USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture - August 15, 2025
Mp_cn206
August 15, 2025
Weekly Cotton Market Review
Spot quotations averaged 100 point higher than the previous week, according to the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service’s Cotton and Tobacco Program. Quotations
for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0 - 28.9, and uniformity 81.0 - 81.9) in the seven designated
markets averaged 63.30 cents per pound for the week ending Thursday, August 14, 2025. The weekly average was up from 62.30 cents last week, and from 60.46 cents
reported the corresponding period a year ago. Daily average quotations ranged from a low of 62.54 cents on Monday, August 11 to a high of 64.32 cents on Tuesday,
August 12. Spot transactions reported in the Daily Spot Cotton Quotations for the week ended August 14 totaled 4,084 bales. This compares to 1,066 reported last
week and 4,118 bales reported the corresponding week a year ago. Total spot transactions for the season were 5,150 bales compared to 8,010 the corresponding week
a year ago. The ICE Oct settlement price ended the week at 66.17 cents, compared to 64.96 cents last week.
Southeastern Markets Regional Summary
Spot cotton trading was moderate. Supplies and offerings were light. Demand was moderate. Average
local spot prices were higher. Trading of CCC-loan equities was inactive. No interest in forward
contracting was reported.
Partial cloudiness were observed across the lower Southeast during the period. Daytime high temperatures were in the 80s to low 90s. Nighttime lows were in the 70s.
Moisture was received across south Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and areas throughout Georgia. Weekly accumulated precipitation totals measured from one to four
inches, with heavier accumulations observed in localized areas. The crop advanced under cooler conditions. Producers applied herbicides and insecticides where soils
were firm enough to support equipment. According to the National Agricultural Statistic’s Services (NASS) crop progress report released August 11, cotton squaring
advanced to 99 percent completed in Georgia and 95 percent completed in Alabama. Boll-setting advanced to 84 percent in Georgia and 79 percent completed in Alabama.
Bolls had begun to crack open in the earliest planted fields.
Textile Mill
Domestic mill buyers inquired for a moderate volume of color 41-51, leaf 4, and staple 35 and longer for January through December 2026 delivery.
No sales were reported. No additional inquiries were reported. The undertone from mill buyers was cautious as they balanced raw cotton purchases
with yarn orders.
Demand through export channels was moderate. Agents for mills throughout
the Far East inquired for any discounted styles of cotton. No sales were
reported.
Trading
•
A heavy volume of 2024-crop cotton mostly color 31, leaf 2 and 3, staple 36-37, mike 35-49, strength 27-30,
and uniformity 79-83 sold for 71.25 to 72.50 cents per pound, FOB car/truck (Rule 5, compression charges paid).
•
A light volume of 2024-crop cotton color 31-42, leaf mostly 3 and 4, staple 35-36, mike 37-45, strength 28-30,
and uniformity averaging 82.5 sold for around 67.00 cents, FOB car/truck, Georgia terms (Rule 5, compression
charges paid, 30 days free storage).
•
A light volume mixed lot of 2024-crop cotton containing color 41-52, leaf mostly 2-3, staple 33 and longer,
mike 44-47, strength 27-31, and uniformity 80-81 sold for around 61.50 cents, same terms as above.
South Central Markets Regional Summary
North Delta
Spot cotton trading was slow. Supplies of available cotton were light. Demand was light. Average local spot prices were higher. Trading of
CCC-loan equities was inactive. Merchants purchased a light volume of cotton forfeited to the CCC-catalog. No forward contracting was
reported. Local experts continued to monitor the price of cotton in hopes of a slight increase.
Partly cloudy skies were prevalent throughout the reporting period. Daytime highs were in the low-to-upper 90s. Nighttime lows were in the 70s.
Thunderstorms mid-week brought one and one-quarter of an inch of rain. Cotton within the Bootheel was progressing well and beginning to bloom.
Fieldwork activity was being done. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released on August 7, seasonably hot conditions have become more
intense on fields causing surface moisture to quickly deplete. Dryland was being irrigated to restore moisture to the topsoil. Plant pests were
treated. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Crop Progress report released on August 11, cotton setting bolls
neared the five-year average at 87 percent in Arkansas, 61 in Missouri, and 67 percent in Tennessee. Cotton squaring neared completion in Missouri
at 98 percent and in Tennessee at 83 percent. NASS reported cotton boll opening improved to 16 percent in Arkansas and 1 percent in Tennessee.
