US cotton booking activity cooled in the week ended 11 June 2026, with both Upland and Pima registering lower sales and weaker shipment volumes than the previous week, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s latest weekly export sales update. The report indicates US cotton export sales moderated after the stronger pace recorded a week earlier, even as key markets such as Pakistan, India and Vietnam continued to account for a large share of demand.
Upland: current-crop sales dip, but stay above recent average
For the 2025–26 marketing year, net sales of Upland cotton came in at 177,100 running bales (RB), down 15% week on week, but still 5% higher than the previous four-week average. Pakistan was the largest buyer, purchasing 76,600 RB, followed by India at 39,600 RB and Vietnam at 21,000 RB. China booked 11,400 RB, while Taiwan added 7,400 RB. USDA data showed these gains were partly offset by net reductions for Honduras, South Korea and Japan.
New-crop business was also active. For the 2026–27 marketing year, net sales of Upland totalled 188,400 RB. Vietnam led forward bookings with 65,600 RB, with Pakistan next at 39,600 RB. Indonesia purchased 22,500 RB, Malaysia 21,100 RB and Nicaragua 15,000 RB, reflecting broad interest from Asian spinning hubs and key Central American destinations.
Shipments fall across the board
Despite ongoing sales, physical movement slowed. Upland export shipments declined to 251,000 RB, down 16% from the previous week and 15% below the four-week average. Vietnam remained the top destination by volume, receiving 66,300 RB. Pakistan took 33,100 RB, Türkiye 28,000 RB, Bangladesh 24,500 RB and China 19,800 RB.
Pima: smaller volumes, sharper week-on-week drops
Pima cotton posted a more pronounced slowdown. Net sales for the 2025–26 marketing year were 5,500 RB, representing a 28% decline from the prior week and running 14% below the four-week average. Costa Rica accounted for most of the week’s buying at 3,500 RB, while Thailand, Pakistan, Türkiye and Peru each booked 400 RB.
Pima export shipments fell more steeply, dropping to 13,200 RB. That was down 43% week on week and 11% below the previous four-week average. India remained the largest destination, taking 6,900 RB. Vietnam received 2,300 RB and China 1,800 RB, while Peru took 1,300 RB and Thailand 400 RB.
A softer week, not a collapse
Overall, the USDA figures point to a pause in momentum rather than a sudden demand breakdown. Key buyers continued to underpin activity—particularly for Upland—yet the week’s lower shipment totals suggest the pace of execution slowed. For traders and mills tracking US cotton export sales, the data signals a moderation in buying and logistics flows following the stronger performance recorded one week earlier.
