Koreans To Study U.S. Cotton Industry

October 31, 2000

Textile manufacturers in Korea - one of U.S. cotton's most significant Asian markets - are coming to the United States to learn more about this country's cotton and strengthen relationships with cotton shippers here. The COTTON USA special trade mission from Korea, Sunday through Nov. 8, is sponsored by Cotton Council International (CCI) and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.

"In terms of volume, Korea is one of our most significant Asian customers," said CCI President Larry Nelson, an Edmonson, TX, cotton producer and ginner. "U.S. cottons are particularly valued by the Korean cotton spinning industry, so this trade mission provides an important opportunity to help us boost U.S. raw cotton exports."

Ten of Korea's leading spinning companies are represented on the 2000 COTTON USA Special Trade Mission. These mills hold approximately 61% of the total ring spinning capacity in that country and consume about 919,000 bales of the 1.5 million bales of raw cotton Korean mills consume annually. The 10 mills are expected to consume about 246,000 U.S. bales in 2000.

Tour participants will observe cotton research at Cotton Incorporated in Cary, NC; tour the USDA-ARS Cotton Production and Processing Research Unit in West Texas and the USDA cotton classing office in Bartlett, TN, and visit a farm and gin in the Bakersfield, CA, area. They also will meet with exporters in the four major U.S. Cotton Belt regions and be briefed by CCI, the NCC, the American Cotton Shippers Association, the Texas Cotton Association, AMCOT, the Western Cotton Shippers Association, the Plains Cotton Growers Association and the Lubbock Cotton Exchange.