeans  Corn
-----------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Area Variability:

1970's  0.105     0.076   0.100    0.153   0.171   0.133   0.082
1980's  0.182     0.198   0.162    0.129   0.174   0.069   0.115
1990's  0.127     0.145   0.093    0.050   0.062   0.040   0.055

Foreign Area Variability:

1970's  0.029     0.034   0.083    0.027   0.029   0.134   0.033
1980's  0.035     0.049   0.028    0.019   0.012   0.139   0.023
1990's  0.044     0.023   0.043    0.024   0.006   0.076   0.021
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Copies of the 1996 Cotton and Wool Yearbook (CWS-1996) are available 
for purchase.  For information, call 1-800-999-6770.  

The next COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK (CWS-0197) will be released February 
13, 1997.

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
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                                                   1996/97
                                         ----------------------------
Item                          1995/96      Oct        Nov         Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                      16.72     13.98      13.98       13.98
  Harvested                    15.80     12.72      12.52       12.52
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           533       665        691         698

                                        Million 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks              2.59      2.54       2.54        2.54
  Production                   17.53     17.62      18.03       18.20
    Total supply 1/            20.52     20.66      21.06       21.18
  Mill use                     10.50     10.90      10.90       10.90
  Exports                       7.38      5.38       5.38        5.78
    Total use                  17.88     16.27      16.27       16.67
  Ending stocks                 2.54      4.39       4.79        4.52
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           14.2      27.0       29.4        27.1
  
Extra-long staple:                           1,000 acres
  Planted                        215       264        264         264
  Harvested                      211       262        262         262
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           836     1,039      1,039         992

                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                62        68         68          68
  Production                     368       567        567         541
    Total supply 1/              438       640        640         614
  Mill use                       102       105        105         105
  Exports                        300       425        425         425
    Total use                    402       530        530         530
  Ending stocks                   68       110        110          84
                                               Percent  
  Stocks-to-use ratio           16.9      20.8       20.8        15.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.  1/ Includes imports.

WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1996/97
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1995/96      Oct        Nov         Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        29.29     35.59      35.63       36.16
  Foreign                      26.64     32.98      33.02       33.56
Production
  World                        91.82     87.46      87.02       85.93
  Foreign                      73.92     69.27      68.42       67.20
Imports
  World                        26.77     26.06      26.48       26.72
  Foreign                      26.36     25.56      25.98       26.27
Use:
Mill use
  World                        84.29     86.05      85.73       85.34
  Foreign                      73.69     75.05      74.73       74.34
Exports
  World                        27.16     26.46      26.31       26.33
  Foreign                      19.48     20.66      20.51       20.13
Ending stocks
  World                        36.16     36.40      36.89       36.96
  Foreign                      33.56     31.90      31.99       32.36

Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         42.9      42.3       43.0        43.3
  Foreign                       45.5      42.5       42.8        43.5
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.

FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996                   1995
                               --------------------------
Item                             Aug       Sep        Oct         Oct
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                       351     1,844      6,894       6,163
Imports since August 1         156.9     350.6         NA         2.2
  Stocks, beginning            2,609     1,884      2,870       2,728
  At mills                       628       599        549         551
   Public storage              1,938     1,406      2,123       1,999
    CCC stocks                   331       177        111          20

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   851.6     851.1      903.4       845.3
    Noncellulosic              811.0     811.4      864.4       803.3
    Cellulosic                  40.6      39.7       39.0        42.0
    Total since January 1    6,563.8   7,414.9    8,318.3     8,324.1

                                          1996                   1995
                               ---------------------------
                                 Jul       Aug        Sep        Sep
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
  Raw fiber imports            101.8     103.9      100.3        87.5
    Noncellulosic               95.6      96.4       94.1        80.5
    Cellulosic                   6.2       7.5        6.2         7.0
    Total since January 1      639.7     743.6      843.9       824.1

Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      5,268     6,587      3,140       4,860
    48's-and-finer             3,493     5,064      1,854       3,114
    Not-finer-than-46's        1,775     1,523      1,285       1,746
    Total since January 1     51,377    57,964     61,103      69,636

  Wool top imports               172       252        150         279
    Total since January 1      2,411     2,663      2,812       3,720
  Mohair imports, clean           36        NA         NA          NA
    Total since January 1         43        43         43         143
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.

COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996                   1995
                              ---------------------------
Item                             Aug       Sep        Oct         Oct
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         976       881        988         908
  Total since August 1 1/        976     1,857      2,845       2,795
  SA annual rate 2/           10,784    10,774     10,791      10,322
  SA daily rate 2/              41.3      41.3       41.3        39.4
  Daily rate                    44.4      41.9       42.9        41.3

Upland consumed by mills 1/      966       873        978         899
  Total since August 1 1/        966     1,839      2,817       2,767
  SA annual rate 2/           10,670    10,674     10,683      10,208
  SA daily rate 2/              40.9      40.9       40.9        39.0
  Daily rate                    43.9      41.6       42.5        40.8

Spindles in place              6,214     6,019      6,053       6,760
  Active spindles              5,674     5,533      5,556       6,310
    100 percent cotton         2,632     2,533      2,567       2,783
    100 percent manmade          986       965        971       1,105
    Blends                     2,056     2,035      2,018       2,422
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        77.6      78.3       78.0        78.4

Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/   135,631   117,455    133,879     119,929
  Total since August 1 1/    135,631   253,086    386,965     378,206
  Daily rate                   6,165     5,593      5,821       5,451
    Noncellulosic staple       5,443     5,021      5,088       4,638
    Cellulosic staple            722       572        733         813
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month.  2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.

FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                     1995
                               --------------------------
Item                             Jul       Aug        Sep          Sep
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 162       235        158         228
    Total since August 1       7,375       235        393         525
  Sales for next season          165        46         16           1
    Total since August 1         791        46         62          52

  ELS exports                   21.4      21.4       13.5        17.5
    Total since August 1       299.7      21.4       35.0        35.8
  Sales for next season         11.4       1.9        0.0        12.7
    Total since August 1       182.5       1.9        1.9        13.8

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports             72.2     100.8      102.4        78.0
    Noncellulosic               66.4      94.4       94.7        71.0
    Cellulosic                   5.8       6.4        7.7         7.0
    Total since January 1      610.4     711.2      813.6       784.8

Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean      415.6     529.9      585.9       140.1
   Total since January 1     2,782.1   3,312.0    3,897.9     4,114.1
  Wool top exports             719.1     919.1    1,865.9     1,217.7
    Total since January 1    5,573.8   6,492.9    8,358.8     5,659.4
  Mohair exports, clean        234.8     296.8      326.9       174.9
    Total since January 1    2,840.8   3,137.6    3,464.5     2,904.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------

FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996                   1995
                              -----------------------------
Item                            Sep       Oct        Nov          Nov
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted World Price         60.46     60.60      61.22       74.38
  Mar'97 futures               75.42     75.42      74.13       77.81
  Dec'97 futures               77.00     76.68      76.29          NQ
  Upland spot 41-34            75.24     72.21      70.12       84.16
  Pima spot 03-46             108.65     99.41      97.98      160.75
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           71.70     71.50      70.90       75.00

  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   82.99     78.96      76.89       90.58
      Raw fiber equivalent     92.21     87.73      85.43      100.64
    Rayon staple
      Actual                  115.00    115.00     115.00      125.00
      Raw fiber equivalent    119.79    119.79     119.79      130.21
    Polyester staple
      Actual                   76.00     73.00      72.00       92.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     79.17     76.04      75.00       95.83

    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              77.0      73.2       71.3        77.3
      Cotton/polyester         116.5     115.4      113.9       105.0

Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      75.45     75.58      76.18       89.27
  Memphis Territory            85.38     84.50      81.81       96.95
  California/Arizona           85.75     84.40      81.31      102.35
  B Index                      74.83     73.57      71.50       85.83
  Orleans/Texas                81.94     80.90      77.88       91.50

Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      1.30      1.25       1.25        1.43
  Australian 56's 1/            1.80      1.78       1.80        1.96
 U.S. 60's                      1.55      1.47       1.47        1.68
  Australian 60's 1/            1.87      1.87       1.89        2.12
 U.S. 64's                      1.92      1.92       1.90        2.08
  Australian 64's 1/            2.28      2.20       2.25        2.42
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.

1996 ACREAGE, YIELD, AND PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
-------------------------------------------------------------------

State/          Harvested Area          Yield         Production
Region           Nov      Dec       Nov      Dec     Nov       Dec
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Lbs./           1,000
                 1,000 acres       harvested acre       bales

Upland:
  Alabama        556      556       699      699     810       810
  Florida        100      100       672      672     140       140
  Georgia      1,375    1,375       698      698   2,000     2,000
  N. Carolina    720      720       660      660     990       990
  S. Carolina    265      265       779      815     430       450
  Virginia       102      102       706      706     150       150
    Southeast  3,118    3,118       696      699   4,520     4,540

  Arkansas       990      990       776      776   1,600     1,600
  Louisiana      940      940       664      664   1,300     1,300
  Mississippi  1,030    1,030       839      862   1,800     1,850
  Missouri       405      405       711      711     600       600
  Tennessee      520      520       600      618     650       670
    Delta      3,885    3,885       735      744   5,950     6,020

  Kansas           2        2       311      311       1         1
  Oklahoma       240      240       270      260     135       130
  Texas        3,900    3,900       498      517   4,050     4,200
    Southwest  4,142    4,142       485      502   4,186     4,331

  Arizona        324      324     1,170    1,141     790       770
  California     995      995     1,206    1,182   2,500     2,450
  New Mexico      54       54       720      764      81        86
    West       1,373    1,373     1,178    1,156   3,371     3,306

Total Upland  12,518   12,518       691      698  18,027    18,197

Pima:
  Arizona         40       40       818      878      68        73
  California     165      165     1,193    1,120     410       385
  New Mexico      17       17       734      621      26        22
  Texas           40       40       756      732      63        61

Total Pima       262      262     1,039      992     567       541

Total All     12,780   12,780       698      704  18,594    18,738
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on the December Crop Production report.

TEXTILE TRADE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                    1995
                            -----------------------------
Item                             Jul       Aug       Sep          Sep
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Imports:                                   1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   176,785   167,700    159,885     155,014
    Cotton                    74,044    74,918     69,458      66,898
    Linen                     15,786    10,921     11,564      17,464
    Wool                       3,667     3,244      2,870       3,187
    Silk                         746       844        833         784
    Manmade                   82,543    77,774     75,160      66,681

  Apparel                    541,578   536,530    502,996     463,121
    Cotton                   309,572   293,496    269,706     249,619
    Linen                     15,509    17,307     15,925      16,480
    Wool                      26,525    29,053     27,115      25,687
    Silk                       9,922    10,396     10,169       9,031
    Manmade                  180,050   186,279    180,081     162,304

  House furnishings           33,939    40,644     40,721      35,086
    Cotton                    23,940    28,949     27,984      24,204
    Linen                        170       255        132         290
    Wool                         183       174        122         163
    Silk                          24        27        101          21
    Manmade                    9,622    11,239     12,382      10,408

  Floor covering              23,328    21,468     22,522      22,537
    Cotton                     3,025     3,387      4,257       4,344
    Linen                      2,877     3,021      2,591       2,904
    Wool                       6,334     5,110      5,371       6,840
    Silk                         276       415        389         493
    Manmade                   10,815     9,535      9,915       7,956

