Cotton futures posted mixed trade to close out the week, with contracts ranging from 19 points lower to 24 points higher across the session.

The December contract was the notable underperformer, finishing down 54 points on the week as broader market forces continued to weigh on near-term pricing.

Crude oil provided some support to commodity markets broadly, rising $3.87 per barrel on the session, while the US dollar index slipped $0.255 lower.

A softer dollar typically benefits export-oriented commodities like cotton by making American goods more competitively priced for foreign buyers.

Weekly Commitments of Traders data showed managed money adding 1,862 contracts to their net long position in cotton futures and options as of October 13, bringing the total to 65,699 contracts.

The increase in managed money longs signals continued speculative interest in cotton, even as physical market data presented a more cautious picture for the week.

The USDA Export Sales report for the week ending October 8 showed 146,892 running bales of cotton sold, a decline of 11.12% from the prior week.

Costa Rica was the largest single buyer at 74,300 running bales, followed by India at 21,300 running bales and Pakistan at 19,800 running bales.

Sales booked for the 2027/28 marketing year totaled 7,182 running bales, indicating early but modest forward commitment from international buyers.

Shipments for the week came in at 140,561 running bales, down 13.11% from the previous week, though that figure still represented a 0.94% increase compared to the same week one year earlier.

Vietnam led all shipment destinations at 40,800 running bales, with India receiving an additional 20,100 running bales during the period.

The Seam reported 404 bales sold on October 15, changing hands at an average price of 73.56 cents per pound in physical market activity.

The Cotlook A index, a widely tracked benchmark for global cotton prices, was raised by 20 points on Thursday to settle at 91.45 cents per pound.

The divergence between the rising Cotlook A index and softer futures activity reflects the complex interplay of physical demand signals and speculative positioning currently shaping the cotton market.