COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                        April 14, 1997
            Approved by the World Agricultural Outlook Board
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK is published monthly (except January) by the Economic
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20005-4788.  
CWS-0397.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marginally Lower Area Projected in 1997

Farmers intend to plant nearly 14.5 million acres (1 percent less) of cotton
in 1997, according to USDA's Prospective Plantings report released March 31. 
Upland plantings are projected at 14.2 million acres, 1 percent below 1996,
while extra-long staple (ELS) area is expected to fall 5 percent to 245,000
acres.

Upland acreage indications in the Delta and West regions, at 3.7 million and
1.3 million acres, respectively, are 6 percent below 1996 plantings.  In
contrast, producers in the Southwest and Southeast intend to plant 2 percent
more area to cotton in 1997.  The Southwest is projected at 6.1 million acres,
while the Southeast is at nearly 3.2 million.

Although the first official 1997 USDA cotton supply and demand projections
based on the Prospective Plantings will not be released until May 12, the
carryin stock estimate has declined significantly over the last several
months.  The current ending stock estimate for 1996/97 is 3.95 million bales,
750,000 bales below the January projection.  In May, final 1996 ginnings and
production will also be released.  Total 1996/97 U.S. cotton supplies are
currently estimated at 22 million bales, while total use is projected at 18
million, leaving the ending stocks-to-use ratio at 21.9 percent.

U.S. 1996/97 Exports and China's Crop Raised This Month

U.S. exports for 1996/97 were raised 200,000 bales this month, to 7.0 million,
as the forecast for Pakistan's exports was cut 300,000 bales and U.S. export
sales and shipments continued to surge.  China in particular has been a strong
buyer from the United States in the last month, and the outlook continues to
improve for the U.S. share of China's imports.  The U.S. trade share on a
global basis in 1996/97 is now forecast at 26 percent, compared with 25
percent in March and 28 percent in 1995/96.

Expected foreign consumption for 1996/97 rose 300,000 bales this month, to
75.6 million, and expected foreign exports fell 500,000 bales to 19.8 million. 
There was a large increase in expected foreign production compared with a
month earlier in April, but virtually the entire increase occurred in China,
where the impact of production on trade is not as immediate or direct as it is
in many other countries.  With no change in expected imports by either China
or Brazil--the world's two largest importers--this month, expected foreign
imports in 1996/97 were about unchanged compared with a month earlier at 27.2
million bales.

China's 1996/97 Cotton Crop at 19.3 Million Bales

USDA's estimate of China's 1996/97 crop was raised 1.8 million bales to 19.3
million bales this month.  This change aligns USDA's estimate with China's
official data released by the State Statistical Bureau (SSB) a short time ago. 
In some respects--and according to many outside observers--the SSB's number is
surprisingly high.  This marks SSB's second upward revision this year, and
while 19.3 million bales is well below 1995/96's 21.9 million, China's stocks
continue to grow (up 2 million bales in 1996/97) despite lower import and
higher consumption estimates this year compared with last.  According to some
observers, SSB's crop estimates have been too high for several years. 
Continued large imports in the face of soaring estimated Chinese stocks, and
relatively low government cotton procurement, are cited as evidence that
China's official production statistics exceed actual production.

However, confidently asserting that China's level of imports is incompatible
with its officially reported level of production assumes certainty about the
level of consumption and ending stocks.  But, since there are no official
cotton consumption data from China, estimates must be derived in part from the
SSB data for production of yarn.  However, since the yarn data includes fibers
other than cotton, and not all cotton is used for yarn, all published
estimates of China's cotton consumption include a subjective element.

There are several sources of uncertainty about Chinese yarn production
statistics.  Most important is that in China, cotton is strictly controlled by
the government.  Unlike other agricultural products, sales of cotton to anyone
other than the government's Cotton and Jute Company (CJC) are illegal.  They
occur nonetheless.  According to international press reports this year, the
Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (SMC, which controls CJC)  has highlighted
the role of black market sales in this year's reduced government procurement
from farmers.

