Cotton Ticks Up; Key Reports Loom

The cotton market is slightly higher Tuesday morning after its three-day Labor Day holiday. However, outside influences such as higher crude oil versus a falling Dow Jones are collectively upsetting the surrounding economic dynamics. Still, cotton traders have a host of reports and events to digest over the next two weeks.

Tuesday at 4 p.m. EDT, USDA will issue its weekly Crop Progress report. Last week, the 2026 crop was rated 38% good to excellent versus last year’s reading of 51% good to excellent.

According to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the U.S. and China are set to make some announcements on agriculture and non-tariff barriers during the planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington on Sept. 24. Essentially, the U.S. goal is to “manage the relationship”, as opposed to seeking some new major comprehensive trade agreement with China.

Weekly exports-sales will be delayed until Friday due to the observance of the Labor Day holiday. Last week saw sales of 27,525 bales for the 2026/2027 marketing year. That amount was the lowest since cancellations at the end of the 2023/24 marketing year.

On Friday, USDA will release its monthly supply-demand update. Last month, the 2026 crop was pegged at 13.61 million bales, down 90,000, with ending stock at 4.00 million versus the previous 4.10. The data will be out at noon EDT. 

For Tuesday, support for December Cotton stands at 85.60 cents and 84.40 cents, with resistance around 88.25 cents and 89.50 cents. Tuesday morning’s estimated volume is 9,860 contracts.

Keith Brown can be reached at commodityconsults@gmail.com or by calling (229) 890-7780.