No boll openings were observed in Missouri. Virtual and in person industry meetings were planned and attended at state and national levels.
South Delta
Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies of available cotton were light. Demand was very light. Average local spot prices were higher. Trading of
CCC-loan equities was inactive. No forward contracting was reported. Local experts continued to observe the price of cotton in hopes of a slight
increase to drive the market.
Intervals of sunshine and cloudiness persisted throughout the reporting period. Daytime highs were in the 90s. Cool afternoon rain showers lowered nighttime lows
into the 70s. Heat advisories were issued by the National Weather Service with heat indexes ranging from 106 to 109 degrees. Scattered thunderstorms brought around
one and one-quarter inches of rainfall, which restored moisture to some locales. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor report released on August 7, heat stress on
the soil has begun to rapidly deplete adequate topsoil moisture. Outdoor activities included pivot irrigating and applying pesticide to fields to alleviate plant
bug activity. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Crop Progress report released on August 11, cotton setting bolls was at 80 percent
in Louisiana and 67 percent in Mississippi. Cotton squaring neared completion at 95 percent in Louisiana and 91 percent in Mississippi. NASS also reported cotton
bolls opening was at 21 percent in Louisiana and 11 percent in Mississippi. Both Louisiana and Mississippi were above the five-year average. Virtual and in person
industry meetings were planned and attended at state and national levels.
Trading
North Delta
•
A light volume of 2024-crop CCC-catalog cotton, containing color 31, leaf 2 and 3, staple 36, mike averaging 48.5,
strength averaging 30.6, and uniformity averaging 81.1 sold for around 63.50 cents per pound, FOB warehouse
(compression charges not paid).
•
Combined lots of 2024-crop CCC-catalog cotton, containing color 52 and better, leaf 3-5, staple 36 and 37, mike 47-50,
strength 29-32, uniformity 80-83, and 100 percent extraneous matter (plastic) sold for 20.00 to 21.00 cents, same terms
as above.
South Delta
•
No trading activity was reported.
Southwestern Markets Regional Summary
East Texas-South Texas
Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and producer offerings were light. Demand was very light. Average
local spot prices were higher. Producer interest in forward contracting was light. Trading of CCC-loan
equities was slow. Foreign mill inquiries were light. Interest was best from India, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
Partly cloudy and sunny weather conditions were observed in East Texas this week. Daytime high temperatures were in the mid-to-upper 90s, with
nighttime low temperatures in 70s. Thunderstorms across the region produced rain totals ranging from trace amounts to over three-quarters of
an inch of beneficial rainfall in cotton producing areas of the region. Stands progressed throughout the region. Bolls were cracking open in
the earliest planted fields in the Brazos River Bottoms and the Blackland Prairies, and blooming in later planted fields. According to local
experts, the crop is making good progress and has promising potential for good yields. In South Texas, a busy harvest season was underway with
fair skies and hot temperatures characterizing the weather pattern during the week. Daytime high temperatures ranged from the low 90s to the
100s. Overnight low temperatures were in the upper 70s to low 80s. Intermittent showers temporarily interrupted harvest in spotty areas of the
Upper Coast, producing from trace amounts up to one and one-half inches of moisture. Defoliants were applied by ground sprayers and aerially.
Harvest was progressing rapidly throughout South Texas, and producers worked long days to get as much cotton off stalks as possible. Modules
lined fields, and trucks transported modules to gin yards for processing. Stalks were plowed and disked into the soil after harvesting.
Pressing operations expanded as more gins started ginning for the season.
West Texas-Kansas-Oklahoma
Spot cotton trading was slow. Supplies and producer offerings were light. Demand was light. Average local spot prices were higher.
Producer interest in forward contracting was light. Trading of CCC-loan equities was inactive. Foreign mill inquiries were light.
Interest was best from India, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
In Texas, mainly sunny conditions prevailed with daytime high temperatures in the mid-80s to mid-100s, and overnight lows in the 60s and 70s.
Isolated thunderstorms brought over three inches of rainfall in the Panhandle. Some locations experienced large hail stones, heavy downpours
and isolated flooding that damaged stands and overturned irrigation pivots. Some areas in the Southern Low Plains received isolated storms
that brought over one inch of beneficial precipitation. Many areas received trace amounts of moisture. Dryland stands struggled under hot,
sunny conditions and shed fruit on the High Plains. Widespread, timely rainfall in August is needed for fruit retention and continued advancement.