Procurement is a poor guide to production for this reason.  Earlier in the
1990's, farmers avoided the procurement system because it offered prices that
were too low, and prices were eventually raised.  This year, the difficulty
faced by CJC/SMC in selling its high-priced cotton to the financially pressed
state mills has in turn made it difficult for CJC/SMC to pay farmers promptly
for their cotton.  Not surprisingly, other marketing channels have come into
play.


While some of this black market cotton probably finds its way into the state
sector, some of it probably finds unofficial uses in addition to unofficial
marketing channels.  It is possible that there are many cotton spinners in
China who are energetically and successfully keeping themselves hidden from
official government bodies.  Recurring government efforts to reduce the number
of spindles in China are directed both at inefficient state mills, and at
hidden operations that are in part based on using the older, ostensibly
retired spindles from state mills.

Regarding ending stocks, there are also many rational reasons for holding
higher stocks/use in China than in a country like the United States.  China's
economy has many inefficiencies, one being poor links between provinces.  For
many years, development policy pursued regional self-sufficiency.  The
residual effects of this legacy include poor transportation.  Legal contracts
are also less binding in China than in western market economies.  And, while
inflation is currently low in China, it remains above the levels of developed
countries and has a very recent history of being very much higher.  Each of
these factors could make holding larger stocks attractive.  In addition,
Chinas government maintains stocks in a large strategic reserve.

Furthermore, the usability of China's stocks is a big unknown.  Farmers may
store cotton on farms for long periods while awaiting favorable prices.  This
cotton may be stored unginned, and some observers cite storage in seed cotton
form for years, damaging quality.  Thus the cotton could have been produced
and eventually procured, but should be included in a loss category rather than
as stocks.

These are large unknowns, and in the light of such uncertainty about the level
of consumption and stocks in China, the higher production estimate from SSB
seems plausible.  No other published estimates of China's crops are backed by
the same level of resources and access to information enjoyed by the SSB. 
Collecting accurate statistics in a rapidly growing country as large as China
is difficult, and weighing the relative uncertainties and statistical
resources of various sources of data, China's official estimates are most
preferable.

February U.S. Mill Use Sluggish

According to the latest U.S. Commerce Department data, preliminary seasonally
adjusted consumption for both cotton and manmade fibers was slightly below the
revised January data.  For cotton, the seasonally adjusted daily rate fell to
40,100 running bales, the second lowest of the season, but 4 percent above
February 1996.  On a seasonally adjust annual rate (SAAR) basis, February's
mill use dropped to 10.8 million statistical bales, the lowest since October. 
However, the SAAR has averaged nearly 10.9 million bales through February.

Cotton mill use during the first 7 months of 1996/97 totaled 6.3 million
bales, compared with 6.1 million last season.  While cotton use has risen 3.5
percent above a year ago, manmade fiber consumption has increased 6 percent. 
The higher use of manmade fibers on the cotton system this year has kept
cotton's share below last season's 78 percent.  Despite February's decline,
U.S. cotton mill use for 1996/97 remains estimated at 11 million bales.

Cotton Prices Stable

The average price received by upland producers for the first half of March was
69.1 cents per pound, up about a penny from February's revised price but well
below the 76.8-cent-average posted during March 1996.  Similarly, both the
upland and ELS spot prices advanced in March.  The upland base-quality spot
price reached 71.1 cents per pound, while the ELS price surpassed $1.16.

Mill-delivered upland prices also rose in March to nearly 78 cents per pound,
while manmade fiber prices were unchanged.  While fiber prices are
significantly lower this season, cotton remains less competitive.  A year ago,
cotton was priced at 89 cents per pound, rayon at $1.20, and polyester at 88
cents.

Meanwhile, U.S. prices on the world market remain very competitive. The A
Index averaged 80.3 cents per pound in March while the Memphis Territory (MT)
quotes averaged 82.6 cents.  A year ago, nearly 11 cents separated the A Index
and the MT quotation.

