Cotton production in PRC is still very labor intensive. Acreage planted to cotton in 1987 fell short of goal and production is expected to be short of the 5 year plan goal of 4.25 million metric tons. Production is expected to be less than 4 million metric tons. Domestic consumption has risen steadily the last few years and now stands at 3.5-3.6 mil. metric tons from government mills and .65 million metric tons plus from consumption on farms and local provincial mills. This consumption along with exports of raw cotton of about 700 thousand metric tons last year has continued to deplete stocks. This has caused the Central Government to ban free market trading of raw cotton this year until the state purchasing quota is met. PRC is expected to export only about 350,000 metric tons of raw cotton in 1987.