COTTON AND WOOL OUTLOOK                                        August 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--0796.  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
1996/97 U.S. Production and Area Lowered
 
Based on this year's initial USDA survey, 1996 U.S. cotton production is
forecast at 18.58 million bales, nearly 4 percent above last season, but 5.5
percent below 1994/95's record.  Upland production is projected at 18 million
bales while the extra-long staple crop is estimated at 576,000.  During the
past 10 years, the August forecast has been above final production 5 times and
below 5 times.  Past differences between the August forecast and final
production estimate indicate that chances are two out of three that the 1996
cotton crop will range between 17.0 and 20.2 million bales.  USDA's production
forecast was below the private forecasters' range (18.7 to 19.5 million bales)
and 400,000 bales below last month's projection.
 
Upland production is expected to rise in each region except the Southwest,
where above-average abandonment--caused by drought, hail, and wind damage--has
kept projected production 17 percent below last season at 3.8 million bales. 
However, the Southeast and the West are both up 15 percent from 1995/96 at 4.4
million and 3.7 million bales, respectively.  The Delta is projected at 6.1
million bales, 3 percent above a year ago.
 
Although planted area was 120,000 acres below the June Acreage report,
harvested area was lowered more than 700,000 acres from the July estimate.  A
21-percent abandonment rate in Texas pulled the U.S. cotton harvested area
projection down to 13 million acres, implying a national abandonment rate of
nearly 9 percent or a loss of 1.2 million acres (1.1 million in Texas).  Based
on the harvested area, however, the U.S. average yield is placed at 686 pounds
per acre, well above last season but 22 pounds below 1994/95's record.
 
While the U.S. cotton crop is progressing ahead of normal, the average
condition of the crop remains near that of 1995.  As of August 11, 96 percent
of the crop was setting bolls, compared with 88 percent last year and a 5-year
average of 86 percent.  In addition, 11 percent of the crop had bolls opening,
compared with 10 percent in 1995 and an average of 8 percent.
 
Although 61 percent of the area is rated "good" to "excellent," similar to a
year ago, a larger percentage (15 percent) of the 1996 crop is in the "poor"
to "very poor" category, compared with 8 percent last season.  A major
contributor to this category is Texas, where nearly one-third of the State's
crop is rated "poor" or "very poor."  In the other States, however, over two-
thirds of the crops are "good" or "excellent."
 
Based on the production forecast and carryin stocks of 2.6 million bales,
total supply (including imports) for the 1996 marketing year is projected at
21.6 million bales, 3 percent above last season.  Total use, however, is
projected to decline 4 percent from 1995/96 to 17.6 million bales, the
smallest offtake in 3 years.  Both mill use and export estimates for 1996/97
were left unchanged from last month.  However, mill use is expected to total
above last season while exports are projected to fall over a million bales to
6.6 million.  Tougher competition from abroad will likely keep the U.S. share
of world trade, currently estimated near 25 percent, below the previous two
seasons.  Consequently, U.S. stocks are expected to rise 1.4 million bales by
season's end to 4 million.  The implied stocks-to-use ratio is 22.7 percent,
compared with 14.2 percent in 1995/96.
 
Lower Chinese Consumption; Lower Uzbek Production and Exports
 
Changes in the foreign cotton supply and demand outlook were minor in August. 
The forecast for foreign consumption in 1996/97 was reduced 300,000 bales to 
75.7 million.  Foreign production was revised downward 200,000 bales to 69.8
million, and foreign exports were revised downward 200,000 bales to 20.1
million.  Foreign ending stocks were revised upward 850,000 bales to 31.7
million, largely reflecting a 550,000-bale increase in estimated beginning
stocks.
 
China's consumption for 1995/96 and 1996/97 was lowered a combined total of
800,000 bales this month.  Lower than expected yarn production in China in
recent months, and increasing evidence that manmade fibers have substituted
for cotton during 1995/96, led to a 500,000-bale reduction in the estimate for
1995/96 consumption.  While a rebound is expected in 1996/97, consumption
prospects nonetheless appear weaker than in July.
 
India's 1995/96 consumption was revised up 200,000 bales to 11.2 million, as
mill use reported through May 1996 exceeded earlier expectations.  India's
consumption has increased steadily during the last 4 years, and India had the
world's largest consumption gain in 1995/96 as its textile sector expanded. 
However, consumption is not expected to grow in 1996/97.
 
