USDA logo USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Cotton: World Markets and Trade

September 2003 Edition:

A Record Year for U.S. Exports

The September forecast for U.S. exports in MY2003/04 was revised from 11.8 to 12.0 million bales, exceeding the 2002/03 record of 11.9 million bales. The revision was due to increased import demand resulting from a drop in foreign production mostly in China. The chart above shows the distribution of last years record exports by region. The Table above shows the current import forecast for 2003/04 by major importing countries, along with the U.S. share in 2002/03.

During MY2002/03 Mexico, China, Turkey, and Indonesia ranked 1st though 4th, respectively, among top U.S. cotton export destinations. In MY2002/03, almost 60 percent of China's cotton imports came from the U.S. Recent heavy rainfall in eastern China is expected decrease production to 25.5 million bales in 2003/04, which in turn is likely to increase demand for imports to 3.8 million bales (up 800,000 bales from the August forecast). Thus, U.S. exports to China are likely to rise.

Download the entire circular.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

U.S. Cotton Outlook
World Cotton Outlook
Cotton Prices
U.S. Cotton Highlights

Most statistical tables contained in this circular may be viewed in Adobe Acrobat format ® (.pdf).

Tables

Get Acrobat Button

Most statistical tables are available in Adobe Acrobat and Lotus version 3 format. You may need to GET the Acrobat reader.

spacer

spacer
Last modified: Sunday, March 17, 2013