Cotlook Index: 22-10-2026
92.75 (+0.01)
Andhra Cotton Prices May Reach ₹10,000
Friday, 23rd Oct 2026, by Yash Chouhan, (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Anticipated Decline in Cotton Production in Andhra Pradesh; Farmers Expect Prices to Reach Up to ₹10,000 per Quintal
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh: Adverse weather conditions in Andhra Pradesh are expected to impact cotton yields. Anticipating a potential shortfall in production, private traders have begun reaching out to farmers in cotton-growing villages. Consequently, farmers are hopeful that cotton prices could reach between ₹9,000 and ₹10,000 per quintal during the current season.
Expectations of Better Prices Amidst Anticipated Low Yield
Cotton yields are expected to decline due to weather-related risks. Farmers believe that if market arrivals remain low and competition among traders to procure the produce intensifies, prices could see a significant surge.
According to a female farmer from the Karampudi area in Palnadu district, many farmers suffered financial losses last season due to low prices. This year, they are hopeful for better returns—enough to cover cultivation costs and generate some profit.
Last Season, Cotton Had to Be Sold Below MSP
Farmers reported that during the previous season, some were forced to sell their cotton at prices ranging from ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 per quintal. Technical issues—such as difficulties with registration, slot booking, and online record-keeping within the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procurement process—prevented some farmers from selling their produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Driven by urgent financial needs, many farmers were compelled to sell their cotton to private traders at lower prices.
MSP for Cotton for the 2026-27 Season
According to available reports, the central government has set the MSP for medium-staple cotton at ₹8,267 per quintal and for long-staple cotton at ₹8,667 per quintal for the 2026-27 season.
Meanwhile, the CCI is currently preparing for the procurement process. Farmers want the technical issues from the previous season to be resolved so that there are no hurdles in the registration and procurement process this time around.
In the coming months, weather conditions, cotton yields, and the trend of market arrivals could influence prices.
Ex-Gin Cotton Prices Jump ₹4,000 per Candy, Worry Tamil Nadu Mills
Friday, 23rd Oct 2026, by Yash Chouhan, (Source: www.smartinfoindia.com)
Ex-gin cotton prices surge by ₹4,000 per candy; concerns rise among over 1,500 textile mills in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu:Cotton prices have seen a sharp rise following the commencement of the 2026-27 cotton marketing season in the country. Over the last 10 days, ex-gin cotton prices have climbed from ₹64,000 to ₹68,000 per candy. This increase of approximately 6.25 percent has sparked concerns regarding rising production costs for more than 1,500 textile mills in Tamil Nadu.
Market surge driven by limited cotton arrivals
According to Nishant Asher, Secretary of the Indian Cotton Federation, the arrival of new-season cotton in the market has fallen short of expectations. Such a steep rise in prices during October is considered unusual.
He noted that several factors are likely contributing to this price surge, including a potential decline in production, some farmers withholding their stock in anticipation of better prices, and the expected reinstatement of import duties effective November 1.
Production projected to fall short of demand
Durai Palaniswami, Chairman of the Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA), stated that domestic cotton consumption for the 2025-26 season—which ended on September 30, 2026—stood at 33.6 million (336 lakh) bales. During that period, 6.7 million (67 lakh) bales were imported, with a closing stock of approximately 4 million (40 lakh) bales remaining at the end of the season.
He projected that for the current season, cotton demand is expected to reach 36 million (360 lakh) bales, while production is estimated at around 26 million (260 lakh) bales. This gap between demand and production is likely to provide support to prices.
Concerns over rising costs for the textile industry due to import duties
According to Palaniswami, while higher cotton prices may offer better returns to farmers, they also raise concerns regarding increased costs for the textile industry. However, the reintroduction of import duties could increase raw material costs for textile mills. This raises concerns that the competitiveness of the Indian textile industry in the international market might be affected.
They emphasized the need for the government to adopt a balanced policy that takes into account the interests of both farmers and the textile industry.
Could India's Technical Textile Industry Reduce Dependence on Imported Medical Products?
