Global cotton prices steady as key benchmarks remain range-bound
The most actively traded December NY/ICE contract, which has traded between 66 and 71 cents per pound since the start of the year, moved lower in late July and is currently testing the lower end of that range. The global A Index was virtually unchanged, maintaining levels near 78 cents per pound.
Global cotton benchmarks remained stable in the past month, with the December NY/ICE contract testing the lower end of its year-long range between 66 and 71 cents/lb. The A Index hovered near 78 cents/lb, while the Chinese Cotton Index eased from 98 to 95 cents/lb internationally. Indian Shankar-6 prices stayed between 82â€'85 cents/lb, and Pakistani spot rates held near 69 cents/lb.
In China, the Cotton Index (CC Index 3128B) initially rose between May and mid-July but then flattened and eased slightly. In international terms, prices fell from over 98 cents to about 95 cents per pound. Domestically, values slipped from 15,600 RMB/ton to 15,100 RMB/ton, compared to a May low of 14,100 RMB/ton. The Chinese yuan remained stable at around 7.18 RMB/USD, as per the Cotton Incorporated's Monthly Economic Letter – Cotton Market Fundamentals & Price Outlook – August 2025.
In India, spot prices for Shankar-6 quality cotton traded mostly between 82 and 85 cents per pound, equivalent to ₹56,600–57,700 per candy. The Indian rupee hovered at approximately ₹86 per USD.
Pakistan's spot prices also remained steady, averaging near 69 cents per pound or PKR 16,300 per maund over the month, with the Pakistani rupee holding around 283 PKR/USD.
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