'China to import less US cotton'

China will import 1.5 million fewer bales of cotton than previously forecast from the United States this year, the US Department of Agriculture said on Friday. According to the USDA's monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, China is now expected to import 6.5 million bales of cotton in 2004/05, down from last month's forecast of 8 million bales.
For 2005/06 China is predicted to import 15 million bales, the WASDE report said. Total US cotton exports for 2005/06 are projected at 15 million bales, up from 13 million this year.
Lower US imports by China and Thailand this year are partially offset by increases for India, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey, the report said.