Estimated 1995/96 foreign production was raised 300,000 bales this month as
gin arrivals in India continue to surpass previous expectations.  Late-season
weather has apparently been quite favorable for southern India's cotton crop,
and India's 1995/96 production is estimated to have grown 1.1 million bales
from the year before.  Due to lower prices in India this year, India's 1996/97
crop is expected to fall 1.4 million bales, to 10.5 million, unchanged from
July's estimate.
 
The forecast for China's crop was also unchanged this month, at 19 million
bales, down 13 percent from 1995/96's 21.9 million.  While flooding in China's
southern provinces has been extensive, it is not believed to have affected the
cotton crop significantly.  Much uncertainty surrounds China's crop--even
historical production levels remain the subject of debate--and, typically,
reliable new information concerning the size and even the direction of the
crop is not available until later in the fall.
 
The Uzbekistan 1996/97 cotton crop forecast was reduced 200,000 bales this
month, to 5.3 million, due to lower expected yields.  Uzbekistan production
had already been forecast 200,000 bales below a year-earlier following a
cooler spring with increased rainfall.  Cool weather delayed plantings and
increased rainfall washed out some fields, bringing replanting back to more
normal levels than the last 2 years.  Temperature and rainfall improved in
May, and by June only a small portion of the country bordering Turkmenistan
suffered from below average temperatures, down about 2 degrees C.  Although
average temperatures were normal, maximum temperatures during June were low,
diminishing crop prospects.  Due to smaller expected supplies, Uzbek exports
were also reduced 200,000 bales.
 
U.S. Mill Use Improves
 
Cotton mill consumption improved in June according to the latest report from
the U.S. Commerce Department.  U.S. mill use averaged a seasonally adjusted
42,300 480-pound bales per day in June, the highest of the season and 1,000
bales above June 1995.  During June 1996, the actual daily rate totaled 42,700
bales, equal to the revised May figure.  On a seasonally adjusted annual rate
basis, June consumption jumped above 11 million bales for the first time in
over a year. 
 
Cotton mill use during the first 11 months of 1995/96 surpassed 9.7 million
bales, compared with nearly 10.5 million for the same period in 1994/95. 
Based on the recent improvement in monthly mill consumption, the cotton mill
use estimate for 1995/96 is now expected to approach 10.6 million bales.  The
preliminary July report will be released later this month.
 
For 1996/97, cotton mill consumption is projected to rise as plentiful
supplies are expected to be available at relatively lower prices than during
1995/96.  In addition, demand is showing signs of improvement.  Retail sales
at apparel and accessory stores are rising while inventories there continue to
decline.  With consumer demand expanding, cotton mill consumption is expected
to benefit as cotton-rich products continue to be preferred by consumers.  In
1996/97, U.S. cotton mill use is expected to climb about 4 percent to 11
million bales, slightly below the average annual growth experienced during
1990-94.
 
Cotton Prices Lower, Manmade Unchanged
 
Through mid-July, the average price received by upland producers fell to 77.4
cents per pound from a revised June price of 78.6 cents.  During July 1995,
the average price was 80.1 cents.  Upland spot prices slid 3 cents in July,
averaging about 77 cents per pound.  Similarly, ELS spot prices slipped about
6 cents to $1.34 per pound.
 
With upland prices declining recently, producers have contracted a smaller
percentage of their acreage in 1996 than in the previous two seasons.  As of
August 1, only 21 percent of the cotton crop had been forward contracted,
compared with 36 percent last year and 30 percent in 1994.  By region, the
Southeast had contracted one-third of its acreage; the Delta, 25 percent; the
West, 21 percent; and the Southwest, 12 percent.  All percentages were below a
year earlier.  
 
Upland mill-delivered cotton prices also decreased in July to 82.2 cents per
pound, compared with 86 cents in June and $1.00 in July 1995.  Manmade fiber
prices, however, have remained stable the past 3 months.  Polyester staple in
July was reported at 78 cents per pound, while rayon staple averaged $1.15. 
Cotton's price competitiveness has improved, as evidenced by the recent rise
in cotton mill consumption.
 
Textile Trade Deficit Declines in 1996
 
Revised U.S. textile trade data for January through May 1996 indicate weaker
imports and stronger exports for all major fibers.  Total textile imports, at
2.9 billion pounds, are 6 percent below the first 5 months of 1995 while
textile exports rose 9 percent to 1.4 billion.  Total cotton exports 
increased nearly 13 percent to 606 million pounds and manmade fiber exports,
at 652 million, were up 5 percent from January through May 1995.  As a result,
the textile trade deficit for the first 5 months of 1996 totaled 1.56 billion
pounds, compared with 1.85 billion in 1995.  
 
