Global cotton prices mixed in July; marginal gains in China and India
By yash chouhan 2025-07-18 12:05:40
Slight increase in cotton prices in China-India
Global cotton markets witnessed wide volatility last month, with marginal gains in China and India, while prices remained stable in other key markets, including Pakistan and international benchmarks, according to Cotton Incorporated.
The December NY/ICE cotton futures contract, the most actively traded, hovered around the upper end of its recent range between 67 and 70 cents per pound, but failed to sustain upward momentum. The contract price is currently near 67 cents per pound, reflecting the continued volatility in global trade.
The Cotlook A Index, another key international benchmark, fluctuated in a narrow range of 77 to 80 cents per pound, and came close to 78 cents per pound at the latest count, Cotton Incorporated said in its monthly economic paper - Cotton Market Fundamentals and Price Outlook, July 2025.
In China, the cotton index (CC Index 3128B) continued its gradual increase. Internationally, it rose to 97 cents per pound from 92 cents per pound last month, extending a steady upward trend that began in May, when prices bottomed at around 88 cents per pound. Domestically, prices in China rose from 14,600 to 15,100 RMB/ton, while the renminbi remained stable at around 7.17 RMB/USD.
Spot prices of Shankar-6 in India also rose; surpassing the May high. Prices rose to around 84 cents per pound (or ₹56,000 per candy) from 80 cents per pound (or ₹54,000 per candy) last month. The Indian rupee remained stable at around ₹86 per USD.
In contrast, Pakistan's cotton market remained stable. Spot prices remained stable at around 70 cents per pound, while domestic prices hovered around 16,500 PKR per maund. Pakistani rupee also remained stable and was trading around 283 PKR per dollar.
