Cotton Futures End Week Mixed as December Contract Falls 54 Points
Cotton No. 2 Futures (ICEUS:CT1!) delivered a mixed performance on Friday, with contracts settling between a 19-point decline and a 24-point gain across delivery months. The December 2026 contract closed down 6 points at 80 cents per pound, cementing a 54-point loss for the full week. Later-dated contracts also finished lower on Friday, with March 2027 dropping 18 points to 83.24 cents and May 2027 slipping 19 points to 84.93 cents per pound.
The choppy price action comes amid a slowdown in international demand. Weekly export sales fell 11.12% from the prior week to 146,892 running bales, led by purchases from Costa Rica, India, and Pakistan. Weekly export shipments also contracted 13.11% to 140,561 running bales, though they remained slightly above levels recorded during the same period last year. Meanwhile, outside market tailwinds offered some support, as crude oil prices surged $3.87 per barrel and the U.S. dollar index declined $0.255.
Despite the softer export figures, speculative traders expanded their bullish bets. Managed money added 1,862 contracts to their net long position in cotton futures and options, bringing total net long holdings to 65,699 contracts. Market participants will keep an eye on certified stock inventories, which declined by 2,627 bales to 15,129 bales, as well as broader physical market indicators like the Adjusted World Price, which stood at 64.61 cents per pound.
Key points
- Cotton futures settled mixed on Friday, with December 2026 falling 6 points to close at 80 cents per pound.
- December cotton futures recorded a total weekly loss of 54 points.
- U.S. weekly cotton export sales decreased 11.12% week over week to 146,892 running bales.
- Managed money added 1,862 contracts, raising their net long position to 65,699 contracts.
- ICE certified cotton stocks decreased by 2,627 bales to 15,129 bales.
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How did cotton futures perform this week?
Cotton futures closed mixed on Friday, with contracts ranging from 19 points lower to 24 points higher. The December contract fell 6 points on Friday to close at 80 cents per pound, marking a 54-point decline for the week.
What were the latest U.S. cotton export sales figures?
U.S. cotton export sales totaled 146,892 running bales for the week ending October 8, an 11.12% drop from the previous week. Costa Rica was the largest buyer at 74,300 running bales.
How are managed money investors positioned in cotton futures?
Managed money investors added 1,862 contracts to their net long position in cotton futures and options as of October 13, bringing their total net long holdings to 65,699 contracts.