Cotton futures rose the most in nine months on signs of resilient demand from China, the world’s biggest consumer.

In China, cotton output may fall 5.5 percent this year to 6.36 million metric tons after rain and cold weather damaged crops, Cncotton.com, a research company, has said. In the previous three sessions, prices tumbled 13 percent, the most since March 2008. On Nov. 10, the fiber surged to a record $1.5195 a pound.

“Prices look quite good compared to what they looked like two weeks ago,” said John Flanagan, the president of Flanagan Trading Corp. in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. The rebound signals “a dawning reality that we probably still need more cotton,” he said.

Cotton for March delivery rose 4.8 cents, or 4.3 percent, to settle at $1.1659 at 2:59 p.m. on ICE Futures U.S. in New York, the biggest gain for a most-active contract since Feb. 9. U.S. markets will be closed tomorrow for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Demand in China is forecast to outpace supplies by 17 million bales in the year ending July 31, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has forecast. A bale weighs about 480 pounds, or 218 kilograms.

Cotton futures have jumped 54 percent this year amid surging demand from China and plunging inventories in the U.S., the leading exporter.

“I can see supplies remaining tight next year in China,” said Gary Raines, an economist at FCStone Fibers & Textiles in Nashville, Tennessee.