Cotton Futures See Modest Gains as Export Sales Surge

Cotton futures wrapped up Friday’s trading with contracts rising between 4 to 14 points, bolstered by improvements in external markets. The US dollar index dipped by 83 points, while crude oil prices climbed $0.78 per barrel.

Notable Increases in Export Sales Data

According to the Export Sales report, a total of 279,056 running bales (RB) of upland cotton were sold for shipment in the 2024/25 season during the week ending December 19. This figure marks a 4-week high and represents a 43.18% increase from the previous week. Turkey led the buying with 108,700 RB, closely followed by Vietnam, which purchased 104,500 RB. Additionally, sales for 2025/26 reached 29,480 RB. Shipments also reached a 3-week high of 140,484 RB, reflecting a 9.26% gain from the week before. China was the primary destination, importing 33,200 RB, while Pakistan received 31,900 RB.

Market Updates on Cotton Prices

The Seam recorded 3,126 bales of online sales on December 26, with an average price of 59.37 cents per pound. ICE cotton stocks remained steady at 20,113 bales of certified stock as of Thursday. The Cotlook A Index increased by 130 points on December 24, reaching 79.60 cents per pound. Conversely, the USDA adjusted the World Price (AWP) down by 54 points this week to 54.55 cents per pound, which will remain effective until next Thursday.

Mar 25 Cotton closed at 68.89, up 14 points.

May 25 Cotton closed at 69.96, up 10 points.

Jul 25 Cotton closed at 70.99, up 11 points.

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here. More news from Barchart

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