Thursday Quotes Show Cotton Futures Climbing as Markets React to Mixed Signals

Cotton futures demonstrated positive momentum on Thursday, with front-month contracts advancing 8 points at the close, reflecting broader commodity market dynamics. The strength in cotton came alongside crude oil rising 8 cents per barrel to $56.02, while the US dollar index climbed $0.093 to $98.095.

Export Activity Paints Complex Picture

The week of 11/27 revealed a nuanced export landscape. Cotton sales reached 135,886 running bales—marking a 4-week low for new orders. However, shipments painted a different story, hitting 122,094 RB and representing a 3-week high. The contrast between declining new sales and elevated shipments highlights ongoing demand fulfillment despite softer booking activity.

Looking at the broader marketing year, total export commitments stand at 5.72 million RB, down 16.53% compared to the same period last year. Yet shipments have actually accelerated, up 7.61% to 2.3 million RB, suggesting that previously booked orders are moving through fulfillment channels more readily.

Physical Market and Index Movements

The Seam’s Thursday online auction moved 14,934 bales at an average price of 60.84 cents/lb, providing a snapshot of physical market demand. Meanwhile, the Cotlook A Index retreated 90 points on 12/17 to settle at 73.00 cents, reflecting softer international pricing pressure.

ICE certified cotton stocks held steady on December 17, remaining unchanged at 12,396 bales. The Adjusted World Price was updated to 49.99 cents/lb—a 40-point decline from the previous week—underscoring the downward pressure on global benchmarks.

Futures Pricing Thursday Quotes

Across the contract spectrum, Thursday’s gains were uniform. Mar 26 Cotton closed at 63.51, up 8 points, while May 26 Cotton advanced to 64.61, also up 8 points. Jul 26 Cotton finished at 65.66, matching the 8-point gain seen throughout the curve. This across-the-board strength suggests broad-based optimism despite mixed fundamental signals.