Total U.S. textile imports rose in May to 610 million pounds, 9 percent above
the previous month but 5 percent below May 1995 shipments.  Increases in
cotton, wool and manmade fiber imports more than offset slight declines in
linen and silk textiles.  Also, larger imports of all end uses (except floor
coverings) occurred in May, with apparel imports up nearly 47 million pounds
(14 percent) from a month earlier.
 
U.S. textile exports totaled a record 300 million pounds in May, 6 percent
above a month earlier and 11 percent above a year ago.  Overall, exports of
all fibers and all end uses were above April shipments.  Large increases in
cotton and manmade fiber yarn, thread, and fabric and apparel exports account
for most of the gain.  Total apparel shipments, at 137 million pounds, were
nearly 25 percent above a year earlier, with cotton apparel accounting for 62
percent of the total.
 
Additional tables on cotton textile trade are included in this report covering
imports and exports by country of destination.  In May, Asian countries
accounted for 50 percent (171 million pounds) of U.S. cotton textile imports. 
Four countries--Hong Kong, China, India, and Pakistan--represented 55 percent
of total Asian shipments to the U.S.  North American countries continue to
expand cotton textile exports and in May shipments represented 35 percent of
U.S. textile imports.  Mexico, the largest cotton textile exporter to the
U.S., shipped nearly 45 million pounds of textiles with apparel accounting for
77 percent of Mexico's shipments.  U.S. imports from Mexico in May were up 15
percent from April and 25 percent above a year ago.  Similarly, May imports
from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua were all higher than
shipments made a year ago.  Conversely, Asian shipments were down 10 percent
from May 1995 with most of the decrease occurring in imports from China.
 
The majority of U.S. cotton textile exports are shipped to North American
countries.  In May, shipments to North America totaled 102 million pounds and
represented 75 percent of U.S. cotton textile exports.  Overall, exports to
North America were up 19 percent compared with May 1995.  Mexico imported
nearly 33 million pounds of textile products with apparel accounting for 75
percent of U.S. shipments.  Canada, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica
and Costa Rica are other major North American markets for cotton textiles.
 
The next Cotton and Wool Outlook (CWS-0896) will be released on September 12.
 
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      Jun       Jul          Aug
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upland:                                      Million acres
  Planted                      16.72     14.98      14.10       13.98
  Harvested                    15.80     13.74      13.45       12.73
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           533       645        657         679
 
                                        Million 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks              2.59      2.67       2.56        2.56
  Production                   17.53     18.46      18.46       18.00
    Total supply 1/            20.49     21.41      21.41       20.95
  Mill use                     10.50     10.90      10.90       10.90
  Exports                       7.45      6.38       6.19        6.19
    Total use                  17.95     17.28      17.09       17.09
  Ending stocks                 2.56      4.13       4.32        3.89
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio           14.3      23.9       25.3        22.7
  
Extra-long staple:                           1,000 acres
  Planted                        215       265        264         264
  Harvested                      211       260        259         262
                                                Pounds
  Yield/harvested acre           836     1,000      1,000       1,056
 
                                         1,000 480-lb. bales
  Beginning stocks                59        27         37          37
  Production                     368       542        540         576
    Total supply 1/              437       594        592         623
  Mill use                       100       100        100         100
  Exports                        300       425        410         410
    Total use                    400       525        510         510
  Ending stocks                   37        69         82         113
                                               Percent
  Stocks-to-use ratio            9.3      13.1       16.1        22.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.  1/ Includes imports.
 
WORLD COTTON SUPPLY AND USE ESTIMATES
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                                                   1996/97
                                        ------------------------------
Item                          1995/96     Jun          Jul         Aug
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Supply:                                 Million 480-lb. bales
Beginning stocks
  World                        29.29     33.34       33.78      34.33
  Foreign                      26.64     30.64       31.18      31.73
Production
  World                        90.94     90.00       88.99      88.35
  Foreign                      73.04     71.00       69.99      69.77
Imports
  World                        27.03     27.00       26.57      26.57
  Foreign                      26.66     26.70       26.17      26.17
Use:
Mill use
  World                        85.00     88.00       86.97      86.67
  Foreign                      74.40     77.00       75.97      75.67
Exports
  World                        27.76     27.00       26.95      26.73
  Foreign                      20.01     20.20       20.35      20.13
Ending stocks
  World                        34.33     35.00       35.23      35.68
  Foreign                      31.73     30.80       30.83      31.68
 
Stocks-to-use ratio                            Percent
  World                         40.4      39.8        40.5       41.2
  Foreign                       42.6      40.0        40.6       41.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on USDA estimates.
 
