Mp_cn206 August 7, 2026 Weekly Cotton Market Review Spot quotations averaged 245 points higher than the previous week, according to the USDA, Agricultural Marketing Services Cotton and Tobacco Program. Quotations for the base quality of cotton (color 41, leaf 4, staple 34, mike 35-36 and 43-49, strength 27.0-28.9, and uniformity 81.0-81.9) in the seven designated markets, averaged 76.15 cents per pound for the week ending Thursday, August 6, 2026. The weekly average was up from 73.70 cents last week and from 62.29 cents reported in the corresponding period a year ago. Daily average quotations ranged from a low of 75.29 cents on Friday, July 31, to a high of 76.75 cents on Thursday, August 6. Spot transactions reported in the Daily Spot Cotton Quotations for the week ended August 6 totaled 3,508 bales. This is compared to 817 reported last week and 1,066 bales reported the corresponding week a year ago. Total spot transactions for the season were 2,277 bales compared to 1,066 at the corresponding week a year ago. The ICE Oct settlement price ended the week at 81.96 cents, compared to 79.41 cents last week. Southeastern Markets Regional Summary Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and producer offerings were moderate. Demand was moderate. Average local spot prices were higher. Trading of CCC-loan equities was inactive. Scattered showers and thunderstorms dominated the weather pattern across the lower Southeast during much of the period. Daytime high temperatures were mostly in the 90s. Nighttime lows were in the 70s. Widespread thunderstorms brought moderate to heavy rainfall to areas throughout the region during the week. Precipitation accumulations ranged from one to three inches in areas throughout Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and Georgia, with the heaviest downpours observed in southeast Georgia. The swaths of moisture brought improvements to droughty conditions across the region, according to the U.S. Drought monitor report. Plants were invigorated by the moisture and warm conditions. Many fields approached peak bloom. Insect pressure was generally reported as light and easily controlled. Producers continued to scout fields; cotton jassid populations were limited. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Crop Progress report released August 3, squaring neared completion and boll-setting advanced to 67 percent in Alabama and 63 percent in Georgia. Bolls had begun to crack open in the earliest planted fields. Mostly cloudy skies were observed across the upper Southeast with widespread afternoon thundershowers. Daytime high temperatures were in the 80s. Nighttime lows were mostly in the 70s. Shower activity brought moisture to areas throughout the Carolinas and Virginia during the period. Weekly accumulated precipitation totals measured from one to three inches with heavier downpours recorded in localized areas. The moisture alleviated dry conditions along the coastal Carolinas and southern Virginia, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor report. Insect pressure was light and easily controlled. According to NASS, squaring neared completion and boll-setting advanced to 76 percent in North Carolina, 66 in Virginia, and 50 percent in South Carolina. Textile Mill Domestic mill buyers purchased a moderate volume of color 42 and 51, leaf 4, and staple 34 and longer for October through December delivery. Mill buyers also inquired for a moderate volume of color 41, leaf 3, and staple 38 for first quarter through fourth quarter 2027 delivery. No additional sales were reported. Yarn demand was slow to moderate. Mill buyers maintained a cautious undertone. Demand through export channels was moderate. Agents for mills in Korea and Vietnam inquired for a moderate volume of USDA Green Card class, color 31, leaf 3, and staple 37 for September/October shipment. Representatives for mills in Bangladesh inquired for a moderate volume of color 41, leaf 4, and staple 36 for nearby shipment. No sales were reported. Trading • No trading activity was reported. South Central Markets Regional Summary North Delta Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and producer offerings were light. Demand was light Trading of CCC-loan equities was inactive. Average local spot prices were higher. Interest in forward contracting was steady but increased within the region. Mainly sunny skies gradually transitioned into partly cloudy skies during the period. Daytime high temperatures were in the 80s and 90s. Nighttime lows were in the 60s and 70s. Strong thunderstorms and scattered showers migrated through the region earlier during the period, and restored heat-stressed cropland. The area received around one-half of an inch of rain. Outdoor activities were in progress. Irrigation was underway. Cotton crop maturity was favorable and continues to show daily advancement. Stands were at peak bloom. Crop treatments were applied by crop dusters and ground rigs to manage insect pressure. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Crop Progress report released on August 3, cotton setting bolls were at 88 percent in Arkansas, 61 in Missouri, and 82 in Tennessee. All states were well above the five-year average and well ahead of last year’s setting bolls percentage. As harvest season quickly approached, gins had begun pre-season maintenance on ginning equipment to ensure all parts of the gin are fully functional and ready to operate. Virtual and in-person meetings were planned and attended on state and national levels. South Delta Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and producer offerings were light. Demand was light. Trading of CCC-loan equities were inactive. Average local spot prices were higher. Interest in forward contracting was steady but growing within the region. Mostly sunny skies during morning hours gave way to partly cloudy skies in the afternoon. Daytime highs were in the 90s. Nighttime low temperatures were in the 60s and 70s. Areas received traces amounts up to around one-half of an inch of scattered showers. More rain was needed in the immediate forecast to revive heat stressed fields within the territory. Although no plant bug activity was reported during the period, producers treated infestations as necessary. Heavy fruit-sets and retention were underway in Mississippi and Louisiana. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Crop Progress report released on August 3, cotton bolls openings were 6 percent in Louisiana and 4 percent in Mississippi. Boll setting was reported to be 85 percent in Louisiana and 60 percent in Mississippi. As cotton fields continued to mature and neared harvesting, gins had begun to conduct pre-season preparations to operational equipment. Virtual and in-person meetings were planned and attended on state and national levels. Trading North Delta • No trading activity was reported. South Delta • No trading activity was reported. Southwestern Markets Regional Summary East Texas-South Texas Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and producer offerings were very light. Demand was very light. Average local spot prices were higher. Trading of CCC-loan equities was inactive. Interest in forward contracting was light. Foreign mill inquiries were light. Interest was best from Mexico, Turkey, and Vietnam. Abundant sunshine prevailed across most of the East Texas region. Daytime high temperatures in the 90s climbed into the low 100s. Nighttime lows were in the 70s. The area received less than one-quarter of an inch of rain. Fields were under high levels of heat stress due to a significant lack of moisture. Producers had begun to apply the second round of defoliants to the crop. Stands matured well. Insect pressure has subsided as the growers prepared for harvesting. In South Texas, generally sunny skies with occasional cloudiness characterized the weather pattern during the period. Daytime high temperatures in the 90s reached into the triple-digits. Nighttime lows were in the 70s and 80s. Sporadic showers accumulated less than one-quarter of an inch. Harvesting was underway as module trucks hauled seedcotton to gin yards, in South Texas. Gins were expected to begin pressing operations soon. Local experts expected high yields in the Rio Grand Valley. Harvesting gained momentum. In the Coastal Bend, harvesting was getting underway and modules were arriving on gin yards. West Texas-Kansas-Oklahoma Spot cotton trading was slow. Supplies and producer offerings were light. Demand was very light. Average local spot prices were higher. Producer interest in forward contracting was light. Trading of CCC-loan equities was inactive. Foreign mill inquiries were light. Interest was best from Mexico, Turkey, and Vietnam. In Texas, hot, sunny conditions prevailed, with daytime highs ranging from the low 90s to the mid-100s and overnight temperatures in the 60s to 70s. A beneficial thunderstorm early in the period delivered trace amounts to more than two inches of rainfall in northwest Lubbock. The moisture was quickly absorbed and was beneficial, although it arrived too late for some stands that had begun to wilt and deteriorate after two weeks of excessive heat. Additional slow-soaking rainfall was urgently needed through August to prevent further yield loss. Heat stress became evident, and some irrigated fields struggled. Fruit shed was expected, and some dryland fields began blooming out of the top. Stands with sufficient rainfall and irrigation progressed into bloom. Insect pressure remained light, with localized pockets of activity observed. Scouting continued for lygus, spider mites, bollworms, and aphids in squaring fields, with beneficial insects contributing to population control in some areas. Texas Tech University and the Lubbock Cotton Exchange hosted the Texas International Cotton School, a two-week educational program that began on August 3. In Kansas, daytime temperatures ranged from the low 90s to low 100s, with nighttime lows in the 60s and 70s. No rainfall was reported, and additional moisture would benefit crop development. Producers applied irrigation where possible as fields approached mid-bloom. Square retention remained good, and plant growth regulators and nitrogen applications continued as needed. Scouting efforts persisted, with tarnished plant bugs observed but still below threshold levels. Weed management remained an ongoing challenge in parts of the region. In Oklahoma, a persistent heat wave continued, with triple-digit temperatures in the low-to-mid-100s and overnight lows in the 60s to 70s. Producers applied well water where available to help mitigate heat stress. Crop conditions deteriorated in many areas, and much of the dryland acreage in southwest Oklahoma was expected to be released to insurance due to the lack of rainfall, limited lake water for irrigation, and extreme temperatures. Fields in the Carnegie area were the exception and continued to advance following timely rainfall. Trading East Texas/South Texas • No trading activity was reported. West Texas, Kansas, & Oklahoma • In Oklahoma, a lot containing a heavy volume of color 31 and better, leaf 4 and better, staple 35-42, mike 32-45, strength 27-35, and uniformity 79-83 sold for around 80.75 cents per pound, FOB car/truck, (compression charges not paid). Western Markets Regional Summary Desert Southwest (DSW) Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and producer offerings were light. Demand was light. No forward contracting was reported during the period. Average local spot prices were higher. Foreign mill inquiries were light. Sunny and hot conditions persisted across the DSW this week. Daytime highs varied from the upper 90s to the 110s. Nightly lows were in the 60s to the 80s. Heat stress was eased by irrigation. Fields were blooming, and the crop progressed under the extreme heat. Local sources reported a good boll load. No immediate pest pressures were reported. San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies and demand were light. No forward contracting or domestic mill activity was reported. Average local spot prices were higher. Foreign mill inquiries were light. In the SJV, sunny and hot conditions dominated the weather pattern. Daytime temperatures were mid-to-upper 100s. Nighttime lows were in the 60s. No rainfall was reported. Fields continued blooming and were setting bolls at the top. The maturing crop displayed a strong boll load. Drip and furrow irrigation supported consistent growth and helped alleviate heat stress from temperature extremes. Defoliants were expected to be applied in the middle to late September. Insect pressure remained light and treatments were applied for lygus and aphid as needed. American Pima (AP) Spot cotton trading was inactive. Supplies were moderate. Demand was light. No forward contracting or domestic mill activity was reported. Average local spot prices were steady. Light foreign mill inquiries were reported. Sunshine and extremely hot conditions persisted throughout the Far West with daytime highs in the mid-90s to the upper 110s in parts of Arizona. Nightly lows were in the 60s to 80s. Some locations received a light amount of rainfall from a few tenths up to around one-quarter of an inch. Timely precipitation in July and August would be beneficial. Aside from the environmental stress from extremely hot temperatures, the heat-stressed crop made good progress and was setting bolls that presented strong vigor with a full canopy. In the San Joaquin Valley and Desert Southwest, fields were blooming and boll retention was good. No significant pest pressures were reported. Irrigation continued around the clock. Trading Desert Southwest • No trading activity was reported. San Joaquin Valley • No trading activity was reported. American Pima • No trading activity was reported.