Retail Use of Cotton

Print Version

Consumers in the U.S. continue to purchase cotton products at a record pace.  One measurement of the retail use of cotton product is by comparing domestic production of textile products with the net trade of those products.  In that way, we can capture the total demand for cotton products by U.S. consumers.

(Thousand Bale Equivalents)

Calendar

2002

2003

2004

Apparel and Home Furnishings

Production

7,826

6,769

5,728

Imports

14,652

16,445

17,077

Exports

1,929

1,789

1,465

     NDC*

20,549

21,425

21,340

     % Domestic

38%

32%

27%

Apparel

Production

4,479

3,642

3,000

Imports

12,705

14,105

14,446

Exports

1,780

1,640

1,318

     NDC*

15,404

16,107

16,128

     % Domestic

29%

23%

19%

Home Furnishings

Production

3,347

3,127

2,728

Imports

1,947

2,340

2,631

Exports

149

149

147

     NDC*

5,145

5,318

5,212

     % Domestic

65%

59%

52%
 
Sources:
     Production:   NCC Publication Cotton Counts Its Customers
     Trade:  USDA, ERS
* NDC = Net Domestic Consumption = Production - Net Imports