Friday, 23rd Oct 2026, (Source: https://textilevaluechain.in)
Overview
India's technical textile industry has an opportunity to strengthen domestic healthcare manufacturing. From surgical gowns and medical dressings to filtration materials and specialized medical-device components, engineered textiles support many healthcare applications. Investment in advanced materials, testing and specialized production could reduce dependence on selected imports and strengthen domestic supply chains.
India's Medical Manufacturing Opportunity
India has established capabilities in fibre production, fabric processing and garment manufacturing. However, specialized medical products require additional expertise in material engineering, quality testing and regulatory compliance.
In FY 2024–25, India imported medical devices worth ₹1,37,088 crore, while exports totaled ₹42,360 crore. These figures cover the wider medical-device sector, not medical textiles alone, but highlight the opportunity to strengthen domestic healthcare manufacturing.
Where Technical Textiles Can Make a Difference
Medical clothing and protective wear: Manufacturers can expand production of surgical gowns, drapes and protective garments using specialized nonwovens and fluid-resistant materials.
Advanced wound-care materials: Engineered fibers and absorbent textile structures offer opportunities beyond conventional gauze and bandages, provided products meet relevant safety and performance requirements.
Medical filtration and disposables: Specialized nonwovens used in masks, filtration layers and hospital supplies could support local manufacturing.
Medical-device components: Textile structures used in surgical meshes and vascular grafts offer higher-value opportunities that require specialized research, testing and collaboration with medical-device companies.
Challenges Holding Manufacturers Back
How India Can Strengthen Domestic Production
The National Technical Textiles Mission supports research, innovation, market development and skill development. Further progress depends on connecting research with commercial manufacturing, improving testing access and strengthening domestic supply of specialised inputs.
What Comes Next for India's Medical Textile Industry?
India can reduce import dependence in selected categories, but progress requires investment beyond conventional fabric manufacturing. Specialised materials, reliable quality and competitive costs will determine which products succeed.
Towards Healthcare supports healthcare businesses through market intelligence, competitive analysis and strategic consulting to assess product opportunities, supplier landscapes and growth areas across medical textiles and related healthcare sectors.
About Towards Healthcare Research and Consulting
Towards Healthcare Research & Consulting is a global strategy consulting firm with a presence in both Canada and India. We provide innovative solutions customized to the healthcare sector, helping business leaders overcome challenges and accelerate growth. We specialize in delivering advanced technological solutions, clinical research services, and powerful data analytics. Our focus is on building meaningful partnerships that foster innovation and deliver actionable insights to drive success in healthcare.
5th edition of Sustainable Textiles Summit 2026 successfully organized by PHDCCI
Friday, 23rd Oct 2026, (Source: www.apparelviews.com)
The Textiles Committee of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry PHDCCI successfully organized the milestone 5th Edition of the Sustainable Textiles Summit 2026 at PHD House, New Delhi. The high-profile event was centered on the pivotal theme, “Advancing Textile Circularity: Scaling Innovation, Green Finance, and Inclusive Growth.”
The summit brought together key industry stalwarts, policymakers, financial institutions, and global experts to establish a strategic roadmap for deep decarbonization, advanced recycling ecosystems, and robust ESG standards across the industry. The summit’s prominent line of deliberations featured Madhu Sudhan Bhageria, Chair, PHDCCI Textiles Committee & CMD, Filatex India Ltd.; Murugan Thenkondar, President-Cellulose Fibres, Grasim Industries Limited, Aditya Birla Group; Archana Dutta, Programme Management Officer, United Nations Environment Program UNEP; Anil Jadhav, Regional Director South Asia and Middle East, ECOCERT India; and Gopal, Director, Ministry of Textiles, alongside R. K. Vij, Co-Chair, PHDCCI Textiles Committee & SG, Polyester Textiles Apparel Industries Association. Technical and institutional frameworks were further driven by Dr. Pankaj Kumar, National Project Coordinator, UNIDO; Shivendra Parmar, Assistant General Manager, TÜV Rheinland India Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. Arpan B. Kharva, Head Research & Development, Capital Maharaja Group, Sri Lanka; Tanmeet Thukral, Private Sector Specialist, The World Bank; Himanshu Shukla, Scientist – C/Deputy Director, Textile Department, Bureau of Indian Standards BIS; Rohan A Gaikwad, Growth Director, Without; Bansari Nag, National Project Coordinator, International Labour Organization ILO Country Office for India; and Dr. Swapna Mishra, CEO, Textile Sector Skill Council.
