By Don Shurley, University of Georgia
New crop (Dec13 futures) prices have continued to advance upward.
After a brief “hiccup” and decline back to 82.5 cents on Feb. 25, prices have since traded continuously higher for 5 of the next 6 days before closing down March 7.
Prices were back up March 8. Dec13 peaked at over 86 cents per pound (closed at 86.31) on March 6 before declining the following day, but are back up over 86 so far Friday.
It is not a complete surprise that prices have hit just a bit of a headwind as weΆve moved to the 85 and 86-cent area. ItΆs been suspected and mentioned before that 85 would meet with some resistance — although the quick advance to just over 86 has given reason for optimism.
You want to have some portion of your expected 2013 crop priced at 80 cents (net) or better. I canΆt think of a good reason not to. How much to do (how far you crawl out on that limb) is up to you.
The outlook fundamentals seem to be improving and I feel that, in the near-term at least, thereΆs support likely at the 82-cent area.
Forward contracts in the Southeast are typically 2 to 3 cents under December, so even a retreat to 82 would still get you an 80-cent contract offer …but you certainly want to shoot to do better than that if you can and the opportunity is presently there.
USDAΆs March supply/demand numbers are out and are encouraging. We may be starting to see some things weΆve hoped we would eventually begin to see.
U.S. projected exports for the 2012 crop year were increased 25K bales and U.S. projected Ending Stocks were lowered 30,000 bales. Perhaps the most encouraging sign, World demand for the 2012 crop year was increased 870,000 bales with China being 500,000 bales of that total.
ChinaΆs 2012 production was increased by 1 million bales from 34 to 35 million bales and imports were also increased by 1 million bales. The net result of this, along with increased Chinese mill use, is another increase in ChinaΆs Ending Stocks.
Projected stocks now stand at 44.1 million bales — up 1.5 million bales from the February number. China would now hold 54 percent of the WorldΆs stocks on Aug. 1.
As mentioned in this space often, at least in the short-term, the amount of cotton China holds is not as important as what they plan to do with it and when. China continues to import cotton and also yarn despite the massive level of stocks.
The Chinese mill industry apparently is showing signs of improvement.
Cotton use/demand elsewhere around the World is also improving. As long as China continues to be a buyer and importer, this combined with much lower ROW (rest of the world) stocks and reduced acreage and production for 2013 should keep prices supported.
Still, as a grower, you want to protect your crop from the advent of prices heading south for any reason.
The march to 85 cents has been in contrast to somewhat weakening corn and soybean prices. U.S. cotton acreage will be down but perhaps by not as much as once thought should these relative price relationships continue to hold.
We are perhaps even starting to see a limited increase in peanut contracts in light of these higher cotton prices and producers showing no interest in contracts at the lower levels initially available.