FIBER SUPPLY
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996                   1995
                               --------------------------
Item                             Apr       May       Jun          Jun
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Ginnings                         0         0          0           0
Imports since August 1          41.8      90.2         NA        19.0
  Stocks, beginning            7,297     5,814      4,538       4,971
    At mills                     641       662        660         787
    Public storage             5,575     4,519      3,513       3,625
    CCC stocks                 1,501     1,103        752         613
 
Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Production                   795.1     811.3      829.9       844.1
    Noncellulosic              755.0     769.3      788.6       799.1
    Cellulosic                  40.1      42.0       41.3        45.0
    Total since January 1    3,158.9   3,968.2    4,798.1     4,830.4
 
                                          1996                   1995
                               ---------------------------
                                Mar        Apr        May         May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Million pounds
  Raw fiber imports             92.3      91.1       93.7        97.5
    Noncellulosic               85.5      85.9       88.3        90.8
    Cellulosic                   6.8       5.2        5.4         6.7
    Total since January 1      256.0     347.1      440.8       473.5
 
Wool and Mohair:                            1,000 pounds
  Raw wool imports, clean      8,763     5,574      7,011      11,450
    48's-and-finer             6,162     3,824      5,232       8,028
    Not-finer-than-46's        2,601     1,750      1,779       3,422
    Total since January 1     27,578    33,151     40,163      46,347
 
  Wool top imports               103       402        429         305
    Total since January 1        902     1,304      1,733       2,191
  Mohair imports, clean            0         2          2           0
    Total since January 1          5         7          9          10
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NA = Not available.
 
COTTON SYSTEM FIBER CONSUMPTION
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996                   1995
                              ---------------------------
Item                             Apr       May        Jun         Jun
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
All consumed by mills 1/         921       981        855         909
  Total since August 1 1/      7,892     8,874      9,728      10,454
  SA annual rate 2/           10,722    10,780     11,073      10,778
  SA daily rate 2/              40.9      41.1       42.3        41.3
  Daily rate                    41.9      42.7       42.7        41.3
 
Upland consumed by mills 1/      905       965        838         898
  Total since August 1 1/      7,800     8,765      9,604      10,359
  SA annual rate 2/           10,525    10,600     10,868      10,654
  SA daily rate 2/              40.2      40.5       41.5        40.8
  Daily rate                    41.1      42.0       41.9        40.8
 
Spindles in place              6,344     6,237      6,213       7,128
  Active spindles              5,777     5,702      5,684       6,651
    100 percent cotton         2,645     2,634      2,627       2,888
    100 percent manmade        1,016       980      1,009       1,121
    Blends                     2,116     2,088      2,048       2,642
                                             Percent
Cotton's share of fibers        78.6      77.8       77.2        76.2
 
Manmade:                                    1,000 pounds
Total consumed by mills 1/   120,670   134,498    120,808     136,558
  Total since August 1 1/  1,053,938 1,188,436  1,309,243   1,504,751
  Daily rate                   5,485     5,848      6,040       6,207
    Noncellulosic staple       4,676     5,015      5,155       5,389
    Cellulosic staple            809       833        885         818
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Adjusted to calendar month.  2/ SA = seasonally adjusted.
 
FIBER EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                     1995
                               --------------------------
Item                             Mar       Apr        May          May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cotton:                                  1,000 480-lb. bales
  Upland exports                 739       552        329         639
    Total since August 1       6,081     6,633      6,962       8,333
  Sales for next season           96        36         48         179
    Total since August 1         377       413        461       3,399
 
  ELS exports                   38.7      24.5       13.2        45.7
    Total since August 1       229.0     253.5      266.6       357.8
  Sales for next season         25.7      12.1       10.5         8.3
    Total since August 1       139.7     151.7      162.2       156.2
 
Manmade:                                   Million pounds
  Raw fiber exports             97.5      88.7       93.0        76.8
    Noncellulosic               91.5      83.0       84.5        72.3
    Cellulosic                   6.0       5.7        8.5         4.5
    Total since January 1      269.4     358.1      451.1       414.7
 
