The 2025/26 U.S. cotton balance sheet for August reflects lower production, exports,nd beginning and ending stocks, along with unchanged consumption and imports compared to last month. Planted area is lowered 8 percent to 9.3 million acres based on the NASS August Crop Production report. Harvested area is reduced 15 percent to 7.4 million acres as dryness in the Southwest raises the expected national abandonment rate from 14 percent to 21 percent.
Good Week for Cotton Prices, But Bears Maintain Control
Cotton’s good news: the December futures contract settled the week near the upper end of last Friday’s trading range. That’s always a good sign, and the first one that suggests prices might be higher tomorrow. Good news also came in the form of a 24-point increase in prices for the week.
• With the new marketing year just underway, Tuesday’s USDA supply and demand update will be closely watched for changes to the production outlook. Many in the trade expect USDA’s acreage figure to come down, which could tighten the balance sheet and set the tone for early-season pricing.
Cotton’s Dog Days of Summer Bring Multiple Possibilities
Bring it on. It’s time for the Dog Days of Summer!
After eleven consecutive closes with a 68-cent number, the cotton market tailed off this past week with four consecutive closes with a 67-cent number. On the last day of the week (August 1, the beginning of the 2025-26 marketing season), December settled at 66.36 cents, down 89 points on the day and just on its 12-week support line.
.JPG "Gujarat Cotton Pressing Summary")