Delivering the welcome address, Madhu Sudhan Bhageria highlighted that sustainability in textiles must embrace a comprehensive lifecycle approach encompassing fibre production, manufacturing, processing, and consumption. He strongly advocated that the financial cost of sustainability must be shared equitably across the global value chain rather than falling solely on manufacturing units in producing countries. Shri Murugan Thenkondar added that economic viability rests firmly on resource efficiency, urging businesses to reduce water and energy consumption through modern recycling technologies.Addressing the regulatory shift from intent to proof, Anil Jadhav noted that impending European mandates, including the Digital Product Passport and the Green Claims Directive, are swiftly reshaping global supply chains. He remarked that consumers today demand credible evidence, independent audits, and complete traceability over mere voluntary labeling. Acknowledging this global shift, Chief Guest Gopal stated that while the ecological challenge is real, India possesses a highly capable recycling ecosystem, expanding startups, and technical depth to capture the global green market. He called for supportive policy frameworks that align clean technologies with decent work conditions and structural empowerment for workers, particularly women. The subsequent technical sessions focused heavily on technological, standard-driven, and financial outcomes. Key discussions highlighted UNIDO’s green manufacturing pathways, TÜV Rheinland’s independent verification structures, and Capital Maharaja Group’s R&D into alternative next-gen materials. Furthermore, the financial and operational mechanics were charted out via green infrastructure financing models from The World Bank, quality assurance markers from the Bureau of Indian Standards BIS, and commercial upcycling of post-consumer waste by industry innovators.The high-impact summit witnessed active participation from a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders, including MSMEs, academic researchers, global apparel brands, standard-setting agencies, and green energy professionals. The close strategic involvement of leading international institutions, namely UNEP, UNIDO, ILO, and The World Bank, reflected the international seriousness and global consensus driving the industry’s transition toward highly resilient, eco-conscious supply chains. The summit collectively concluded that achieving scalable textile circularity requires technology, finance, statutory standards, and workforce upskilling to operate in absolute synchronicity.
Finished fabrics, yarn imports rise in Bangladesh
Friday, 23rd Oct 2026, (Source: www.apparelviews.com)
Imports of finished fabrics and yarn have risen for apparel exporters’ liking of foreign intermediate inputs as local spinning and textile millers lose out on the swap, sources say.Over 13-percent increase in the intermediate raw-material imports in September 2026 stands out as an explainer of the change.The trend suggests export-oriented garment makers are increasingly sourcing intermediate inputs from abroad instead of relying on local spinning and textile mills, even as the government seeks to promote local backward-linkage industries through policy support.According to National Board of Revenue (NBR) data, combined imports of fabrics and yarn rose 12.33 per cent to 221,324 tonnes in September from 197,026 tonnes in August. The import bill stood at about $1.08 billion.Over the same period, raw-cotton imports fell to 107,824 tonnes, worth about $228 million. Fabrics and yarn imports by volume were thus more than double those of cotton, and their combined bill was nearly five times the cotton bill.
Combined imports of woven and knit fabrics stood at 115,407 tonnes in September, up 19.70 per cent from 96,417 tonnes in August. This was an increase of nearly 19,000 tonnes in a single month. The import bill for fabrics stood at about Tk 8.69billion or roughly $703 million, according to the NBR data.
Woven fabrics imports grew 20.02 per cent to 63,174 tonnes from 52,638 tonnes, worth about $388 million. Knit fabrics imports rose 19.31 per cent to 52,233 tonnes from 43,779 tonnes, worth about $316 million.Fabrics imports alone exceeded raw-cotton imports in volume during the month, and the fabrics-import bill was more than three times the cotton bill.Yarn imports rose 5.28 per cent to 105,917 tonnes from 100,609 tonnes, at a cost of about $374 million.
