US Department Of Agriculture Downgrades US Cotton Output To Raise US Cotton Exports

On Tuesday, the US Department of Agriculture reported reducing its estimate of cotton and cotton production in 2008-09, while raising export forecasts and ending ending inventories.

US farmers now expect to harvest 13 million 770 thousand bales of cotton (480 pounds / pack) in the 2008 - 09 sales year, lower than the 14 million package estimated in July, which is the first time the US Department of agriculture has made predictions based on field surveys for the current year's output.

In another production report released on Tuesday, the US Department of Agriculture said that the planting area in Southeast China is expected to be larger than that in the previous year, and that Dezhou growers' yields are expected to be lower than those recorded in 2007.

The US Department of agriculture now predicts an average yield of 842 pounds per acre, up from 830 pounds reported in July.

The average output of the country last year was 879 pounds per acre.

2008-09 exports are expected to be raised to 15 million packages, higher than the 14 million 500 thousand package expected in July.

2007-08 exports were about 13 million 900 thousand bales.

China's imports were reduced to 13 million packages, lower than the 13 million 500 thousand package reported in July.

Us end inventory was down to 4 million 600 thousand bales, down from the 5 million 300 thousand package reported in July.