Cotton futures closed out Friday with contracts 11 to 18 points higher, as March cotton was down 121 points this week. The outside markets are positive factors on Friday, with the US dollar index back down 592 points and crude oil back up 13 cents/barrel. 

Cotton Ginnings data was updated this morning, showing 1.748 million RB of cotton ginned during the first 15 days of December, which brought the marketing year total to 11.425 million RB. That was an increase of 13% from the previous year.

CFTC Commitment of Traders data tallied managed money spec funds at a net short of 7,034 contracts as of 12/17. That was an increase to their net short, at 29,257 contracts as of Tuesday.

Export Sales data took total cotton shipments to 2.411 million RB, down 15% from last year and 23% of USDA’s export forecast, lagging the 27% average shipping pace for this time of year. Total shipped and unshipped commitments are 7.207 million RB, down 11% from a year ago. That is also 68% of the USDA projection, behind the 75% average pace.

The Seam reported 7,902 bales of online sales on December 19 at an average price of 58.15 cents/lb. ICE cotton stocks were unchanged on Thursday, at 20,113 bales of certified stocks. The Cotlook A Index was down 50 points on 12/19 at 78.35 cents/lb. The USDA Adjusted World Price (AWP) was cut by another 113 points on Thursday to 55.09 cents/lb. It is good through next Thursday.

Mar 25 Cotton  closed at 68.06, up 15 points,

May 25 Cotton  closed at 69.17, up 14 points,

Jul 25 Cotton  closed at 70.12, up 14 points