REPRESENTING COTTON GROWERS THROUGHOUT ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND VIRGINIA

COTTON MARKETING NEWS

Volume 19, No. 11 May 14, 2021

Sponsored by May 14, 2021—Precipitation for Past 7 Days

Cotton’s Bad Week Hopefully Just a Hiccup

New crop December futures had a miserable week. Texas got rain
and that’s good, but the market took a toll on the grower because
of it.

December futures lost 567 points for the week—closing at 81.22

cents—the lowest in a month. This wipes out about half of the
nice rally since the low in the 77 cent area back in late March.

May 15, 2021—Precipitation for Next 7 Days

The market was down 4 of 5 trading days this week with big blows
of down 237 points yesterday and another 208 points today.

Let’s look briefly at 3 contributors to price action this week:

Weather. Texas got rain this week and is expected to get

additional rain next week. Some areas of the High Plains and
Rolling Plains regions received ¼ to ½ inch or more. All of Texas is
expected to continue to get rain over the next 7 days with some
areas of the High Plains and Rolling Plains expected to get up to an
inch or more.

USDA May Numbers. USDA’s crop production and supply/demand

report released on Wednesday contained revisions for the 2020
crop and the first projections looking ahead at the 2021 crop. The
numbers were mixed but mostly bullish. December closed up
slightly on Wednesday before it all came crashing down yesterday
and today.
The 2020 US crop was raised slightly. Harvested acres was
decreased 420,000 acres but the average yield was raised 36
lbs/acre. As expected it would be now or sometime, exports were
increased ½ million bales from 15.75 to 16.25 million. US
remaining stocks heading into the 2021 crop year on August 1
were dropped 600,000 bales.
World Use for the 2020 crop year was revised down 440,000 bales.
China’s production was raised ½ million bales and their imports
increased ¼ million bales. Imports for Bangladesh and Vietnam
were also raised.
Looking ahead to the 2021 crop year, World production is
expected to increase, Use increase by 3½%, and stocks decline by
a little over 2 million bales. China’s production is forecast to
decline 2 million bales, imports decline by 1 ½ million, and Use up
slightly.

The 2021 US crop is forecast at 17 million bales—up 16% from last

year. Exports are forecast at 14.7 million bales—down 1.55 million
bales. US ending stocks are expected to shrink another 200,000
bales.

This is not a particularly encouraging combination for 2021. World

Use is expected to continue to rebound, the US crop is expected
to increase, but US exports expected to decline. This could,
however, simply be a forecast based partially off the smaller
available US supply (larger 2021 crop but much smaller carry-in
compared to 2020) and expected very tight US ending stocks.

Weekly Exports. This week’s export report released yesterday (for

the previous week ending May 6) showed lower sales and
shipments. Net sales were 59,900 bales. Sales have been slow in
recent weeks but even this amount is down 35% from the average
for the prior 3 weeks. Shipments have been good in recent weeks
but in this week’s report, shipments were 305,400 bales—down
38% from the previous week. Largest destinations were Vietnam,
China, and Pakistan.

USDA increasing the 2020 crop year export projection is a positive

for the market but this will continue to be validated by the pace
of weekly exports and the market will react accordingly. Exports
to date (reported as of May 6) are 12.525 million bales. With a
little over 12 reporting weeks remaining, shipments need to
average roughly 310,400 bales per week to reach the USDA
estimate of 16.25 million bales.

The first estimate of 2021 actual acres planted will be out on June
30. This is a highly unknown and much anticipated number.
Weather and crop conditions will continue to be factors. Rainfall
in Texas this week and next doesn’t mean much longer term. The
first survey-based USDA crop estimates will not be released until
August.

While this week’s price action is concerning, both remaining 2020

and 2021 crop outlook are highly uncertain. We certainly want
prices to remain in the 80’s. To accomplish that, we first and
foremost need continued rebound in demand. Period. Beyond
that, strong demand needs to be supported by tight supply.

Don Shurley
Cotton Economist-Retired / Professor Emeritus of Cotton Economics