Market Movement from 12th Jan 2026 to 17th Jan 2026.
• Despite a somewhat bullish WASDE report and decent export sales, the market failed to pick up upward momentum. Ongoing uncertainty over the U.S. stance on Iran and Greenland kept market participants in a wait-and-watch mode. As a result, NY March closed the week with only a negligible gain of 25 points week-on-week.
The market settled 126 points higher on the week at 68.68 cents, basis the December 2025 ICE contract. The market pushed above 69 cents several times during the week’s trading but was unable to hold that level at the close of the week’s trading. Nevertheless, prices remain caught in a very narrow 250-325 point trading range in an otherwise rather dull market.
• The broader macro backdrop turned more cautious over the weekend after reports that the Fed was subpoenaed by the U.S. government, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile policy environment. At the same time, attention is on this week’s WASDE and the market impacts from it, while index fund rebalancing continues over the next several sessions.
The 2025/26 U.S. cotton balance sheet for January shows lower production and ending stocks compared to December. Beginning stocks, consumption, exports, and imports are unchanged. Production is reduced by over 2 percent from last month to 13.9 million bales primarily because of lower production across the Delta. The national average yield declined by 8 percent from last month to 856 pounds per acre as a result of lower yields in the Delta and larger harvested area in the Southwest.
*Market Movement from 05th Jan 2026 to 10th Jan 2026.*
• The week started on a positive note following news that China has reduced its cotton planting for the next season. ZCE prices surged on this development, and the New York market followed the upward momentum. NY March futures crossed the resistance level of 65 cents and moved up to 65.70 cents, but failed to sustain at higher levels and gradually slipped back into the earlier trading range of 64–65 cents. Ultimately, NY March closed the week with a marginal week-on-week gain of 40 points.