  Total imports 2/           783,943   774,387    733,840     682,518
    Cotton                   414,712   404,319    374,851     347,671
    Linen                     34,392    31,549     30,281      37,193
    Wool                      37,026    37,964     35,732      36,101
    Silk                      10,969    11,682     11,491      10,330
    Manmade                  286,845   288,872    281,485     251,224

Exports:                                  1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   107,712   125,976    128,022     122,488
    Cotton                    38,683    43,505     43,121      41,463
    Linen                      2,900     3,418      3,569       2,766
    Wool                       2,723     4,110      3,423       3,470
    Silk                       1,313     1,441      1,683       1,338
    Manmade                   62,093    73,502     76,226      73,452

  Apparel                    118,045   125,957    127,493     112,642
    Cotton                    71,145    76,699     79,925      66,247
    Linen                      2,188     2,322      2,261       2,319
    Wool                       5,824     6,012      5,951       4,862
    Silk                       2,124     2,383      2,433       1,869
    Manmade                   36,764    38,541     36,923      37,345

  House furnishings            5,352     7,204      6,633       6,902
    Cotton                     3,207     4,394      3,954       3,789
    Linen                        224       195        198         358
    Wool                          52        73         61         165
    Silk                         135        81        107         153
    Manmade                    1,734     2,462      2,313       2,436

  Floor covering              28,527    36,007     34,523      28,601
    Cotton                     3,457     3,933      4,010       2,856
    Linen                      1,123     1,401      1,382       1,211
    Wool                       1,385     1,652      1,758       1,290
    Silk 3/                      ---       ---        ---         ---
    Manmade                   22,563    29,021     27,373      23,243

  Total exports 2/           260,024   295,490    296,953     271,012
    Cotton                   116,564   128,588    131,060     114,412
    Linen                      6,450     7,348      7,422       6,665
    Wool                      10,007    11,873     11,221       9,811
    Silk                       3,571     3,905      4,222       3,360
    Manmade                  123,432   143,775    143,028     136,764
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  Data for 1996 have been revised.
2/ Includes headgear.  3/ Absence of trade.

U.S. COTTON TEXTILE IMPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                    1995
                             ----------------------------
Country                         Jul       Aug        Sep          Sep
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    1,000 pounds 1/

North America                128,272   124,458    122,661     100,147
  Canada                       9,006    10,009     10,674       8,758
  Costa Rica                   7,253     7,610      7,673       7,700
  Dominican Republic          14,071    12,738     12,252      13,660
  El Salvador                  8,141     8,188      9,093       7,731
  Guatemala                    7,388     6,786      6,497       6,263
  Haiti                        1,278     1,053      1,080         617
  Honduras                    17,922    16,566     17,688      11,009
  Jamaica                      7,621     7,060      6,609       6,924
  Mexico                      52,217    50,916     48,381      34,993
  Nicaragua                    2,761     2,954      2,135       1,584

South America                  8,682     9,024      8,390      11,008
  Argentina                        4        17         58       1,065
  Brazil                       3,440     4,452      3,085       4,898
  Chile                          412       468        504         444
  Columbia                     2,315     2,343      2,387       2,336
  Peru                         2,005     1,505      1,847       1,624
  Venezuela                       28         7          9         340

Europe                        22,081    28,997     22,638      25,678
  Estonia                        652       323        610       1,636
  France                         529       693        527         493
  Germany                        475       488        470         660
  Italy                        3,008     3,152      1,845       1,318
  Portugal                       589     5,784      3,252       2,662
  Russia                         777       822        744       1,901
  Spain                        1,297     3,030      2,262       2,395
  Turkey                      10,524    10,339      9,010       9,546
  United Kingdom                 873     1,071        927         995
  
