COTTON: The 2024/25 U.S. cotton projections show higher beginning and ending stocks compared to last month. Projected production, domestic use and exports are unchanged. The 2024/25 season average upland farm price is down 4 cents from the May forecast to 70 cents per pound following a decline in new-crop cotton futures. Ending stocks are 400,000 bales higher at 4.1 million, or 28 percent of use. Revisions to the 2023/24 U.S. cotton balance sheet include a 500,000-bale reduction in exports to 11.8 million based on the slowing pace of export shipments, a 50,000-bale increase in domestic use, and a 450,000-bale gain in ending stocks.
In the global 2024/25 cotton balance sheet, beginning stocks, production and consumption are increased, with world trade unchanged. As a result, world ending stocks are projected 480,000 bales higher than in May at 83.5 million. The forecast for production is raised 90,000 bales based solely on higher area and yield in Burma. Consumption is 80,000 bales higher with increases in Vietnam and Burma offsetting reductions elsewhere. Revisions to the 2023/24 world balance sheet include higher beginning stocks and production, with reduced trade and consumption, raising ending stocks approximately 500,000 bales.
