The forecast for 2025/26 U.S. cotton shows a small increase in production, higher exports,beginning and ending stocks, and unchanged consumption compared to 2024/25. Planted area is expected to be 9.87 million acres based on the March 31 Prospective Plantings report. With recent precipitation in the Southwest, abandonment is projected to be lower than average resulting in a U.S. harvested area of 8.37 million acres, higher than the 7.81 million harvested in 2024/25.
The year 1965 gave us the song “Catch Us if You Can.” Reference to those lyrics fits the scenario of a market continuing higher and higher. Maybe just the mention of it will seed a price jump in the market.
Market Movement from 05th May 2025 to 10th May 2025.
• NY July started the week with a strong gain but was unable to sustain the momentum. External market pressures and macroeconomic factors dragged the market down. As a result, NY July ended the week with a loss of 180 points on a week-over-week basis.
Outside markets and ongoing headlines continue to pressure the cotton market. However, signs of a potential trade deal this week offered a rare dose of optimism. Next week brings USDA’s first official look at the 2025/26 crop year. With demand uncertainty still looming, where does the market go from here? Get QuickTake’s read on the week’s events in five minutes.
Outside Events Push Cotton Prices Closer to 70 Cents
Cotton settled the week with a Happy Face as market participants moved closer to the realization that Washington’s tariff policy could be positive to both the market and to the economic wellbeing of the U.S.