The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cotton supply and demand estimates for 2006/07 project a record foreign cotton mill use for the eighth consecutive season. Over this period, foreign mill use has increased 42 million bales from 1998/99 to nearly 116.4 million this season.

While U.S. cotton mill use has declined 5.4 million bales during this period, foreign mill use has expanded significantly to meet the global demand for cotton textile and apparel products.

In particular, China’s cotton mill use has been rising at remarkable rates and is currently projected at 50 million bales in 2006/07, nearly double the total of just 5 years ago. Although China accounts for much of the gain in foreign mill use over this period, other foreign mill use has increased nearly 6 million bales to 66 million.

China’s share of total foreign mill use has grown considerably as well, rising from 30 percent in 2001/02 to an estimated 43 percent in 2006/07.