EUR/US$: 1.1130
U.S. Cotton: Futures Power Higher on Thursday
Barchart: Cotton futures gained 21 to 43 points across the board on Thursday, helped by a lower US dollar, while crude oil edged up slightly. The Seam sold just 179 bales on October 28 at an average of 65.98 cents/lb. Dec 26 settled at 78.50 (+35), Mar 27 at 82.25 (+35) and May 27 at 83.86 (+32).
Source: Barchart
U.S. Cotton: Second Day of Modest Gains as December Holds Its 200-Day Average
Calcot – Cindy Walters: December settled at 78.50, up 35 points, for a modest two-session gain of 44 points that still leaves it 170 points lower for the week. Trading ranges have been narrow for three sessions, and December barely closed back above its 200-day moving average after two closes below it, the first since early March. Open interest fell for a fifth straight session to 397,103 contracts, still near record levels, though that could change as December positions are liquidated ahead of first notice day on November 23. On-call sales exceeded on-call purchases for the 12th consecutive week, reversing a 121-week run in the opposite direction. In the wider economy, third-quarter GDP grew at a 3.4% annual rate, while September PCE inflation reached 3.6% year on year (3.1% core). Disappointing technology earnings pushed the Nasdaq down 1.4%, and crude oil eased slightly but stayed near its contract high.
Source: Calcot
U.S. Cotton: Export Sales Rise, China Tops Buyers
USDA: Net upland sales for 2026/27 totaled 216,500 RB in the week ended October 22, up 8% from the previous week and 21% above the prior four-week average, a good result that beat expectations. The main buyers were China (52,100 RB), Turkey (40,800 RB), Vietnam (35,000 RB, including 4,400 RB switched from China), Indonesia (26,400 RB) and Mexico (21,400 RB). Sales for 2027/28 reached 38,300 RB, mainly to Indonesia (17,000 RB), Honduras (8,000 RB) and China (5,300 RB). Upland shipments fell 18% to 160,800 RB, 1% below the four-week average, mainly to Vietnam (65,200 RB), Pakistan (26,600 RB), Turkey (13,900 RB), Mexico (10,200 RB) and Honduras (6,600 RB). Pima sales were just 100 RB and shipments 3,300 RB.
Source: USDA FAS
U.S.: Study Finds Higher Microplastic Exposure from Polyester than Cotton
Cotton Grower: A preliminary pilot study by the University of Memphis, funded by the National Cotton Council's Cotton Foundation, found that wearing a polyester-containing T-shirt was associated with up to 42% higher airborne microplastic exposure in the breathing zone than wearing a 100% cotton T-shirt. The ten participants' exposure reached nearly 2,000 particles per cubic metre while wearing polyester, up to 77% of the particles detected were microscopic, and PET, the polymer used in polyester, made up 99% of them. The researchers stress that the findings are preliminary, call for larger studies with more fabrics, and note that the study does not establish health effects.
Source: Cotton Grower
Africa: Shared Infrastructure Drives Push into Cotton Processing
AllAfrica – Seth Onyango: Industrial parks in Ethiopia, Benin and Togo are taking on the cost of shared utilities such as wastewater treatment and power, lowering the capital textile firms need to move into water- and energy-intensive spinning, dyeing and finishing. Ethiopia's Hawassa park can treat 11 million litres of wastewater a day and recovers 90% of its water, but a World Bank study found treatment cost $3.40 per cubic metre while factories paid only $0.80, raising questions about financial viability. The ARISE zones at Glo-Djigbé in Benin and Adétikopé in Togo each operate a common effluent plant, with 85–90% water reuse at Glo-Djigbé, while solar power is still at the planning stage. Experts propose combining development finance, commercial loans and equipment leasing, starting with energy, water and waste projects that can pay back.
Source: AllAfrica
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