Cotton-yarn imports grew 5.28 per cent to 64,120 tonnes from 60,902 tonnes, worth about $229 million.Synthetic filament yarn imports rose 6.37 per cent to 32,485 tonnes from 30,539 tonnes, worth about $103 million.
Imports of yarn made from synthetic staple fibre edged up 1.57 per cent to 9,312 tonnes from 9,168 tonnes, worth about $42 million.
Raw cotton, the main raw material for local spinning mills, saw an import fall of 13.38 per cent to 107,824 tonnes from 124,476 tonnes in August, in a drop of 16,652 tonnes.Polyester staple fibre imports fell 7.12 per cent to 7,553 tonnes from 8,132 tonnes, worth about $10.6 million.
Viscose staple fibre was the only raw material to post growth. Its imports more than doubled, rising 102.62 per cent to 3,633 tonnes from 1,793 tonnes, worth about $10.1 million.
Overall, imports of the three raw materials fell 11.45 per cent to 119,010 tonnes from 134,401 tonnes.
The shift is reflected in falling supplies from local primary textile mills. According to NBR data, fabrics exports by local mills, mostly deemed exports to export-oriented garment factories, dropped 38.67 per cent to 14.69 million metres in September from 23.96 million metres in August, valued at about $38 million.
Yarn exports by member mills declined 22.19 per cent to 25,791 tonnes from 33,146 tonnes, fetching about $86 million. BKMEA President Mohammad Hatem has said exporters are trying to reduce production costs to remain competitive in export markets.“The import trend indicates that locally sourced raw materials are more expensive than imported ones. How can we source materials from local mills when their prices are much higher?” he asks.He has further said if the government continues to restrict the import of certain categories of yarn under the duty-free bond facility, it would also affect the local knitting and weaving industries.He also fears that considering the local prices in the coming days, buyers’ nomination for fabrics and yarn could increase.BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell says the rising imports of finished fabrics and yarn indicate declining value addition to ready-made garments (RMG). “On the other hand, local textile mills are gradually weakening. Such product mixing is not good for the country,” he said.
He warns that greater reliance on imported raw materials by the RMG sector could also undermine Bangladesh’s preparation for graduation from the least- developed-country (LDC) status. After LDC graduation, Bangladesh’s RMG exporters will need to maintain local value addition of 40 per cent to 60 per cent, depending on the destination market, he reminds.
Russell also has alleged that some imported goods brought in under the bonded- warehouse facility are diverted to the domestic market, causing the government to lose substantial revenue.
“We have also observed that law-enforcement agencies, including customs and police, have seized such goods during recent drives.”
He adds that such illicit practices could continue unless the government corrects the relevant policies.
“India Will Be Our No. 1 Market” DOSO Strengthens its India Presence with DEBMAC
Thursday, 22nd Oct 2026, (Source: www.apparelviews.com)
DOSO, a Chinese manufacturer of sewing machines and automation solutions, is strengthening its presence in the Indian market through its collaboration with DEBMAC. With a manufacturing history dating back to 1999, the company is expanding its Indian network, strengthening technical support and focusing on automation as a key driver for the future of garment manufacturing. In an exclusive conversation with Arvind Kumar, Editor, Apparel Views, YE Xianchong, Chairman, DOSO discusses DOSO’s journey, its partnership with DEBMAC and the company’s plans for the Indian market.
Could you tell us about DOSO and its collaboration with DEBMAC?
YE Xianchong Chairman, DOSO
DOSO started in 1999, so it is a very established company. In the beginning, we focused on basic machines. After many years of development, we expanded our portfolio to include automation solutions.
Previously, DOSO undertook a significant amount of OEM manufacturing for other suppliers and customers. Although the DOSO brand was present in India earlier, our sales were not very large. This year, we believe the Indian market has very strong potential, so we want to focus strongly on India. Going forward, we also plan to invest more in the Indian market.
