ODJ USDA Ag Attache: Italy Cotton Situation & Outlook.

Chicago, Jan 22, 2003 (ODJ via COMTEX)

(OsterDowJones) - In 2002 the Italian textile industry recovery, which started in 2000 and continued in 2001, slowed down. Industry activity was led by export demand, according to an agricultural attache report posted Wednesday on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site.

Export market competition in 2002 and the fragile Italian economy made trade sources doubt a sustained recovery in Italian textile manufacturing during the second half of 2002-03. The U.S. cotton market share in Italy is 4.7 %, although demand for U.S. pima cotton remains strong among fine-yarn spinners, with imports in 2002 up 5%, the report said.

SITUATION AND OUTLOOK

ITALIAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY - OVERVIEW

During 2001, the Italian textile industry marked time, showing a few signs of the gentle momentum of recovery which had been experienced in 2000 (and which had been mainly due to the continued healthy pick-up in export demand). For the balance of 2002, that trend continued. …