ABSTRACT

Competitive pressures are forcing a restructuring within the world textile and apparel industries to reduce the costs of sourcing, logistics and inventory. The result is increasing globalization of apparel manufacturing, resulting in increased mill use of cotton in developing countries. Consequently, the gap between cotton production and consumption outside the USA is growing, presenting additional opportunities for cotton exports but also implying the imports of textiles and apparel will rise further. The gap between cotton production and consumption outside the USA is estimated at 16 million bales this season and 13 million bales in 2003/04.