Textile Trade Higher; Deficit Rises

Preliminary textile trade data for January 1997 indicate an increase in 
textile imports and exports from December.  U.S. textile imports totaled 710
million (raw-fiber equivalent) pounds in January, up from the month and year
earlier.  Imports for each fiber type also rose from December.  Cotton jumped
to over 370 million pounds, 10 percent above December 1996 and 15 percent
higher than January 1996.  In January, cotton textile imports accounted for 52
percent of the total, while manmade fiber imports contributed an additional 36
percent.

Total textile exports reached 266 million pounds in January, also above both
December 1996 and a year earlier.  Despite small decreases in wool and silk
exports, advances in manmade and cotton textile exports (which account for 93
percent of total exports) contributed to the overall gain.  Cotton textile
shipments approached 116 million pounds in January, 3 percent above the
previous month and 10 percent higher than January 1996.

Overall, the January U.S. textile trade deficit was 444 million pounds, with
cotton accounting for 57 percent (255 million) of the total.  Compared with
January 1996, the total trade deficit was 20 percent higher, with cotton
contributing to the majority of this deficit increase.

1996 Wool Production Down 11 Percent

According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, shorn wool
production in the United States during 1996 was 56.7 million pounds, greasy,
down 11 percent from 1995.  Sheep and lambs shorn totaled 7.28 million head,
compared with 8.1 million in 1995.  Weight per fleece averaged 7.8 pounds,
matching 1995's yield.  Production in Texas, at 9.9 million pounds, declined
26 percent below a year earlier.  The average price paid for wool sold during
1996 was 70 cents per pound with a total value of $39.7 million, down 38
percent from $64.3 million in 1995.

Mohair production in the four major producing States (Arizona, New Mexico,
Oklahoma, and Texas) during 1996 was 8.05 million pounds, down 33 percent from
1995.  Goats and kids clipped, at 1.2 million head, were down 26 percent from
1995.  Average weight per clip was 6.7 pounds compared with 7.4 pounds a year
earlier.  The national average price was $1.92 per pound, compared with $1.84
in 1995.  The value of the 1996 clip was $15.5 million, down 33 percent from a
year ago.

                                  * * * 

The next Cotton and Wool Outlook (CWS-0497) will be released on May 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     Feb         Mar        Apr
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                      16.72     14.41       14.41      14.41
  Harvested                    15.80     12.58       12.58      12.58
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           533       703         703        703

                                        Million 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks              2.59      2.54        2.54       2.54
  Production                   17.53     18.42       18.42      18.42
    Total supply 1/            20.52     21.36       21.36      21.36
  Mill use                     10.54     10.90       10.89      10.89
  Exports                       7.38      6.07        6.37       6.55
    Total use                  17.91     16.96       17.26      17.44
  Ending stocks                 2.54      4.38        4.09       3.91
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           14.2      25.8        23.7       22.4
  
Extra-long staple:                           1,000 acres
  Planted                        215       258         258        258
  Harvested                      211       256         256        256
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           836       998         998        998

                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                62        68         66          66
  Production                     368       533        533         533
    Total supply 1/              438       606        604         604
  Mill use                       109       105        110         110
  Exports                        300       435        435         450
    Total use                    409       540        545         560
  Ending stocks                   66        66         59          44
                                               Percent  
  Stocks-to-use ratio           16.1      12.2       10.8         7.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.  1/ Includes imports.


WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1996/97
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1995/96     Feb         Mar        Apr
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        29.32     36.33      35.62       35.68
  Foreign                      26.67     33.72      33.01       33.07
Production
  World                        92.17     86.21      86.34       88.12
  Foreign                      74.27     67.26      67.39       69.17
Imports
  World                        27.14     27.07      27.57       27.57
  Foreign                      26.74     26.67      27.17       27.17
Use:
Mill use
  World                        85.35     85.75      86.22       86.55
  Foreign                      74.71     74.75      75.22       75.55
Exports
  World                        27.36     26.91      27.11       26.77
  Foreign                      19.68     20.41      20.31       19.77
Ending stocks
  World                        35.68     36.75      36.00       37.85
  Foreign                      33.07     32.30      31.85       33.90

Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         41.8      42.9       41.8        43.7
  Foreign                       44.3      43.2       42.3        44.9
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.


FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                1996            1997             1996
                                         -----------------
Item                            Dec       Jan         Feb         Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                     3,098       651        190          21
Imports since August 1         396.0     396.0         NA        12.8
  Stocks, beginning           13,016    14,472     13,482      11,079
    At mills                     577       577        658         638
    Public storage            10,392    11,652     10,806       8,597
    CCC stocks                 2,098     2,497      2,500       2,142

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   862.8     905.0      794.8       770.0
    Noncellulosic              823.7     862.3      744.9       732.9
    Cellulosic                  39.1      42.7       49.9        37.1
    Total since January 1    9,981.6     905.0    1,699.8     1,574.0

                                     1996            1997       1996
                               ----------------
                                 Nov       Dec        Jan        Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
  Raw fiber imports            100.7     105.3      123.0        84.2
    Noncellulosic               94.7      98.2      114.0        78.9
    Cellulosic                   6.0       7.1        9.0         5.3
    Total since January 1    1,059.0   1,164.3      123.0        84.2

Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      4,558     5,112      9,701       9,691
    48's-and-finer             3,432     3,497      7,203       7,248
    Not-finer-than-46's        1,126     1,615      2,498       2,443
    Total since January 1     70,258    75,370      9,701       9,691

  Wool top imports               351       163         73         629
    Total since January 1      3,435     3,597         73         629
  Mohair imports, clean            0         0          0           2
    Total since January 1         43        43          0           2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.


COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 1996           1997             1996
                                         -----------------
Item                             Dec       Jan        Feb         Feb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         746       976        856         869
  Total since August 1 1/      4,467     5,442      6,298       6,087
  SA annual rate 2/           10,964    10,998     10,840      10,431
  SA daily rate 2/              42.0      42.1       41.5        39.8
  Daily rate                    33.9      42.4       42.8        41.4

Upland consumed by mills 1/      739       966        847         860
  Total since August 1 1/      4,425     5,391      6,238       6,025
  SA annual rate 2/           10,881    10,896     10,734      10,316
  SA daily rate 2/              41.7      41.7       41.1        39.4
  Daily rate                    33.6      42.0       42.4        41.0

Spindles in place              5,879     5,779      5,765       6,433
  Active spindles              5,401     5,441      5,418       5,957
    100 percent cotton         2,556     2,587      2,572       2,678
    100 percent manmade          920       934        933       1,003
    Blends                     1,925     1,920      1,913       2,276
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        77.6      77.5       77.7        78.2

Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/   103,140   135,721    117,582     116,440
  Total since August 1 1/    609,542   745,263    862,845     811,452
  Daily rate                   4,688     5,900      5,879       5,545
    Noncellulosic staple       4,292     5,393      5,238       4,690
    Cellulosic staple            396       507        641         855
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month.  2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.


FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1996           1997         1996
                               -----------------
Item                             Nov       Dec        Jan          Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 535       838        587       1,204
    Total since August 1       1,190     2,027      2,614       4,085
  Sales for next season           45        14         76          87
    Total since August 1         105       119        196         253

  ELS exports                   37.8      60.9       78.4        58.6
    Total since August 1        88.1     149.1      227.5       152.4
  Sales for next season          7.1       8.1        1.4        17.4
    Total since August 1         9.0      17.1       18.5        95.6

Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports            110.8     114.6      103.9        74.1
    Noncellulosic              102.7     104.7       95.0        70.0
    Cellulosic                   8.1       9.9        8.9         4.1
    Total since January 1    1,040.9   1,155.5      103.9        74.1

Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean      509.8     295.8      300.1       336.5
   Total since January 1     5,419.5   5,715.3      300.1       336.5
  Wool top exports           1,254.9     795.7      445.1       822.2
    Total since January 1   11,323.1  12,118.9      445.1       822.2
  Mohair exports, clean            0         0          0     1,236.9
    Total since January 1    3,539.2   3,539.2          0     1,236.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------


FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1997                   1996
                               --------------------------
Item                            Jan       Feb        Mar          Mar
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted World Price         65.23     65.96      66.24       68.26
  May'97 futures               75.75     75.39      74.78       81.22
  Dec'97 futures               76.78     76.82      76.93       77.26
  Upland spot 41-34            70.53     70.53      71.12       81.13
  Pima spot 03-46             111.82    113.50     116.20      162.11
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           67.80     68.20      69.10       76.80

  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   77.97     77.68      77.95       88.77
      Raw fiber equivalent     86.63     86.31      86.61       98.63
    Rayon staple
      Actual                  115.00    115.00     115.00      120.00
      Raw fiber equivalent    119.79    119.79     119.79      125.00
    Polyester staple
      Actual                   70.00     70.00      70.00       88.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     72.92     72.92      72.92       91.67

    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              72.3      72.1       72.3        78.9
      Cotton/polyester         118.8     118.4      118.8       107.6

Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      80.01     80.45      80.26       83.18
  Memphis Territory            83.30     82.50      82.63       94.13
  California/Arizona           83.45     83.88      84.63       98.31
  B Index                      75.23     74.34      74.55       77.76
  Orleans/Texas                78.95     77.94      78.25       89.88

Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      1.30      1.30       1.27        1.35
  Australian 56's 1/            1.78      1.87       1.96        1.90
 U.S. 60's                      1.52      1.52       1.64        1.55
  Australian 60's 1/            1.89      1.95       2.04        2.03
 U.S. 64's                      1.90      1.90       2.08        1.88
  Australian 64's 1/            2.34      2.41       2.54        2.38
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.


TEXTILE TRADE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     1996           1997         1996
                            -------------------
Item                            Nov        Dec       Jan          Jan
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Imports:                                   1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   166,289   177,415    212,037     165,841
    Cotton                    72,154    77,459     86,624      65,330
    Linen                     14,446    20,811     32,938      35,821
    Wool                       3,065     3,224      3,610       3,002
    Silk                         845       772        750         708
    Manmade                   75,775    75,149     88,110      60,980

  Apparel                    404,024   392,029    432,746     389,768
    Cotton                   234,270   231,237    251,160     226,847
    Linen                     11,207    10,477     12,596      12,753
    Wool                      15,050    11,076     11,913      11,170
    Silk                      10,635    10,091     14,100      12,506
    Manmade                  132,861   129,148    142,976     126,492

  House furnishings           31,536    30,877     33,451      31,545
    Cotton                    21,421    21,480     24,876      22,892
    Linen                        207       223        127         154
    Wool                         102       139         83         127
    Silk                          19        25         63          10
    Manmade                    9,786     9,009      8,302       8,362

  Floor covering              23,558    23,175     24,426      16,729
    Cotton                     3,846     4,067      4,218       4,177
    Linen                      3,159     2,785      3,378       2,746
    Wool                       5,760     7,117      6,749       4,432
    Silk                         375       402        355         479
    Manmade                   10,418     8,804      9,726       4,896

  Total imports 2/           631,841   630,080    710,470     611,224
    Cotton                   335,132   337,909    370,834     323,250
    Linen                     29,037    34,324     49,061      51,509
    Wool                      24,075    21,640     22,454      18,790
    Silk                      11,874    11,291     15,269      13,704
    Manmade                  231,722   224,916    252,853     203,972




Exports:                                 1,000 pounds 1/

  Yarn, thread, and fabric   126,002   110,126    114,594     105,961
    Cotton                    46,889    37,416     36,156      38,190
    Linen                      3,325     3,196      3,137       2,734
    Wool                       3,389     3,235      3,661       2,572
    Silk                       1,479     1,229      1,532       1,296
    Manmade                   70,920    65,050     70,108      61,170

