LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Cotton may be regaining a competitive advantage as rising energy costs and supply chain disruptions challenge polyester’s long-held price edge. Textile industry analyst Bob Antoshak says global events are shifting the economics of fiber markets.
Polyester has historically benefited from cheap energy, efficient shipping, and low-cost direct imports. But conflict in the Middle East is disrupting trade routes and raising costs for petrochemical-based materials tied to crude oil.
Polyester production depends heavily on petroleum-based inputs like naphtha, and tightening oil supplies are pushing costs higher. At the same time, the closure of the U.S. de minimis import loophole is increasing costs for low-priced fast-fashion imports, many of which rely heavily on synthetic fibers.
That shift may improve cotton’s outlook. USDA recently raised its projected average upland cotton price for the 2025/26 marketing year, while export sales and shipments have improved in recent weeks.
Cotton may not need to outperform polyester on price alone. Reliability, traceability, and sourcing security are becoming more important factors for buyers.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Cotton may gain demand as polyester costs rise.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Rising demand for Comfort Colors t-shirts reinforces the pull for U.S.-grown cotton, linking rural fiber production to a fast-growing mainstream apparel brand.
October 23, 2025 03:06 PM
·
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Bernt Nelson provides an updated outlook on the current U.S. cattle market.
October 23, 2025 02:20 PM
·
Sen. Roger Marshall explains which types of beef are imported into the United States, how there’s room for new imports, and logical reasons for current high prices.
October 23, 2025 12:10 PM
·
Record Australian exports and rising U.S. imports reflect continued tight domestic cattle supplies — a reminder that herd recovery remains key to balancing future beef prices.
October 23, 2025 11:56 AM
·
Bioethanol continues to gain ground as the bridge fuel connecting agriculture, aviation, and maritime industries in the global shift toward lower-carbon energy.
October 23, 2025 10:14 AM
·
Lyndsey Smith with RealAg Radio discusses how global trade dynamics could shape the future of Canada’s pulse exports.
October 22, 2025 03:08 PM
·
