The World and United States Cotton Outlook
cast at 3.0 million bales, slightly above
2018/19. Mill use is expected to remain
near last season’s level as polyester
fiber prices remain competitive and
cotton’s share of fiber demand stabi-
lizes. During the first 5 months of 2019/
20, cotton mill use reached 1.2 million
bales, comparable to a year earlier.
Likewise, the pace of U.S. cotton mill
use during the second half of 2019/20
is expected to remain near the previ-
ous year.
U.S. consumer demand for textiles and
apparel products follows the global
economy. With the U.S. GDP growth
remaining strong in calendar year 2019
- albeit below the previous year - total
U.S. fiber product imports increased to
a new record. Based on the 2019 data,
fiber product imports rose slightly -
compared with a year earlier - with syn-
thetic fiber products accounting for the
majority of imports. Meanwhile, total
U.S. fiber product exports decreased
4 percent in 2019, with both cotton and
synthetic fiber products indicating de-
clines.
In calendar 2019, U.S. cotton textile
and apparel imports were marginally
lower at 18.6 million bale-equivalents,
while synthetic product imports gained
1 percent. Competitively-priced syn-
thetic fibers - like polyester - and con-
sumer demand for athleisure clothing
reduced the U.S. cotton product import
share marginally in calendar 2019 to
slightly below 43 percent. Meanwhile,
U.S. cotton product exports decreased
nearly 2 percent during 2019 to about
3.4 million bale-equivalents, the small-
est since 2009. As a result, U.S. do-
mestic consumption of cotton (mill use
plus net textile trade) in calendar 2019
is estimated at 18.3 million
baleequivalents, slightly below 2018’s
8-year high. In addition, U.S. per capita
cotton consumption in 2019 is also
estimated slightly below the previous
year’s 27 pounds, but remains near the
5-year average of 26.5 pounds.U.S. Cotton Regional Production, 2016/17 to 2019/20
Cotton’s Share of U.S. Textile Imports, 2013/14 to Aug-Dec 2019/20
(raw-fiber-equivalent basis)
U.S. Domestic Cotton Consumption: Total and Per Capita
World Cotton Production, 2020/21
World cotton production is projected to
fall 2.3 percent in 2020/21, to 118.5
NCM-MARCH 2020
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