WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — Global cotton ending stocks are projected to reach their highest level since 2019/20 as production outpaces relatively flat demand, according to Leslie Meyer and Taylor Dew in USDA’s March Cotton and Wool Outlook.
For 2025/26, world ending stocks are forecast at 76.4 million bales, nearly 4 percent above a year earlier. Global production is projected at 121.0 million bales, up 2.1 percent, while world mill use is expected to slip slightly to 118.6 million bales. The larger crop, combined with steady-to-weaker demand, is pushing stocks higher in major producing countries.
In the United States, the cotton balance sheet was unchanged this month. Production remains forecast at 13.9 million bales, total supply at 17.9 million, and ending stocks at 4.4 million bales. U.S. mill use is projected at just 1.6 million bales, the lowest in more than 145 years, while exports are forecast at 12.0 million bales.
Globally, Brazil and the United States are expected to supply about 60 percent of cotton trade, while Vietnam, Bangladesh, China, and India remain key importers.
Looking ahead, rising stocks and a higher stocks-to-use ratio are expected to keep pressure on cotton prices.
Texas lawmakers secure funding for sterile fly production as officials work to stop the New World screwworm from spreading into the U.S. cattle herd.
March 03, 2026 12:20 PM
·
China may no longer serve as a consistent anchor market for U.S. cotton exports. Lewis Williamson of HTS Commodities joined us to discuss the factors influencing planting decisions, river conditions, and what producers are considering as they finalize acreage plans for the season.
March 03, 2026 07:00 AM
·
Falling commodity prices and rising costs continue to squeeze farm margins. Kip Jacobs with The Mosaic Company addresses fertilizer market pressures, nutrient use efficiency, and strategies growers can consider to protect their fertilizer investment this season.
March 03, 2026 05:00 AM
·
Weather Swings Shape Early Season Farm Conditions Nationwide
March 02, 2026 02:54 PM
·
Dry conditions may tighten hay supplies before summer growth. John Mays of Central Life Sciences joined us to discuss the risks of extended grain storage, how quality can be affected over time, and what growers can do to protect their grain while waiting for market opportunities.
March 02, 2026 02:21 PM
·
Crop value concentration keeps farm income tied closely to commodity price cycles.
March 02, 2026 01:23 PM
·
