ICE Cotton Futures Bounce Back Above Key Psychological Level
Cotton futures on the ICE exchange staged a recovery after declining in recent days, closing above the key psychological level of 80 cents per pound. Market sentiment improved due to a weaker US dollar and stronger-than-expected export sales from the USDA.
The December 2026 contract settled at 80.67 cents, up 1.14 cents or 1.43% on the day. This marked a recovery from Wednesday's losses and capped off the week with gains of 69 points.
Prices remained firm throughout the session, with only a limited intraday pullback to 12 points, indicating steady buying interest rather than a volatile short-covering rally.
The US dollar weakened following the Federal Reserve's decision not to raise interest rates, making US cotton more competitive for overseas buyers and providing a strong tailwind for prices.
Market analysts pointed out that cotton had already been trending upwards before the export report was released, suggesting the strong sales data confirmed an improving demand outlook rather than triggering the rally itself.