ICE cotton prices steadied on Thursday as investors rolled over their positions from the front-month contract, while a robust federal weekly export sales report lifted sentiment for the natural fiber.

* Cotton contracts for March (CTc1) were little changed at 66.06 cents per lb at 12:36 p.m. ET (1736 GMT).

* "Cotton is trading sideways amid increased roll liquidity from both sides of the board, although there is more pressure coming from the sell side via the Mar/May spread," said Valentin Olah, risk management consultant at StoneX Group.

* The United States Department of Agriculture's weekly export sales report on Thursday showed export sales of upland cotton rose 44% to 221,100 RB from the previous week and 12% from the prior four-week average.

* However, net sales of upland cotton totaling 188,900 running bales (RB) for 2024/2025 were down 33% from the previous week and 30% from the prior four-week average.

* "Shipments were higher and I've always believe that stronger shipments are much more friendly than stronger sales," said Keith Brown, principal at cotton broker Keith Brown and Co in Georgia.

* Chicago corn, wheat and soybean futures edged up to near multi-month highs, underpinned by relief that U.S. tariffs have not sparked full-blown trade conflicts and by persisting doubts over South American crops.

* Further, the U.S. dollar was trading higher, as traders weighed receding trade war risks and looked ahead to Friday's key U.S. data.

* A stronger dollar makes cotton more expensive for overseas buyers.