A very good opportunity came when Mr. Alok Desai from DEBMAC visited our factory last year. We had a very good meeting, understood each other well and decided to begin our collaboration in the Indian market.
Going forward, we will work with DEBMAC as partners and invest more in the Indian market through exhibitions, promotions, road shows and private shows. We will also organise important conferences and promotional activities with our dealers.
What are your plans for expanding your presence across India?
We already have four offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Tirupur and Ahmedabad. In the future, we plan to establish more offices in major cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai.
Our objective is to strengthen our presence across India and serve our endusers and customers better. We also plan to develop more agents and dealers throughout the Indian market. Our focus is to provide fast service and quick responses to our customers.
What is DOSO’s position in the Chinese sewing machine industry?
We can say DOSO is among the top 10 manufacturers in the sewing machine industry in China. It is a very established company, and we have many experienced technicians and R&D engineers. Our technology is very good, and our service team is also strong.
However, our overseas sales have been comparatively weak, which is why we need the support of DEBMAC as a strong partner. Going forward, we want to focus more on overseas markets.
The Chinese market is not strong this year, and manufacturing costs are increasing year by year. The number of garment factories is also declining. Therefore, we will focus more on overseas markets and invest particularly in India.
India has a very large population and significant potential demand for sewing machines and garments. In our strategy, we will regard India as our No. 1 market. That is why we wanted to find a strong company like DEBMAC to cooperate with us in India.
What kind of technical and sales support will DOSO provide to its Indian partners?
Our plan is to first invite the DEBMAC team to China for training on all our machines. Later, we can also send our Chinese technicians to India.
I think every office should have at least one sales and technician person to provide support. If there is any problem, we want to respond very quickly.
At the same time, we will provide training to our agents, dealers and technicians. If factories are interested, they can also send their technicians to our offices, where we will provide training. Our objective is to provide a quick response and the best possible service in the Indian market.
What is your plan regarding spare-parts availability in India?
We have a dedicated spare-parts department and already maintain all kinds of spare parts in our warehouse in China. With every order and every container, we can send spare parts for backup.
Normal spare parts are easily available in the Indian market. For special parts, we will maintain sufficient backup at each office.
If a customer requires a part, we can provide it immediately. Usually, we will provide spare parts free of charge. If there is a major problem, we will charge only the cost. We will not make money from spare parts. Our focus is on providing service.
What is the range of machines available from DOSO?
DOSO has a complete range of sewing machines across different categories. We have lockstitch, overlock, interlock, buttonhole, buttonstitch, bartacking and heavyduty sewing machines. These are our basic machines.
We are also very strong in automation. The pocket-welting machine is one of our star products. We also have template machines and intelligent cutting machines. We can provide complete solutions for shirts, denim and other applications, including shoes and bags. We can provide solutions across all these categories.
What is the manufacturing capacity at your facility in China?
For automation machines, we can produce at least 20 machines every day. For basic machines, thousands of machines are produced every month. The actual production depends on market requirements, so capacity is not a problem.
Our company has seven buildings, with a total building space of more than 30,000 square metres. The factory is located in Taizhou. We have our own land and our own industrial park.
How has the market responded so far? What is your plan and target for the Indian market?
Alok Desai Reddy, Director, DEBMAC India Pvt. Ltd. with YE Xianchong, Chairman, DOSO The response has been very good. We have had only three months of cooperation, and we have already sold more than 3,000 machines. Customers have responded very positively and like our machines very much.
You can also see the saffron colour on our machines, which we call the Indian colour. We designed it for India. The design was developed in India. In the future, we also want to have more machines designed in India.
We will invest more in the Indian market through exhibitions, online promotions, road shows and private shows. We will also organise important conferences with all our dealers in the future.We also have plans to establish more offices in India. We currently have four offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Tirupur and Ahmedabad. In the future, we plan to have more offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai, covering all the major cities. Our target for the first year is at least US$10 million. Over the next three years, I think we will be among the top three sewing machine brands in India.
