Cotton output will fall this year, USDA

23 Aug '05

3 min read

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cotton forecast for 2005/06 indicates that global cotton production will decline for the first time in 3 years, from 2004/05's
record of 119.9 million bales to this season's projection of 109.8 million.

And, as world cotton consumption exceeds production this season, global ending stocks are expected to decline in 2005/06 after last season's 27-percent jump.

Although the U.S. cotton crop is projected to fall 8 percent from last season's record, China and the rest of the world are also contributing to the global production reduction this season.

China's crop is expected to decline 10 percent to 26 million bales but still account for nearly 24 percent of the global output, slightly below the average of the previous 5 years.

Meanwhile, the U.S. share of world production remains near the 5-year average of 19 percent. As a result, the rest of the world is expected to contribute 57 percent of world production, slightly above a year ago.

U.S. Textile Trade: Imports Rise in May

May textile imports, at 1.5 billion pounds, rose 11 percent from a month earlier and were 17 percent above a year ago. Imports of all major fibers, except silk, and all major end-use categories increased when compared with a month earlier. Cotton textile imports, at 870 million pounds, were 11 percent above April and 22 percent above May 2004.

Cotton imports from Asia rose to 519 million pounds, with China accounting for 60 percent of the region's total shipments.

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