Despite an economic crisis that has spread from Asia to much of the world, demand for better quality, high-priced textiles and apparel continues to grow. World Extra-Long Staple (ELS) cotton consumption is in its third consecutive year of increase and is expected to finish the marketing year (MY) with its lowest level of inventory and stocks-to-use ratio since the 1994/95 MY. Sustained global demand of ELS cotton could lead to an offtake of better than 3 million (480-lb.) bales for the first time since the 1993/94 marketing season.