Which other international markets are important for DOSO?
Vietnam is a very big market for us and for our brand. Brazil is also a very important market. We are also focusing on markets such as Egypt, South Africa, Cambodia and Indonesia, particularly across Southeast Asia.
What trends do you see, particularly in India? Where should garment manufacturers invest?
In my opinion, automation is the future. Automation is good for workers because they can do less manual work, while factories can reduce labour costs. It is also easier for workers to operate automated machines.
Previously, workers had to sit in front of machines for eight or ten hours, with their hands and feet continuously moving. With our automation, they only need to press the buttons. Automation can also help factory owners reduce costs because production becomes more efficient and delivers consistent quality, which can lead to fewer rejections.
Telangana Expands Cotton Procurement Network to Protect MSP Returns
Friday, 23rd Oct 2026, (Source: https://urbanacres.in/)
Telangana has ordered the opening of cotton procurement centres for the 2026-27 Kharif marketing season, with the State government directing officials to ensure purchases at the minimum support price, faster payments and adequate logistics for farmers. Agriculture and Marketing Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao reviewed the arrangements at the Secretariat on Thursday and instructed the Marketing Department to coordinate with the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI). Officials have also been asked to monitor market prices, procurement progress, quality testing, transportation and storage.The Centre has fixed the cotton MSP at Rs 8,667 a quintal for the current season. Telangana’s prevailing model market price is around Rs 9,000 a quintal, supported by high demand and reduced production, according to the report. Farmers can sell through the open market when prices are above the MSP and approach CCI procurement centres if market rates fall below it.
Telangana cultivated cotton on 48.20 lakh acres this season, with production estimated at 29.43 lakh metric tonnes. To handle the procurement season, the CCI has increased its centres in the State from 122 to 133. Separately, 335 of Telangana’s 356 ginning mills have been notified as purchase centres across 30 districts. The arrangement places the procurement burden on a distributed network of market yards, ginning facilities and transport links rather than on a small number of central facilities. The centres have been instructed to maintain adequate infrastructure for receiving cotton, testing quality, arranging transportation and storing produce. The State and district-level committees will monitor both market prices and procurement progress. The government is also using digital systems to track farmers and payments. These include the Kapas Kisan app, online payments and farmer verification mechanisms. As of October 21, details relating to 12.75 lakh farmers had been linked to the app, according to the report. The digital layer is intended to improve visibility over who is eligible to sell, how much produce has been procured and when payments are released. Farmers can seek procurement and payment information through the Marketing Department’s toll-free helpline, 1800-599-5779, and WhatsApp service at 8897281111. Help desks are to be established at market yards to address grievances.The State has also called for proposals to expand cotton processing, spinning and oil industries. The proposed expansion is aimed at strengthening local demand and improving returns to farmers by linking procurement with processing capacity within Telangana.
Farmers have been advised to check cotton moisture levels and quality before bringing their produce to procurement centres, in accordance with CCI standards. The immediate procurement arrangements will therefore depend not only on the number of centres notified, but also on their ability to test, move, store and pay for cotton within the season’s operating schedule.
ICE cotton futures retreat as US harvest conditions improve
Friday, 23rd Oct 2026, (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com)
Insights: ICE cotton futures closed lower on Thursday, ending a three-session rally as profit-taking and favourable US harvesting weather weighed on sentiment; December 2026 fell 1.27 per cent to 80.79 cents.
US export sales rose 36 per cent to 199,629 bales and the harvest reached 41 per cent, above the five-year average, while open interest hit a record 402,264 contracts.
ICE cotton futures closed lower across all contracts on Thursday, ending a three-session winning streak as traders booked profits amid favourable harvesting conditions in the US. The most active December 2026 contract settled 104 points, or 1.27 per cent, lower at 80.79 cents per pound, compared with 81.83 cents in the previous session. Other contracts declined by 12–72 points.
The December contract remained within its 13-session trading range of 79.23–82.25 cents, closing just 5 points above the midpoint of 80.74 cents. Trading volume declined by 14.4 per cent to 49,165 contracts from 57,445 contracts.