Asia                         219,286   225,890    209,187     195,644
  Bahrain                      1,323     1,214        850         754
  Bangladesh                  15,116    16,293     13,052      13,620
  China                       32,657    38,598     35,165      26,765
  Hong Kong                   35,014    28,002     24,003      26,232
  India                       27,565    30,180     30,562      23,750
  Indonesia                   13,947    13,844     13,309      11,794
  Israel                       2,107     2,395      2,039       2,836
  Japan                        1,520     1,198      1,153         966
  Macao                         5,311    4,588      4,439      5,162
  Malaysia                     4,710     5,042      4,717       5,295
  Nepal                        1,565       830        587         633
  Oman                         1,569     1,822      1,530       1,296
  Pakistan                    19,691    22,995     22,675      21,038
  Philippines                  9,844    10,891      8,798      11,234
  Quator                       1,476     1,418        914         680
  Singapore                    2,344     2,234      1,788       2,336
  South Korea                  7,047     6,334      6,579       6,555
  Sri Lanka                    9,141     7,590      7,844       7,573
  Taiwan                      12,500    12,782     13,680      12,518
  Thailand                     8,686     9,079      8,911       9,113
  U Arab 0m                    2,989     3,022      3,279       2,234

Oceania                        1,761     1,779      1,408       2,354
  Australia                      732       647        665       1,491
  Fiji                           728       738        545         644

Africa                        12,363    12,393      8,379      10,285
  Egypt                        5,286     5,057      3,218       4,029
  Lesotho                      1,319     2,175      1,119       1,275
  Mauritius                    1,908     1,387      1,369       1,732
  Morocco                        795       828        741         429
  South Africa                 1,451     1,644        871         940
  Tunisia                        105       159         97         303

World  2/                    414,712   404,319    374,851     347,671
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.

U.S. COTTON TEXTILE EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                    1995
                              ---------------------------
Country                          Jul       Aug        Sep         Sep
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   1,000 pounds 1/

North America                 86,584    96,603    100,091      82,084
  Canada                      13,153    17,926     19,032      17,195
  Costa Rica                   6,079     7,890     10,104       5,864
  Dominican Republic          10,326    11,989     11,399      10,288
  El Salvador                  2,854     2,686      2,516       3,256
  Guatemala                    3,885     4,277      4,117       3,155
  Haiti                          879     1,086        984         475
  Honduras                    11,220    12,265     12,222       7,172
  Jamaica                      5,652     6,337      8,166       9,008
  Mexico                      31,532    30,956     30,267      24,331

South America                  3,721     4,484      4,700       4,723
  Argentina                      226       311        222         230
  Brazil                         557       520        510         495
  Chile                          439       725      1,115         838
  Columbia                     1,485     1,783      1,763       1,793
  Peru                           225       174        101         135
  Venezuela                      291       606        540         584

Europe                         9,815    11,111     11,355      11,605
  Belgium                      1,872     2,198      3,058       3,999
  France                         459       854        658         525
  Germany                      1,505     1,436      1,382         950
  Ireland                         97       134        110         248
  Italy                          218       213        292         650
  Netherlands                    714       719        668         631
  United Kingdom               3,223     3,230      3,414       3,029

Asia                          21,645    14,077     12,945      13,656
  China                        1,367       150         47         205
  Hong Kong                    1,382     1,561      1,367       1,179
  Israel                       2,053     1,479        853       1,800
  Japan                        5,711     5,985      5,546       6,380
  Philippines                    317       779        612         383
  Saudi Arabia                   546       464        479         742
  Singapore                      614       606        719         551
  South Korea                    604       873        823         691
  Taiwan                         502       194        292         226
  U Arab Em                      427       615        972         334

Oceania                          835     1,375      1,024       1,195
  Australia                      585       813        678         882
  New Zealand                    192       296        284         276

Africa                         1,425       733        804         923
  Egypt                          125        83          1           4
  Ghana                           26        39         20          28
  Ivory Coast                     93        27        130         101
  Nigeria                         82        99        226         309
  South Africa                   337       103        222         234

World  2/                    116,564   128,588    131,060     114,412
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.

END_OF_FILE