FX.co ★ Cotton Futures Down

Cotton futures declined by over 1% to approximately 62 cents per pound due to light trading activity during the US holiday. Traders are closely evaluating demand and supply dynamics. Recent data from the USDA revealed that US cotton export sales for the week ending October 9 exceeded expectations, with upland sales for the 2025–26 marketing year reaching 157,600 running bales, nearly matching last year's figures. Attention now shifts to the USDA's forthcoming export sales report for the week ending October 16, which had been delayed by the 43-day federal government shutdown. On the supply front, the USDA's crop progress report indicated that the US cotton harvest was 79% complete as of November 23, a slight improvement from 71% the week before. Although this is below last year’s 83%, it is close to the 5-year average of 80%. Furthermore, the USDA’s November 2025 WASDE report increased the US production forecast by 900,000 bales to 14.1 million, attributed to improved yields in most states. Global cotton production estimates were also revised upwards by 2.4 million bales.