Some stands had reached full bloom, and other stands approached bloom. Bolls developed. Irrigation was underway. Insect populations increased.
Scouting continued and some treatments were applied. Producers in the Concho Valley were encouraged and have high expectations for yields.
In Kansas, stands made good progress with daytime high temperatures in the low 90s to low 100s, and overnight lows in the 60s and 70s. Isolated
thunderstorms brought more than one inch of beneficial rainfall to some areas, but moisture was spotty. However, heavy rain chances are in the
nearby forecast. The crop advanced under warm, sunny conditions. Stands were blooming and setting bolls. A light amount of natural fruit drop
was reported, but the plants retained a big fruit load. Producers were encouraged by the yield potential. Plant growth regulators were applied.
Insect pressure was treated to protect the bolls. Gin meetings were held. In Oklahoma, daytime temperatures were in the low 90s to low 100s, and
overnight lows were in the 60s and 70s. Early period thunderstorms brought beneficial rainfall. Irrigation was applied. Stands were mostly in
peak bloom. Producers were encouraged with progress. Insect scouting remained active, and herbicide applications and growth regulator treatments
were underway to manage canopy and weed pressure.
Trading
East Texas/South Texas
•
A light volume of CCC-loan equities traded for 1.25 cents.
West Texas, Kansas & Oklahoma
•
In Kansas, a moderate volume of 2024-crop cotton color 53 and better, 4 and better, staple 34-37, mike 35-51, strength
28-33, and uniformity 78-82 sold for 60.50 to 62.50 cents per pound, FOB car/truck (compression charges not paid).
Western Markets Regional Summary
Desert Southwest (DSW)
Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and producer offerings were light. Demand was light. Producer
interest in forward contracting was light. Average local prices were higher. No Forward contracting or
domestic mill activity was reported. Foreign mill inquiries were light.
Hot and dry conditions continued throughout Arizona during the period. Daily temperatures reached into the 110s with no relief
in the nearby forecast. Excessive heat warnings were issued. Nighttime lows were in the 70s and 80s. No significant amount of
rain was recorded during the period. This year’s monsoon activity has been few and far between, which has affected moisture
levels in rivers, wells, and supplies of irrigation water. The overall crop progressed well throughout Arizona. No insect
pressures were reported. In New Mexico and El Paso, TX, sunny to partly cloudy conditions were prevalent. Daily triple-digit
temperatures saw a break into the 90s by week’s end. Nighttime lows were in the 70s and 80s. Thunderstorms brought scattered
rain showers measuring up to one inch of moisture to parts of El Paso, TX. The crop was in good condition. Bollworms were
spotted in some fields, but spraying was minimal as beneficial insects were present.
San Joaquin Valley (SJV)
Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and demand were light. No forward
contracting or domestic mill activity was reported. Average local prices were
higher. Foreign mill inquiries were light.
Weather conditions throughout the SJV were sunny to partly cloudy. Temperatures were in the 100s at the beginning of the period, but
subsided into the 90s by week’s end. Nighttime lows were in the 60s and 70s. No rain was reported during the period. The heat helped
further plant development as plants were in full bloom. Fields were irrigated. Insect pressures were light and treatments were applied
as necessary.
American Pima (AP)
Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies were moderate. Demand was light. No forward contracting or
domestic mill activity was reported. Average local spot prices were steady. Foreign mill inquiries
were light.
In the San Joaquin Valley temperatures ranged from the 90s to 110s. Nightly lows were in the 60s and 70s. The warm conditions helped fruit
development as blooming expanded. Irrigation water was applied. In Arizona, daily temperatures reached into the 110s with no relief in the
nearby forecast. Excessive heat warnings were issued. Nightly lows were in the 70s and 80s. No significant amount of moisture was recorded
during the period. This year’s monsoon activity has been few and far between, which has affected moisture levels in rivers, wells, and
supplies of irrigation water. The crop has been reported as a mixed bag throughout the territory as cooler conditions were present early in
the planting season. Fields continued to bloom and progressed. In New Mexico and El Paso, TX, the overall crop progressed under triple-digit
daily temperatures. Rain totals of up to one inch was recorded during the period. Insect pressure was light, and treatments were applied as
necessary.
Trading
Desert Southwest
•
No trading activity was reported.
San Joaquin Valley
•
No trading activity was reported.
American Pima
•
No trading activity was reported.
