WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — U.S. mill consumption of extra-long-staple cotton rebounded sharply in July, giving growers a stronger domestic-demand signal even as the specialty market remains relatively small compared with overall cotton use.
USDA reports mills consumed 203,000 pounds of extra-long-staple cotton during July, up 139% from June and 56% from July 2025. Mill stocks fell to 81,000 pounds, down 32% from June and 71% from a year earlier.
The stronger usage could provide some support for Pima and other extra-long-staple growers, particularly in California and the Southwest. However, 203,000 pounds equals only about 406 standard 500-pound bales, underscoring the limited scale.
Broader textile indicators were softer. Manmade fiber consumption on cotton-system equipment fell 28% from June and 27% from last year, with polyester accounting for 92% of the total.
Private cotton stocks totaled 133,682 bales in July, more than double last year but still below July 2024 levels.
