By Don Shurley, Cotton Economist-Retired, Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia
Cotton growers, now in the midst of the harvest season, are waiting for the market to show some improvement before pricing any remaining portions of the crop.
While the seesaw action in price continues, it increasingly appears that an uptrend (if we dare to even mention that word) has been established. If this uptrend fails (and it could), there is support established at 60 cents.
Growers need to set a few price goals/targets and then be prepared to market a portion of the remaining uncommitted crop when the target is met. This market is highly volatile and uncertain due to the still unknown of the U.S.-China trade talks. Setting goals/targets will take emotion out of the equation.
Firm Agreements – That’s What It Will Take
Prices have trended up for several reasons including: increasing hopes on the trade front, a smaller U.S. crop, more stable USDA October numbers and “corrections” from 2 previous lows. These lows occurred at the 58 cents area and the 60 cents area.
I’m not going to take space here to attempt to chronicle the week to week adventures of the U.S.-China trade talks. Honestly, it’s fruitless to attempt to explain and understand the process. Good news one day can and is too often contradicted a short time later or the “good” rumor or follow-through fails to develop.
But let me make one important observation — this market will take no sustained direction until some degree of negotiation is done and in place. Not just talk but actions agreed to. Or let’s put it a more positive way—this market is poised to rebound once we have a more firm handle on the trade front.
Until such time, we can expect more frustrating and meaningless seesaw action.
Case in point—last Friday Dec futures closed up 2.46 cents. But yesterday it down 1.66 cents. Then today, Dec closed at 63.53 cents — back up 1.31 cents. Last week news broke that the U.S. and China might reach a partial deal. Today, I see headlines that the two sides are still far apart. So, really, who knows for sure?
Waiting For Better News – Not Prudent
My point is this — holding cotton (too much cotton) in hopes of this fickle trade war being resolved, is likely too risky a proposition. Holding but with downside protection seems more prudent.
The market has proved that it is willing to move up on positive trade news. Potential is there. But it can’t yet be sustained. Potential is what we call “pent up”.
Here’s a brief summary of USDA’s October estimates for the 2019 crop marketing year:
- The S. crop was reduced slightly. Overall, the reduction was less than what some expected.
- S. exports remain projected at 16.5 million bales.
- World demand/use was lowered slightly by 130,000
- The Southern Hemisphere crop (Australia and Brazil) was reduced 600,000
- China’s imports were reduced ½ million
- Use was lowered for
Export sales for the week ending October 3rd were 204,400 bales—up approximately 14% from previous weeks but still not a particularly strong number. Sales stand at 9.4 million bales compared to 9.7 million bales at the same time last season.
Sales to China currently total 1.82 million bales — 19% of total sales thus far and also a 19% share of China’s projected imports of 9.5 million bales.
Producers should carefully evaluate marketing opportunities on price increases—pricing portions of the crop on advances. Set your goals/targets and then pull the trigger when the market gets there.