Where Are The Bright Spots?

Demand for US cotton by domestic mills continues to be weak. Some mills are purchasing small volumes for delivery during the first quarter. Others are trying to delay shipments for delivery to a later date. Some mills are canceling contracts. To reflect on the textile/apparel industry for the past couple of decades brings several points into better focus. First, apparel went offshore, then more fabrics were imported, and more recently, significant volumes of yarn are being sourced. If apparel is offshore and fabric production is offshore, where are the customers for US spinners? Are they offshore? This seems like the beginning of the end - the light just grows dimmer at the end of the tunnel. It would seem logical that if we can't compete in the sales yarn market within our borders, then we can't compete in foreign lands. Especially when the competitor is halfway around the world and playing in an unrestricted, government-friendly environment.