The most active March 2026 cotton futures contract settled at 63.61 cents per pound, down 0.14 cent. Cotton futures finished lower across the board, although the March contract posted a fourth consecutive higher high and higher low, indicating a mildly bullish technical structure.
ICE cotton futures ended lower amid cautious trading, despite a weaker US dollar and firmer Chicago grain markets.
March 2026 settled at 63.61 cents per pound, though technical indicators remain mildly bullish.
Trading stayed range-bound with moderate volumes.
Export sales were modest, certified stocks unchanged, and prices remain sensitive to planting prospects and macro signals.
The US dollar index fell by about 0.4 per cent, which usually supports cotton prices by making US supplies cheaper for overseas buyers.
Trading activity remained confined to narrow ranges, reflecting cautious market participation. Total trading volume stood at 33,925 contracts, compared with 25,747 contracts cleared in the previous session, a reasonable level for a holiday week. ICE data showed that, in the week ending December 9, cotton speculators reduced net short positions by 2,734 contracts to 58,751, signalling reduced bearish positioning.
Market analysts said that a weaker dollar and firmer Chicago grain markets should be providing underlying support to cotton prices.
New-crop cotton prices below 70 cents per pound could reduce farmers’ planting interest, potentially tightening future supplies and supporting prices later.
The US cotton export report for the week ending December 4 showed net sales of 159,800 bales, including 153,600 bales of Upland and 300 bales of Pima, with only 300 bales booked for the 2026–27 season.
According to the US Department of Agriculture and ICE data, certified deliverable No. 2 cotton stocks stood at 12,396 bales as of December 19, unchanged from the previous trading day.
This morning (Indian Standard Time), ICE cotton for March 2026 was trading at 63.68 cents per pound (up 0.07 cent), cash cotton at 61.36 cents (down 0.14 cent), the May 2026 contract at 64.84 cents (up 0.06 cent), the July 2026 contract at 65.93 cents (up 0.08 cent), the October 2026 contract at 66.37 cents (down 0.06 cent) and the December 2026 contract at 67.18 cents per pound (down 0.02 cent). A few contracts remained at their previous closing levels, with no trading recorded so far today.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
