Cotton Price Trend Analysis 2026: Historical Prices, Latest News, Market Insights, Price Drivers & Supply Demand Analysis

• Cotton prices remained range-bound but slightly firmer during Q1’26, as weather-driven planting uncertainty and rising input costs offered support, while ample inventories and weak textile demand capped stronger upside.
• Global supply stayed broadly comfortable, but drought concerns across major U.S. cotton regions, low producer offerings, and ongoing planting uncertainty sustained market caution despite improved crop expectations in India and manageable certified stocks.
• Downstream demand remained selective, with mills maintaining a cautious undertone amid weak apparel demand, delayed orders, and rising yarn, packaging, freight, and chemical costs across textile supply chains.

Cotton prices reflected a cautious but supported trend during Q1’26, as the market balanced comfortable availability against weather-related production risks and soft downstream demand. ICE (International Cotton Exchange) cotton futures largely remained in the upper-60 cent range, while USDA spot quotations averaged ~64.69 cents/lb in late March, up from ~64.59 cents/lb the previous week and ~62.04 cents/lb a year earlier.

On the supply side, planting conditions across the U.S. remained highly weather-sensitive, with drought intensifying in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, the Delta, and the Southeast, while producers in several regions delayed aggressive forward commitments and kept offerings moderate to light. At the same time, India’s cotton output for 2025–26 was revised upward to ~320.5 lakh bales, improving domestic availability and limiting global supply concerns.

Demand, however, remained uneven, as domestic and export mill buying stayed cautious despite moderate yarn demand and inquiries from markets such as Vietnam, China, and Turkey. Overall, the market remained supported by crop risk and cost inflation, but upside was restrained by ample inventories and subdued apparel-led consumption.