  Apparel                    132,153   112,896    116,152     105,420
    Cotton                    80,461    68,667     72,975      61,697
    Linen                      2,641     2,078      2,054       1,813
    Wool                       6,295     5,771      4,380       4,801
    Silk                       2,331     2,045      1,408       1,769
    Manmade                   40,425    34,336     35,334      35,340

  House furnishings            6,907     5,764      5,472       4,781
    Cotton                     4,112     3,347      3,439       2,838
    Linen                        214       268        179         174
    Wool                         104        95         49          65
    Silk                         112       162        134          11
    Manmade                    2,365     1,893      1,671       1,592

  Floor covering              32,844    26,683     29,529      25,181
    Cotton                     3,766     2,779      2,959       2,250
    Linen                      1,316     1,091      1,276       1,053
    Wool                       1,546     1,213      1,541       1,340
    Silk 3/                      ---       ---        ---         ---
    Manmade                   26,216    21,600     23,753      20,538

  Total exports 2/           298,171   255,777    266,107     241,613
    Cotton                   135,270   112,254    115,562     105,019
    Linen                      7,504     6,642      6,653       5,782
    Wool                      11,354    10,330      9,642       8,796
    Silk                       3,922     3,435      3,074       3,176
    Manmade                  140,121   123,115    131,175     118,841
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  Data for 1997 will be revised.
2/ Includes headgear.  3/ Absence of trade.


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

North America                120,680    118,421   101,737      80,268
  Canada                      10,734      8,173     9,479       6,933
  Costa Rica                   7,609      7,288     5,710       4,945
  Dominican Republic          12,220     12,996     8,017       7,692
  El Salvador                  8,382      9,637     8,864       6,240
  Guatemala                    5,397      6,858     5,279       4,606
  Haiti                        1,101      1,150       698         546
  Honduras                    17,772     17,931    12,800       8,453
  Jamaica                      6,579      7,319     4,840       6,112
  Mexico                      48,272     44,898    43,827      32,253
  Nicaragua                    2,130      1,674     1,817       1,830

South America                  6,446      8,509     6,636       9,738
  Argentina                       10          7         5          84
  Brazil                       2,269      3,375     2,431       5,210
  Chile                          269        257       317         471
  Columbia                     2,043      2,836     1,731       2,087
  Peru                         1,494      1,745     1,907       1,654
  
Europe                        22,551     21,241    22,639      20,158
  Estonia                        683        925       848         782
  France                         637        639       684         444
  Germany                        643        728       393         375
  Italy                        2,909      3,245     3,035       2,661
  Portugal                     2,717      1,713       882       1,184
  Russia                         615      1,129       801       1,002
  Spain                        1,820        967     1,495       1,115
  Turkey                       8,600      7,895    10,367       8,951
  United Kingdom                 881        946       916         788
  
Asia                         175,640    179,742   226,602     203,021
  Bahrain                        576        779       962       1,243
  Bangladesh                   8,626      9,821    15,332      13,042
  China                       25,729     26,677    40,704      19,739
  Hong Kong                   27,431     25,046    31,527      30,696
  India                       26,319     26,911    28,569      24,461
  Indonesia                   11,454     11,646    15,713      14,290
  Israel                       1,794      2,031     2,208       2,766
  Japan                        1,295      1,104     1,331       1,241
  Macao                        4,340      3,774     5,273       4,795
  Malaysia                     3,927      3,880     5,130       5,821
  Nepal                          773        850     1,315       1,296
  Oman                         1,183      1,663     1,725       1,951
  Pakistan                    19,256     18,473    21,299      21,511
  Philippines                  7,353      7,789     9,290      12,044
  Quator                       1,206      1,228     1,383       1,021
  Singapore                    1,617      1,518     2,416       2,157
  South Korea                  4,990      5,604     6,353       5,757
  Sri Lanka                    5,210      7,049     8,776       5,957
  Taiwan                      10,662     10,954    10,863      14,156
  Thailand                     7,286      8,578    11,085       9,781
  U Arab 0m                    2,106      2,001     2,701       2,751

Oceania                          781      1,025     1,035       1,070
  Australia                      281        347       253         433
  Fiji                           365        483       532         424
 
Africa                         7,824      7,997    11,076      10,547
  Egypt                        4,134      3,718     5,462       5,317
  Lesotho                        733      1,140     1,706       1,496
  Mauritius                      985      1,043     1,106       1,079
  Morocco                        437        609       624         427
  South Africa                   609        801       765         443
  Tunisia                        168        104       120         790

World  2/                    335,132    337,909   370,834     323,250
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.


