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Cotton Futures Close Mixed as U.S. Harvest Outpaces Normal Pace

MixedLow impact
CT1!USX 79.91 −0.93%

Cotton futures finished mixed during midweek trading, with near-term contracts logging modest gains while longer-dated deliveries declined. Front-month contracts added between 15 and 21 points, with December 2026 settlement at 80.66 cents per pound and May 2027 contracts ending at 85.69 cents. In contrast, deferred contracts dropped 2 to 35 points. Benchmark Cotton No. 2 Futures (ICEUS:CT1!) last traded at 80.19 US cents, down 0.58% on the day.

The divergence occurred alongside new crop tracking data showing field activity moving ahead of schedule. Approximately 82% of the domestic cotton crop had bolls opening as of Sunday, while the national harvest reached 31% complete, placing it 2 percentage points ahead of the historical average pace. Harvesting in Texas reached 38%, standing 4 points ahead of average. Crop quality ratings also improved slightly, gaining 2 percentage points week over week to reach 34% in good to excellent condition.

Macroeconomic drivers provided additional context for commodity traders, as crude oil benchmark prices gained $1.03 per barrel and the U.S. dollar index rose by $0.326. Physical market activity showed 675 bales sold on the cash market at an average price of 74.80 cents per pound, while certified exchange inventories remained unchanged at 17,756 bales.

Key points

  • Front-month cotton futures gained 15 to 21 points, while deferred delivery contracts fell between 2 and 35 points.
  • The U.S. cotton harvest reached 31% completion, running 2 percentage points ahead of its average historical pace.
  • National crop condition ratings improved by 2 percentage points to 34% rated good to excellent.
  • Crude oil prices rose $1.03 per barrel and the U.S. dollar index advanced $0.326 during the session.

Written by our AI from expert market sources across the web. It can contain mistakes: check the facts before acting on them. Write-ups powered by the free AI API at FreeTheAI.org

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Questions and answers

How did cotton futures close on Wednesday?

Cotton futures ended mixed, with front-month contracts rising 15 to 21 points while deferred delivery months fell between 2 and 35 points.

What is the current progress of the U.S. cotton harvest?

The U.S. cotton harvest is 31% complete, running 2 percentage points ahead of the normal pace, with crop conditions improving to 34% good to excellent.