Wool and Mohair:                           1,000 pounds
  Raw wool exports, clean      440.5     440.9      506.9       964.6
   Total since January 1       960.3   1,365.2    1,872.1     2,910.3
  Wool top exports             842.0     659.6      739.9     1,111.6
    Total since January 1    2,812.1   3,471.7    4,211.6     4,828.1
 
  Mohair exports, clean        323.9     214.2      129.9       216.9
    Total since January 1    1,767.5   1,981.7    2,111.6     2,304.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
FIBER PRICES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1996                   1995
                              -----------------------------
Item                            May       Jun        Jul         Jul
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic cotton prices:                    Cents per pound
  Adjusted World Price         69.87     68.55      64.39       73.02
  Oct'96 futures               82.53     76.58      72.67       75.59
  Dec'96 futures               81.86     76.43      73.35       73.87
  Upland spot 41-34            83.22     80.23      76.84       93.28
  Pima spot 03-46             154.35    140.00     133.74      136.50
  Avg. price received by:
    Upland producers           78.10     78.60      77.40       80.10
 
  Mill delivered:
    Cotton
      Actual                   90.20     85.99      82.18      100.04
      Raw fiber equivalent    100.22     95.54      91.31      111.16
    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                   80.00     78.00      78.00       92.00
      Raw fiber equivalent     83.33     81.25      81.25       95.83
 
    Price ratios                               Percent
      Cotton/rayon              83.7      79.8       76.2        85.4
      Cotton/polyester         120.3     117.6      112.4       116.0
 
Northern Europe cotton quotes:            Cents per pound
  A Index                      83.23     82.80      79.68          NQ
  Memphis Territory            95.60     93.25         NQ          NQ
  California/Arizona           98.50     93.25      83.50          NQ
  B Index                      77.71     77.25      74.04       92.79
  Orleans/Texas                89.00     85.75      81.19          NQ
 
Wool prices (clean):                      Dollars per pound
 U.S. 56's                      1.35      1.35       1.35        1.75
  Australian 56's 1/            1.84      1.81       1.82        2.45
 U.S. 60's                      1.56      1.55       1.55        2.09
  Australian 60's 1/            1.95      1.99       1.94        2.61
 U.S. 64's                      1.95      1.92       1.92        2.61
  Australian 64's 1/            2.42      2.45       2.36        2.92
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NQ = No quotes.
1/ In bond, Charleston, SC.
 
1996 ACREAGE, YIELD, AND PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
State/
Region         Planted     Harvested        Yield      Production
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Lbs./          1,000
                   1,000 acres         harvested acre     bales
 
Upland:
  Alabama         560          556           600            695
  Florida         101          100           672            140
  Georgia       1,380        1,375           698          2,000
  N. Carolina     750          735           679          1,040
  S. Carolina     270          265           743            410
  Virginia        103          102           706            150
    Southeast   3,164        3,133           679          4,435
 
  Arkansas      1,000          990           824          1,700
  Louisiana       950          940           766          1,500
  Mississippi   1,050        1,030           792          1,700
  Missouri        410          405           640            540
  Tennessee       530          520           600            650
    Delta       3,940        3,885           752          6,090
 
  Kansas            2            2           311              1
  Oklahoma        290          240           340            170
  Texas         5,200        4,100           427          3,650
    Southwest   5,492        4,342           422          3,821
 
  Arizona         325          324         1,230            830
  California    1,000          995         1,327          2,750
  New Mexico       58           54           667             75
    West        1,383        1,373         1,278          3,655
 
Total Upland   13,979       12,733           679         18,001
 
Pima:
  Arizona          40           40           842             70
  California      165          165         1,207            415
  New Mexico       17           17           678             24
  Texas            42           40           804             67
 
Total Pima        264          262         1,056            576
 
Total All      14,243       12,995           686         18,577
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Based on the August Crop Production report.
 
