Cotton futures edged higher across front months on Friday, gaining between 1 and 7 points, while some contracts moved in a range from down 8 points to up 20 points.
December cotton posted a notable weekly gain, rising 355 points over the course of the week, signaling sustained buying interest in the market.
Crude oil slipped 19 cents during the session, while the US dollar index fell by $0.063, providing a broadly supportive backdrop for commodity prices.
Managed money traders continued to build their bullish positioning, adding 5,798 contracts to their net long in cotton futures and options during the week ending August 18.
That net long position reached 78,668 contracts as of Tuesday, according to the latest Commitment of Traders data, reflecting growing speculative confidence in the cotton market.
Export Sales data released Thursday placed 2026/27 cotton export commitments at 4.235 million running bales, a figure that sits 31% above the same point last year.
The current commitment level represents 37% of the USDA’s full-year export projection, lagging the 43% average sales pace but running well ahead of last year’s 29% pace at the same stage.
The Cotlook A Index recovered 300 points on August 20, climbing back to 98.90 cents, while ICE certified cotton stocks held steady on Thursday at 70,643 bales.
The Seam reported just 55 bales sold at its August 20 auction, with those bales clearing at 81.6 cents per pound, reflecting thin physical market activity on the day.
The Adjusted World Price was raised by 143 points on Thursday to 69.62 cents per pound, a move that could affect the competitiveness of US cotton in global export markets.
October 2026 cotton closed at 87.07 cents, up 5 points, December 2026 settled at 88.35 cents, up 1 point, and March 2027 finished at 90.15 cents, gaining 7 points on the session.
The upward curve in deferred contracts suggests the market anticipates continued tightness or demand strength extending into early 2027, keeping longer-dated prices elevated relative to nearby months.