Meanwhile, open interest increased by 971 contracts to a record 402,264 on Wednesday, marking the eighth consecutive record high and the 27th record high of 2026. Open interest had risen by 20,034 contracts over ten consecutive sessions since October 6.
Expectations of improved weekly export sales had lifted cotton prices from around 80 cents to nearly 82 cents. However, traders appeared to be booking profits following the rally. Favourable harvesting weather also allowed farmers to accelerate cotton picking, adding pressure on prices.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported net upland cotton export sales of 199,629 bales for the week ended October 15, up 36 per cent from the previous week and 7 per cent above the four-week average.
The USDA's crop progress report showed that the US cotton harvest reached 41 per cent as of October 18, compared with 31 per cent a week earlier and the five-year average of 37 per cent. The crop's good-to-excellent rating improved marginally to 35 per cent from 34 per cent.
Despite stronger export sales and shipments, profit-taking and accelerating harvesting activity weighed on market sentiment. The December contract slipped below the 80.86–81.00-cent resistance zone, with immediate support at 79.80–80.00 cents, followed by 79.23 cents. The 82.25-cent range high remained the key upside resistance.
Market participants will closely monitor the upcoming US Federal Reserve meeting, dollar movements, harvesting progress and weekly export sales for further direction.
This morning (Indian Standard Time), December 2026 cotton was traded at 80.89 cents per pound (up 0.10 cent). Cash cotton was traded at 78.54 cents (down 1.04 cent), while the March 2027 contract traded at 84.60 cents (up 0.12 cent). The May 2027 contract traded at 86.13 cents (down 0.02 cent), the July 2027 contract at 86.62 cents (up 0.01 cent), and the October 2027 contract at 79.84 cents (down 0.39 cent). A few contracts remained at their previous closing levels, with no trading recorded so far today.
US cotton export sales surge 36%, Vietnam leads buying
Friday, 23rd Oct 2026, (Source: www.fibre2fashion.com)
Insights: US Upland cotton export sales rose 36 per cent to 199,600 RB in the week ended October 15, with shipments up 40 per cent to 196,400 RB, USDA data showed. Vietnam led purchases at 94,500 RB, followed by Bangladesh, Turkiye, Pakistan and India, as Asian textile-producing markets drove the rebound. Pima cotton demand weakened, with sales down 81 per cent and exports down 28 per cent.
US cotton export sales rebounded strongly during the week ended October 15, 2026, driven by increased purchases by Vietnam, Bangladesh, Turkiye and Pakistan. Net sales of Upland cotton for the 2026–27 marketing year rose by 36 per cent to 199,600 RB (running bales, each weighing approximately 226.8 kg), compared with 146,900 RB in the previous week. Sales were also 7 per cent above the previous four-week average, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Vietnam emerged as the largest buyer with 94,500 RB, followed by Bangladesh (34,200 RB), Turkiye (33,700 RB), Pakistan (15,300 RB) and India (7,800 RB). These increases were partially offset by reductions for China (3,500 RB), Thailand (400 RB), Guatemala (400 RB) and Malaysia (200 RB).
Upland cotton exports also strengthened significantly, rising by 40 per cent to 196,400 RB from 140,600 RB in the preceding week. Shipments were 27 per cent above the previous four-week average. Vietnam remained the leading destination with 78,900 RB, followed by Pakistan (26,400 RB), Turkiye (18,600 RB), Bangladesh (13,900 RB) and India (11,500 RB).
In contrast, demand for US Pima cotton weakened sharply. Net sales declined by 81 per cent to 1,900 RB from 10,000 RB in the previous week and were 52 per cent below the four-week average. Vietnam purchased 1,300 RB, followed by Peru (500 RB) and Japan (100 RB).
Pima cotton exports also fell by 28 per cent to 7,500 RB from 10,400 RB in the previous week, remaining 12 per cent below the four-week average. India was the largest destination, accounting for 6,400 RB, followed by Bangladesh and Peru with 300 RB each.