TEXTILE TRADE
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                    1995
                            -----------------------------
Item                            Mar       Apr         May         May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Imports:                                   1,000 pounds 1/
 
  Yarn, thread, and fabric   156,244   171,897    173,257     190,550
    Cotton                    59,251    70,895     72,479      84,068
    Linen                     26,665    26,278     22,557      29,713
    Wool                       3,372     3,740      3,804       3,998
    Silk                         644       680        709         742
    Manmade                   66,312    70,303     73,709      72,029
 
  Apparel                    340,372   333,652    380,229     391,331
    Cotton                   204,013   197,358    225,891     228,180
    Linen                      7,587     6,798      8,845      11,449
    Wool                      10,242    11,582     13,788      13,644
    Silk                       8,796     9,232      8,679       8,520
    Manmade                  109,734   108,682    123,027     129,539
 
  House furnishings           28,427    26,803     27,740      31,162
    Cotton                    20,966    19,798     20,585      22,959
    Linen                        135       106        152         372
    Wool                          86        67         88         113
    Silk                          28        37          8          17
    Manmade                    7,213     6,794      6,907       7,700
 
  Floor covering              19,147    21,979     21,444      24,918
    Cotton                     3,191     4,449      2,888       4,755
    Linen                      2,281     2,410      2,406       3,169
    Wool                       4,887     5,911      6,253       7,768
    Silk                         230       236        266         510
    Manmade                    8,558     8,972      9,630       8,716
 
  Total imports 2/           549,585   559,613    609,833     644,966
    Cotton                   290,319   295,252    325,790     343,117
    Linen                     36,703    35,616     34,002      44,799
    Wool                      18,637    21,395     24,072      25,785
    Silk                       9,702    10,190      9,663       9,790
    Manmade                  194,224   197,159    216,305     221,476
 
Exports:                                  1,000 pounds 1/
 
  Yarn, thread, and fabric   123,971   121,258    126,650     128,585
    Cotton                    45,675    45,911     45,324      44,506
    Linen                      3,166     3,372      3,482       3,126
    Wool                       3,169     3,445      3,687       3,463
    Silk                       1,319     1,230      1,455       1,416
    Manmade                   70,642    67,300     72,703      76,074
 
  Apparel                    123,585   124,238    137,203     109,922
    Cotton                    72,932    76,011     84,450      66,491
    Linen                      2,618     2,056      2,303       1,828
    Wool                       6,168     5,445      6,788       4,808
    Silk                       2,014     1,794      2,387       1,518
    Manmade                   39,852    38,932     41,275      35,277
 
  House furnishings            6,140     5,851      5,869       5,239
    Cotton                     3,965     3,484      3,499       3,048
    Linen                        257       180        275         258
    Wool                          56        68        102          55
    Silk                          59        87        160         171
    Manmade                    1,802     2,031      1,832       1,708
 
  Floor covering              30,657    29,929     29,986      26,594
    Cotton                     3,138     2,805      3,347       2,437
    Linen                      1,273     1,256      1,242       1,214
    Wool                       1,727     1,512      1,504       1,174
    Silk 3/                      ---       ---        ---         ---
    Manmade                   24,519    24,356     23,892      21,768
 
  Total exports 2/           284,847   281,585    299,971     270,586
    Cotton                   125,791   128,269    136,669     116,521
    Linen                      7,331     6,877      7,312       6,433
    Wool                      11,156    10,492     12,103       9,520
    Silk                       3,392     3,111      4,001       3,106
    Manmade                  137,178   132,835    139,886     135,006
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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                        Mar        Apr        May          May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   1,000 pounds 1/
 
North America                100,256    99,147    114,936      99,702
  Canada                       8,217     8,787      8,819       7,272
  Costa Rica                   6,082     6,421      7,851       7,609
  Dominican Republic          11,623    11,382     13,504      14,375
  El Salvador                  7,658     6,630      6,895       7,098
  Guatemala                    5,937     5,477      6,519       5,875
  Haiti                          768       744        988         642
  Honduras                    13,454    11,960     15,406      11,216
  Jamaica                       7,981     6,296      7,190       7,704
  Mexico                      35,941    38,876     44,714      35,685
  Nicaragua                     1,840     1,949      2,338       1,089
 
South America                  9,169     9,637      8,773      11,070
  Argentina                      197       123         64          92
  Brazil                       4,232     4,233      3,827       5,453
  Chile                          603       550        680         407
  Columbia                     2,489     2,354      2,369       2,553
  Peru                         1,415     1,705      1,565       1,774
  Venezuela                        5        27         35         541
 
Europe                        21,249    20,420     19,815      23,291
  Estonia                        838     1,014        873         955
  France                         516       549        404         544
  Germany                          0         0          0         524
  Italy                        2,705     2,657      2,665       2,260
  Portugal                     2,217     1,985      2,625       2,653
  Russia                         747       965      1,160       1,433
  Spain                        1,304     1,196        815       2,152
  Turkey                       8,635     8,492      7,042       8,700
  United Kingdom                 906       670        885         665
 
