Cotton futures rose to around 75.5 cents per pound, reaching the highest since May 2024, on the back of higher oil prices, which increase polyester production costs and boost cotton’s appeal as an alternative fiber. Meanwhile, drought persists in the United States, particularly in Texas, the main producing state, with planting already underway. Meanwhile, Brazil is expanding its role in global trade, posting record cotton exports for March and breaking the typical end-of-year shipment pattern. Secex data showed exports rose 45% year-on-year to 347,822.83 tonnes, compared with around 239,000 tonnes last year. In the meantime, the USDA, in its April WASDE report, raised its global cotton production forecast for 2025–26 by 900,000 bales, on higher output from China, India, and Pakistan, while also increasing consumption by 560,000 bales. The US supply and demand outlook was left unchanged.

Cotton rose to 78.38 USd/Lbs on April 16, 2026, up 1.24% from the previous day. Over the past month, Cotton's price has risen 13.97%, and is up 18.17% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Historically, Cotton reached an all time high of 227 in March of 2011. Cotton - data, forecasts, historical chart - was last updated on April 16 of 2026.

Cotton rose to 78.38 USd/Lbs on April 16, 2026, up 1.24% from the previous day. Over the past month, Cotton's price has risen 13.97%, and is up 18.17% compared to the same time last year, according to trading on a contract for difference (CFD) that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity. Cotton is expected to trade at 74.09 USd/Lbs by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate it to trade at 77.23 in 12 months time.



Price Day Month Year Date
Soybeans 1,168.62 1.62 0.14% 1.00% 12.75% Apr/16
Wheat 600.97 7.22 1.22% 1.90% 9.52% Apr/16
Lumber 581.00 2.00 0.35% -3.65% 1.30% Apr/15
Cheese 1.68 0.0031 0.19% 1.46% -9.41% Apr/16
Palm Oil 4,449.00 -23.00 -0.51% -1.13% 10.89% Apr/16
Milk 16.88 -0.09 -0.53% 4.39% -2.82% Apr/16
Cocoa 3,563.00 -83.00 -2.28% 4.24% -55.86% Apr/15
Cotton 78.41 0.992 1.28% 14.02% 18.23% Apr/16
Rubber 203.50 0.90 0.44% 3.93% 21.57% Apr/16
Orange Juice 184.60 -7.90 -4.10% -7.61% -42.03% Apr/15
Coffee 298.25 0.65 0.22% 1.84% -20.86% Apr/15
Oat 342.01 -3.7382 -1.08% -3.86% -4.06% Apr/16
Wool 1,786.00 0 0% 0.17% 44.97% Apr/16
Rice 10.91 0.1200 1.11% -3.84% -19.04% Apr/16
Canola 722.20 3.60 0.50% -1.00% 8.18% Apr/16
Sugar 13.79 0.10 0.74% -4.55% -22.95% Apr/16
Corn 452.01 0.7604 0.17% -0.44% -6.27% Apr/16


Cotton
The cotton features are available on the New York Mercantile Exchange and Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The size of each contract is 50,000 pounds. The biggest producers of cotton are China and India, followed by the United States, Pakistan, Brazil, Australia, and Uzbekistan. The United States and Brazil are the biggest cotton exporters accounting for more than half of global supply. Cotton is the world’s most widely used natural fiber for clothing. Cotton prices displayed in Trading Economics are based on over-the-counter (OTC) and contract for difference (CFD) financial instruments. Our cotton market prices are intended to provide you with a reference only, rather than as a basis for making trading decisions. The data is supplied by a third party and, while efforts are made to ensure its accuracy, Trading Economics does not verify the data and makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy..
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
78.38 77.42 227.00 5.66 1913 - 2026 USd/Lbs Daily

News Stream
Cotton Futures at 2024-Highs
Cotton futures rose to around 75.5 cents per pound, reaching the highest since May 2024, on the back of higher oil prices, which increase polyester production costs and boost cotton’s appeal as an alternative fiber. Meanwhile, drought persists in the United States, particularly in Texas, the main producing state, with planting already underway. Meanwhile, Brazil is expanding its role in global trade, posting record cotton exports for March and breaking the typical end-of-year shipment pattern. Secex data showed exports rose 45% year-on-year to 347,822.83 tonnes, compared with around 239,000 tonnes last year. In the meantime, the USDA, in its April WASDE report, raised its global cotton production forecast for 2025–26 by 900,000 bales, on higher output from China, India, and Pakistan, while also increasing consumption by 560,000 bales. The US supply and demand outlook was left unchanged.
2026-04-13
Cotton Futures at Near 2-Year High
Cotton futures traded above 73 cents per pound, reaching the highest since June 2024, helped by the dollar weakness and elevated oil prices amid continued restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz. High oil prices increase polyester production costs and indirectly support cotton demand as an alternative fiber. Ongoing drought concerns in key US cotton growing regions, particularly US western and southwestern Great Plains, also supported the market. Meanwhile, the USDA in its April WASDE report increased global cotton production forecast for 2025-26 by 900,000 bales, primarily on higher output from China, India, and Pakistan, and raised consumption by 560,000 bales. The US supply and demand outlook was left unchanged.
2026-04-10
Cotton Hits 16-month High
Cotton increased to 73.53 USd/Lbs, the highest since November 2024. Over the past 4 weeks, Cotton gained 12.67%, and in the last 12 months, it increased 11.54%.
2026-04-10