Cotton Prices Fall As Import Demand Is Expected To Fall

 | Jun 16, 2017 03:53AM ET

Cotton prices fall as import demand is expected to fall

Cotton prices are declining as cotton import demand is expected to fall. Will cotton continue falling?

In the June 9 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, the US Department of Agriculture revised downward the 2017-18 world import demand by nearly 800000 bales 480-pound each, with global trade reduced 2%. Export estimates were lowered for the US, India, Brazil and others primarily due to lower expected demand by Pakistan and Mexico.

Around the world farmers planted more acres after cotton prices jumped 12% last year. American growers, the biggest exporters, are forecast to have their biggest harvest in a decade. Crops will be higher in India and Australia too. At the same time China is selling its state cotton reserves and there are no signs inventory sales are slowing down. Higher supply and expected lower import demand are bearish for cotton prices.