Asia                         148,466   153,323    170,943     190,839
  Bahrain                        586       498        639       1,131
  Bangladesh                   9,061     5,464      9,475       9,866
  China                       19,707    17,522     25,188      35,854
  Hong Kong                   14,757    19,872     25,308      28,923
  India                       22,544    26,551     22,458      22,070
  Indonesia                    9,113     8,081     10,414       9,966
  Israel                       2,079     2,311      1,765       2,594
  Japan                        1,015     1,222      1,253       1,732
  Macao                        2,339     2,634      3,768       3,884
  Malaysia                     3,502     3,466      4,473       5,107
  Nepal                        1,499     1,197      1,265         585
  Oman                         1,157     1,171      1,395       1,167
  Pakistan                    18,539    18,693     21,227      18,905
  Philippines                  8,752     7,885      8,038       8,129
  Quatar                         758       608        623         748
  Singapore                    1,676     1,754      1,560       2,235
  South Korea                  4,403     5,448      5,803       6,317
  Sri Lanka                    6,816     6,219      5,077       5,753
  Taiwan                       8,624    11,141     11,152      11,569
  Thailand                     5,984     6,248      5,899       8,536
  U Arab Em                    2,563     2,904      2,056       3,115
 
Oceania                        1,304     1,673      1,164       2,050
  Australia                      540       979        642       1,259
  Fiji                           490       489        386         693
 
Africa                         8,339     9,395      8,770      13,788
  Egypt                        4,059     4,929      3,623       7,969
  Lesotho                      1,066       775      1,082       1,030
  Mauritius                    1,175     1,247      1,183       1,301
  Morocco                        342       408        619         707
  South Africa                   459       747        843         851
  Tunisia                        105       216        119         409
 
World  2/                    288,784   293,595    324,400     343,117
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.
 
U.S. COTTON TEXTILE EXPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         1996                    1995
                              ---------------------------
Country                         Mar       Apr        May          May
----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   1,000 pounds 1/
 
North America                 89,743    91,809    101,885      85,568
  Canada                      17,551    17,555     18,790      18,840
  Costa Rica                   6,409     5,222      8,426       5,139
  Dominican Republic          10,308    11,102     12,080      10,570
  El Salvador                  3,477     3,227      3,420       4,152
  Guatemala                    3,401     3,390      3,594       2,964
  Haiti                          708       687      1,114         657
  Honduras                    10,118     9,834     11,459       7,806
  Jamaica                       8,074    11,335      9,314       8,545
  Mexico                      28,480    28,408     32,503      25,659
 
South America                  4,408     3,659      5,261       5,301
  Argentina                      223       193        763         237
  Brazil                         569       385        372       1,257
  Chile                          732       633        524         945
  Columbia                     1,716     1,659      2,786       1,700
  Peru                           177       155        177         265
  Venezuela                      556       242        297         438
 
Europe                        17,018    14,722     13,130      11,307
  Belgium                      4,552     4,135      4,073       2,883
  France                         535       589        544         845
  Germany                      1,145     1,224      1,325       1,052
  Ireland                      2,922     2,553        613       1,592
  Italy                        1,011       720        663         593
  Netherlands                    925       876      1,001         481
  United Kingdom               3,568     2,979      2,923       2,678
 
Asia                          17,018    16,030     14,153      12,473
  China                          232       217        308         281
  Hong Kong                    1,091     1,329      1,197       1,068
  Israel                       1,088     1,040        850       1,313
  Japan                        6,942     8,799      6,877       5,661
  Saudi Arabia                   760       608        771         547
  Singapore                      418       515        596         524
  South Korea                    529       763        818         976
  Taiwan                         285       372        304         217
  U Arab Em                      280       642        430         354
 
Oceania                          547     1,122      1,182       1,144
  Australia                      393       706        734         846
  New Zealand                    140       313        275         257
 
Africa                           767       780        892         550
  Egypt                           28        50         40           9
  Ivory Coast                     70        53        181         101
  Nigeria                        171       102         62         155
  South Africa                   301       281        359         171
 
World  2/                    125,791   128,269    136,669     116,521
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Raw fiber equivalent.  2/ Totals may not add due to rounding.
 
                                   END-END-END