Cotton Futures Close Lower as December Contracts Slip 59 Points

Cotton futures settled lower Friday, with contracts down 15 to 59 points, though the December contract still posted a 20-point weekly gain. December cotton closed at 80.2 cents per pound, down 59 points, while March closed at 83.94 and May at 85.61, each down 54 points. Managed money speculators added just 767 contracts to their net long position in cotton futures and options as of October 20, bringing the total to 66,466 contracts. USDA data showed export commitments at 5.449 million running bales, 15% above last year but only 47% of the USDA's 2026/27 projection, trailing the 54% average pace. The Seam reported 266 bales sold on October 22 at an average of 65.05 cents per pound. The Cotlook A index rose 100 points to 92.75, ICE certified stocks gained 1,800 bales to 24,722, and the Adjusted World Price rose 40 points to 65.01 cents per pound. Crude oil gained $3.97 per barrel, while the dollar index added 0.153.