U.S. net textile and apparel fiber imports rose in calendar year 2013, a first in 3 years as improved economic conditions pushed consumer demand higher. Total fiber product imports approached 17.6 billion raw-fiber-equivalent pounds in 2013, 4 percent above 2012 and the highest since 2010. Total product exports also increased 4 percent in 2013 to nearly 3.7 billion pounds, the largest in 2 years. As a result, U.S. net textile and apparel product imports reached 13.9 billion pounds in 2013, compared with 13.4 billion pounds in 2012 and a record 15.1 billion pounds in 2007.
U.S. net product imports continue to consist largely of cotton fiber, but cotton's share has declined in recent years as manmade fiber use has grown steadily. In 2013, cotton textile and apparel products accounted for about 48.5 percent of the total, while manmade fibers contributed nearly 45.5 percent. However, just 5 years ago, cotton contributed nearly 57 percent of the total compared with manmade fibers' share of 36 percent. Domestic U.S. Cotton Supply Unchanged; Demand Revised Slightly The U.S. cotton crop for 2013/14 remains estimated at nearly 13.2 million bales (upland at 12.55 million bales and extra-long staple at 636,000 bales), compared with last season's 17.3-million-bale crop. USDA will release its next Cotton Ginnings report on March 25th and the final U.S. cotton production estimate for the 2013 crop on May 9th. Based on the current crop estimate and beginning stocks of 3.9 million bales, the 2013/14 cotton supply totaled 17.1 million bales, 17 percent below a year ago and the lowest in nearly 3 decades.
