The cotton supply and demand estimates for 2005-06 forecast record foreign cotton consumption for the seventh consecutive season, reported United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Over this period, foreign consumption has raised nearly 50 % from 74.4 mln bales in 1998-99 to this season’s projection of 110.9 mln. While US mill use has declined 4.5 mln bales during this period, foreign consumption has risen dramatically to meet the rising global demand for cotton textile and apparel products. While US mill use has declined 4.5 million bales during this period, foreign consumption has risen dramatically to meet the rising global demand for cotton textile and apparel products. China’s cotton mill used in particular has led the way, increasing more than 26 mln bales during the past 7 years to this season’s projection of 45 mln. In addition, other foreign mill use has expanded more than 10 mln bales to nearly 66 mln. As a result, China’s share of foreign consumption has grown considerably since a 25% share was
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| posted in 1998-99. For 2005-06, China’s share is currently forecast at a remarkable 41 percent. The US cotton crop for 2005-06 remains estimated at a record 23.7 mln bales (upland at 23.1 mln and extra-long staple (ELS) at 655,000 bales), compared with the 2004-05 crop of 23.3 mln; these two crops are the largest on record for the United States. Based on the latest Cotton Ginnings report, ginnings were about 97 % complete by the beginning of February as approximately 23 mln bales of cotton had been ginned. The USDA will release the final 2005-06 ginnings, as well as the final upland and ELS production data on May 12th. Based on this production estimate and the current estimates for beginning stocks (5.5 mln bales) and imports (40,000 bales), the 2005-06 US cotton supply is forecast at 29.3 mln bales, 9 % above last season and the largest since 1965-66. Likewise, total demand this season is expected to surpass the 2004-05 level and reach a record 22.3 mln bales, nearly 6 % above last season. Consequently, 2005-06 ending stocks are forecast to rise 26 % to 7 mln bales. 
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