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

North America                106,815     86,096    92,946      75,789
  Canada                      21,308     15,186    20,022      15,030
  Costa Rica                  10,025      5,829     6,767       5,974
  Dominican Republic          12,398      9,115    10,107       6,709
  El Salvador                  2,717      2,990     3,013       2,533
  Guatemala                    5,073      4,349     4,427       3,503
  Haiti                        1,190        823       737         316
  Honduras                    14,740     12,614    13,523       7,865
  Jamaica                      7,177      6,018     6,576       6,269
  Mexico                      30,874     28,041    26,734      26,806

South America                  5,195      3,833     3,824       3,440
  Argentina                      237        173       298         338
  Brazil                         800        671       524         428
  Chile                          984        480       640         785
  Columbia                     1,831      1,507     1,210       1,295
  Peru                           150        205        88         238
  Venezuela                      753        306       779          75

Europe                        10,676      9,395     6,856      12,580
  Belgium                      3,023      2,126     1,051       4,705
  France                         578        685       523         552
  Germany                      1,874        967       854         848
  Ireland                        155         81        70         381
  Italy                          189        247       141         395
  Netherlands                    655        520       624         651
  United Kingdom               2,518      3,018     1,986       3,133

Asia                          10,528     11,335    10,171      11,668
  China                          218        243        91         185
  Hong Kong                    1,162      1,260     1,020       1,276
  Israel                         805      1,834     1,610       1,575
  Japan                        4,559      4,538     4,309       4,860
  Philippines                    198        310       190         368
  Saudi Arabia                   477        594       702         666
  Singapore                      504        382       403         389
  South Korea                    502        425       387         353
  Taiwan                         331        285       168         183
  U Arab Em                      546        555       308         700

Oceania                          787        745     1,088         629
  Australia                      550        566       738         453
  New Zealand                    129        116       115         170

Africa                         1,064        656       538         811
  Egypt                          290          7        49           7
  Ghana                           46          8        12          41
  Ivory Coast                    146         79        14          74
  Nigeria                        126        146        70         215
  South Africa                   164         71        90         173

World  2/                    135,270    112,254   115,562     105,019
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.


ACTUAL AND PROJECTED COTTON ACREAGE
-------------------------------------------------------------------
State/          Actual       Actual      Projected
Region           1995         1996          1997 1/     1997/1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                          1,000 acres                    Percent

Upland:
  Alabama         590          540           550            102
  Florida         110          100            95             95
  Georgia       1,500        1,350         1,400            104
  N. Carolina     805          721           700             97
  S. Carolina     348          284           300            106
  Virginia        107          103           105            102
    Southeast   3,460        3,098         3,150            102

  Arkansas      1,170        1,000           970             97
  Louisiana     1,085          890           670             75
  Mississippi   1,460        1,120         1,100             98
  Missouri        462          390           420            108
  Tennessee       700          540           540            100
    Delta       4,877        3,940         3,700             94

  Kansas            4            5            13            278
  Oklahoma        380          290           180             62
  Texas         6,400        5,700         5,900            104
    Southwest   6,784        5,995         6,093            102

  Arizona         365          315           335            106
  California    1,170        1,000           900             90
  New Mexico       61           60            62            103
    West        1,596        1,375         1,297             94

Total Upland   16,717       14,408        14,240             99

Pima:
  Arizona          49           42            24             57
  California      115          165           175            106
  New Mexico       15           14            14            100
  Texas            36           37            32             86

Total Pima        215          258           245             95

Total All      16,931       14,666        14,485             99
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Planting intentions as indicated by reports from farmers.

END_OF_FILE